The Patneswari Temple stands near the centre of Balangir town and is the most important religious site in the district. The goddess Patneswari — literally "the lady of Patna" — was the protective deity of the Chauhan kings who ruled this region from the 12th century until India's independence in 1947. The temple draws worshippers from Balangir and the surrounding villages throughout the year.
The temple is architecturally modest compared to the grander Odishan temples found along the coast, but it carries a weight of local devotion that the more famous sites sometimes lack. The inner sanctum houses a bronze image of the goddess, and the courtyard fills with vendors selling offerings. The main festival, held in the weeks before Durga Puja, is the best time to visit if you want to see the town at its most animated.