Nagesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar

Nagesvara Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Deity	lord Shiva
Location
Location	Bhubaneswar
State	Orissa
Country	India
Location in Orissa
Geographic coordinates	20°14′47″N 85°51′24″E
Architecture
Type	Kalingan Style (Kalinga Architecture)
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)

Inner Doorway

Side view

Nagesvara Temple is an abandoned Hindu temple located in the village of Bhubaneswar,Odisha,India. It is situated on the western right bank of the Lingaraja West Canal at a distance of 10.35 metres (34.0 ft) west of Subarnesvara Siva Temple, located across the canal.

Description

Nagesvara Temple is located in the midst of a residential/agricultural area within the village of Bhubaneswar. It stands facing east on a platform that is 5.6 metres (18 ft) wide by 5.0 metres (16.4 ft) deep by 0.4 metres (1.3 ft) high. The temple itself rises to a height of 8.15 metres (26.7 ft).

The garbha griha of the temple is empty. Nevertheless, the sculptural embellishments on the outer wall of the temple suggest that the temple was originally dedicated to lord Siva.

The temple incorporates numerous niches for statuary, although the statuary itself is no longer extant. The exterior of the temple is made from ochrous sandstone (resembling the material of the Mukteshvara Temple) that is ornately carved in the style of the Kalinga Kingdom.

History

Local residents believe the temple was built by the Kesharis.

Preservation status

The temple today is in generally good condition, except for some painted surfaces that have deteriorated. The exterior shows signs of vegetation overgrowth.

The temple was restored and renovated by the Orissa State Archaeology department, during which work the stones were marked in white paints, which largely distort and deface the architectural edifice.

See also

• List of temples in Bhubaneswar

References

• Pradhan, Sadasiba (2009). Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar. ISBN 978-81-7375-164-6.

External links

• Photos of the temple