Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha and earns its informal title as the City of Temples. The old religious district contains over 400 temples, the majority built in the distinctive Kalinga style — a curvilinear tower called a deul rising above a meeting hall, with intricately carved sandstone walls. The Lingaraj Temple, dedicated to Shiva and built in the eleventh century, is the most impressive: its tower climbs 55 metres and dominates the skyline. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside, but a viewing platform near the entrance gives a clear view. The Rajarani Temple, Mukteshwar Temple, and Parasurameswara Temple are all open to visitors and together show how Odishan temple architecture evolved over several centuries.
Beyond the temples, Bhubaneswar has a decent museum quarter. The Odisha State Museum on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg holds natural history, archaeology, and tribal art collections. The Tribal Research Institute Museum gives useful context for the region's many indigenous communities, who make up over a quarter of Odisha's population. The city is also the main transit point for excursions to Konark, home to the Sun Temple, and Puri, one of the four Hindu pilgrimage towns. Both are around an hour away by road and easily done as day trips.
The old city sits south of the railway station, while the newer planned districts extend to the north and east. Getting around is mainly by auto-rickshaw or taxi, as the distances between the temples and the modern commercial areas are too far to walk comfortably. Bhubaneswar airport has connections to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and several other Indian cities, making it a practical base for exploring eastern Odisha.