Rajarani Temple

This 11th century old temple will mesmerize you with its grand architecture and golden history. Also known as the ‘love temple’, the wall of the temple feature erotic carvings of couples. The entire temple was carved using just dull red and yellow sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani, hence the name of the temple. Because there is no image or idol of Hindu or any other gods inside the sanctum, the temple is not associated with any specific cult of Hinduism. The images carved on the walls depict the scenes from Lord Shiva and Parvati’s marriage ceremony.

As far as the building of the temple is concerned, it is a perfect example of Orissan architecture, where vimana (sanctum) and jagamohana (porch) are the two most significant parts. Another prime attraction of this temple is the annual Rajarani music festival that takes place in the month of January, where main focus is on classical music and dance. In this three-day long festival, artists from all over the country visit here to be a part of this amazing music extravaganza.