Historic sites in Odisha

Encyclopedia

This article lists monuments and sites of historic importance in Odisha, India.

Prehistoric

Site Date(s) Picture Location Description References
Gudahandi c. 20000 BCE Kalahandi district Rock paintings from upper paleolithic.
Vikramkhol c.3000 BCE Jharsuguda Prehistoric human rock shelter with inscriptions.

Ancient

Singhapura (In Jajpur Dist): Some historians said that it was the capital of Singha Bahu, a Kalinga King who was contemporary of Lord Buddh and Bimbisar of Rajgrih. His exiled son Prince Vijaya established Sinhalese dynasty in Sri Lanka. The Archaeological Survey of India has been requested to excavate this site to unravel the truth.

Site Date(s) Picture Location Description References
Dhauli 262 BCE Dhauli hillock Dhauli, Bhubaneswar Site of the Kalinga War
Sisupalgarh c.300 CE Sisupalagada, Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar
20°13′35.9″N 85°51′11.0″E		 Ancient fort
Asurgarh c.9th century BCE Kalahandi Asurgarh is an archaeological site in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, India. Asurgarh is one of the sites which has its beginning in around 8th-9th century BC and emerged as one of the early urban fortified settlements in the region and it is older than Sisupalgarh. Archaeologists have unearthed artefacts believed to be 2,300-year-old while carrying out excavation at the Asurgarh Fort in Odisha’s Kalahandi district. DB Gadanayak, Archaeological Survey of India, says Asurgarh is one of the sites which has its beginning in around 8th-9th century BC and emerged as one of the early urban fortified settlements in the region by the efforts of tribal and non-tribal inhabitants of the region.[4] Lokesh Durga, Department of History of Delhi University, says Asurgarh settlement is older than Sisupalgarh and the first Urbanization process in Odisha started from Asurgarh.
Bindusagar Tank c. 7-8th century CE Bindusagar Old Town, Bhubaneswar A ritual tank with a shrine in the centre.
Chausath Yogini Temples c. 9th century CE Chausath Yogini Temples Jharial, Bolangir A hypaethral temple for 64 yoginis
Chausathi Jogini Temple 9th century CE Chausathi Jogini Temple Hirapur, Khurda Hypaethral temple for 64 Yoginis in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar
Anantashayana Vishnu 9th century CE Anantashayana Vishnu Sarang, Dhenkanal 15 metre long rock cut image of Vishnu lying in rest.

Medieval

Site Date(s) Picture Location Description References
Ratnagiri c.10th century Ratnagiri, Jajpur Jajpur Buddhist monastery built by the Bhauma-Kara dynasty
Lalitgiri c.10th century Lalitgiri, Jajpur Cuttack A group Buddhist monasteries.
Brahmeswara Temple 1058 CE Brahmeswara Temple, Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Shiva temple built during reign of the Somavamsis
Jagannath Temple c.1090 Sri Jagannath Temple Puri, Orissa Puri Vaishnava temple built by Eastern Ganga dynasty kings.
Lingaraja Temple c.1100 Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Shiva temple built by Somavamsi kings.
Gundicha Temple 12th century Gundicha Temple Puri Built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Houses the main idols during the Ratha Yatra festival.
Barabati fort c. 1230 Barabati Fort, Cuttack Cuttack Presumed to have been built by Anangabhimadev III of the Eastern Ganga dynasty
Kapilash Temple 1246 Kapilasa temple, Dhenkanal Dhenkanal Shiva temple constructed by Narasingha Deva I.
Konark Sun Temple c. 1250 Konark Sun Temple Konark Supposedly built by king Narasingha Deva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty around 1250.
Ananta Vasudeva Temple c.1278 Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar Vaishnava temple built by Queen Chandrika, daughter of Anangabhimadeva III, of the Eastern Ganga dynasty
Atharanala Bridge c.1300 Atharanala, Puri Puri
19°49′11″N 85°49′54.1″E		 Bridge with 18 arches, purportedly built by Narasingha Deva II of Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
Biraja Temple, Jajpur 13th Century Built originally by Jajati Keshari of Soma Dynasty
Annakoteshvara Temple 16th Century Latadeipur, Gondia, Dhenkanal Shiva temple built during the reign of the Gajapati dynasty
Alarnath Temple 1610 AD Brahmagiri, Puri, 752011
Baladevjew Temple 1707 Baladevjew Temple, Ichhapur, Kendrapara district, Odisha. Kendrapara Temple built during Maratha occupation of Odisha.
Qadam-e-Rasool 1718 Cuttack Mosque built by Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan. Purportedly contains a Qadam Rasul (footprint of the Prophet Muhammad).

Colonial

Site Date(s) Picture Location Description References
Joranda Gadi Early 20th century Joranda Gadi, Dhenkanal, Odisha Joranda, Dhenkanal Contains the samadhi of the founder of the Mahima Dharma sect.
Inchudi 1930 Balasore Site of Salt Satyagraha in the state.