History and heritage
Known as the temple city, Bhubaneshwar is home to a large
number of ancient temples, many of which are unique. The Lingaraj
temple dates back to the tenth and eleventh century but parts
of it are are said to be 1400 years old. The deity is called
Tribhuvaneshwar — Lord of the three worlds. The Rajarani
temple is famous for its depictions of the guardians of the
eight directions or dikpalas. There are many such wonderful
examples of temple architecture in and around the city.
Visitors who want to witness history written in the Ashokan era will enjoy a trip to a huge rock structure known as Ashoka Rock at Dhauli Hill. The rock displays inscriptions of Mauryan emperor Ashoka's edicts from third century BC. The second century sandstone caves of Khandagiri and Udayagiri are a major attraction. The caves are a part of an old Jain monastery and show an incredibly wonderful range of stone carvings and stone architecture. Other interesting tourist stops are the State Museum and the Tribal Research Museum. The state museum holds a huge collection of artifacts and arts and crafts, including the world's largest collection of palm-leaf manuscripts. And the tribal center is a testament to the lifestyles, arts and crafts of Orissa's tribal heritage that encompasses more than 60 different tribes. Wildlife lovers will find the Nandankanan sanctuary a must-see. Famous for its white tiger safari and its gharial breeding program, the sanctuary and the adjoining botanical garden are set in the environs of the Chandaka forest.
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