Bhubaneswar
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Overview
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is home to the eleventh-century Lingaraja temple, a mature example of the Nagara style, with Puri and Konark nearby. It hosted the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2025.
Known as the Temple City, it once had hundreds of temples around the Bindu Sagar tank, including Mukteswara and Rajarani.
It replaced Cuttack as Odisha's capital after Independence and was planned by Otto Koenigsberger.
The Dhauli rock edicts of Ashoka, linked with the Kalinga war, and the Udayagiri–Khandagiri caves are close to the city.
The city is a smart city.
It has many educational institutions.
The city hosted the hockey World Cup in 2018 and 2023.
It is a planned city.
Geography and key facts
- Capital of Odisha
- Lingaraja temple (11th century)
- 18th PBD, 2025
- Temple City; Bindu Sagar
- Planned by Otto Koenigsberger
- Dhauli edicts nearby
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on Kalinga-style temple architecture.
Note for UPSC
Capital of Odisha. International airport.
Useful for orientation questions and for locating other features relative to the capital.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Bhubaneswar yet.
Key facts
- Type
- State / UT capital · International airport
- State / UT
- Odisha
- Coordinates
- 20.295°N, 85.825°E
20.244°N, 85.818°E
2 markers on the map
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Indian Architecture and Temple Styles
- Indian Diaspora and the Effect of Other Countries' Policies on India's Interests
- Early Medieval North India: Tripartite Struggle, Rajputs and Feudalism
- Hindu Temple Architecture: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara
- Transport Infrastructure: Roads, Railways, Ports and Aviation (map lesson)
- Linguistic Reorganisation of States (map lesson)
More state and ut capitals nearby
Other places in Odisha
All state and ut capitals · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs