Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Paramanu Sarkar · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
The Mukteshwar Temple in Bhubaneswar's Old Town is a small Shiva temple built in red sandstone around the second half of the 10th century, under the Somavamshi rulers of Kalinga. It is studied as a turning point in Kalinga temple architecture — the first to carry a pyramidal roof over the jagamohana and the ornate chaitya-window motif known as the bho. Its most recognisable feature is the free-standing carved torana, an arched gateway with beaded scrollwork and reclining female figures, a form seen at almost no other Odishan temple. To the east lies the Marichi Kunda tank, which tradition holds can cure childlessness, and whose water is drawn by devotees at Ashokashtami.
October to February is the comfortable window; Bhubaneswar turns hot and humid from March, and the monsoon runs June to September. Mid-January is the liveliest time, when Odisha Tourism holds the three-day Mukteswar Dance Festival of Odissi dance in the temple courtyard (traditionally 14–16 January, no entry fee, but confirm the dates for your year). Mahashivaratri and Ashokashtami bring heavy local crowds, and the temple is small, so queues feel tight quickly.
Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, is roughly 5 km away, about 15–20 minutes by taxi. Bhubaneswar Railway Station is around 3–4 km, well connected to Kolkata, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Delhi. The temple stands on the Old Town temple road near the Lingaraj and Parasurameswara temples and is easily reached by auto, cab or city bus; Bhubaneswar sits on NH-16, roughly 500 km from Kolkata and 450 km from Visakhapatnam.
This is a compact temple on a raised platform with a few steps and a low doorway; elders manage it comfortably, but the jagamohana interior is small and dimly lit. It is an Archaeological Survey of India protected monument as well as a living shrine, so dress modestly and follow the staff's instructions on where photography is allowed. If you are planning around specific worship hours, confirm with the temple before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Mukteshwar Temple in Bhubaneswar for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Is Mukteshwar Temple still an active place of worship or only a monument?
It is both. Shiva is worshipped here and devotees visit regularly, while the structure is also a protected monument cared for by the Archaeological Survey of India. Ritual timings are set by the temple, so check locally before planning a specific puja.
Can I cover Mukteshwar and Lingaraj temple on the same day?
Yes. Mukteshwar, Parasurameswara, Rajarani and Lingaraj all lie within the Old Town cluster, within a couple of kilometres of one another, and most families cover them in a single half-day by cab or auto. Note that at Lingaraj non-Hindus are not permitted inside the main enclosure and view the temple from a platform outside; Mukteshwar has no such restriction.
What is the Marichi Kunda tank beside the temple?
It is a stepped sacred tank on the eastern side of the compound. Tradition holds that its water helps women who are unable to conceive, and the water is taken by devotees during the Ashokashtami festival. This is a matter of faith and local custom rather than a documented medical claim.
Plan your Mukteshwar Temple yatra
Family & group yatras · Free expert callback
Enquiry received!
Our travel expert will call you back soon (during Mon–Sat · 9–6 IST).
Ref: —Couldn’t send right now
No problem — reach us instantly on WhatsApp or call and we’ll take your enquiry directly.