Lingaraja Temple

Largest and most important of the temples in the city of Bhubaneshvar, dedicated to the god Shiva in his aspect as
Tribhuvaneshvar, the “Lord of the Three
Worlds.” The temple was built in the
eleventh century C.E., representing the
high point of the Orissan branch of the
Nagara architectural style. The temple
building culminates in one single, highest point over the image of the temple’s
primary deity, with shorter subsidiary
buildings leading up to it. The Lingaraja
temple shows all the elements of the
Orissan style: a beehive-shaped tower
(deul) soaring 120 feet high, fronted by a
dance hall (natamandira), traditionally
used for performances, an entrance hall
(jagamohan), and an outer entrance
hall (bhogamandapa).