Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar boasts of a distinctive charm. It was constructed in the 11th century from reddish and yellow sandstone called ‘Rajarani’ in the local dialect. Also, the shrine is famous amongst the natives as the ‘love temple’ because of the erotic carvings of couple and women in the sanctum sanctorum.
Rajarani temple has a lot of historical importance. Earlier this temple was known as Indreswara Temple and its architecture has a lot of depth and symbolism. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is frequented by a large number of tourists from all over the country. The shrine holds a prestigious position among the holy places in Bhubaneswar.
The Rajarani Temple is built elegantly and is adorned from all sides by spires and fine clusters of turrets. The sculpture of the temple is matchless and is quite energetic and alive. The most striking feature of the sacred place is the ‘Guardians of the Eight Directions’ that protrude from the base of the temple in the eight directions. The eight guardians are namely: Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Ishana.
