History:

is that Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of the temple which is located in the northern part of Odisha, India. The temple stands as a testimony to the rich religious and cultural heritage of Odisha and it is believed to be more than 2000 years old. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati and is considered as one of the oldest temples in Odisha. The temple is believed to be built in the early 10th century by the then King Uddyanta Raja of the Chauhan dynasty. As per some myths and legends, King Uddyanta Raja was a devotee of Lord Shiva and wanted to build a grand temple dedicated to him. The temple is said to have been destroyed by the Muslim invader Jalaluddin Firoz Shah during his invasion in 1468 AD. The temple was later renovated and reconstructed by the then King of Mayurbhanj, Harishankar Deb, who also built a new Shiva temple, nicknamed as Harishankar Temple. Since then, Harishankar temple has become a popular pilgrimage site among Shiva devotees from Odisha and from other parts of India. The temple is noteworthy for its grand structure and beautiful carvings. Inside the temple complex, visitors can find numerous shrines dedicated to several Hindu gods and goddesses. The most distinctive feature of the temple is a tall stone shikhara (spire) which is around 60 ft in height. The main shrine of the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Apart from this, there are several murtis (images) of various deities such as Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, and Goddess Durga which are also enshrined in the temple complex. Various Hindu festivals like Shivaratri, Teej, Shravan and Diwali are celebrated with great enthusiasm at the temple. It is one of the best temple in Odisha which you must visit.

Facts:

1. The Harishankar Temple is located in Balangir district of Odisha, India. 2. The original temple was said to have been built in around 1200 AD by the king Udyotakesari during the Soma Dynasty rule in the region. 3. The Harishankar Temple is located in a small village of Nrusinghpur, 69km from Balangir district, on the banks of the Sankha river. 4. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva. 5. The temple contains several idols of God Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ganesh, Kartik, Lord Vishnu along with other incarnations of Lord Vishnu in its sanctum. 6. The temple is also famous for holding religious festivals such as Maha Shivratri, Chaitra Purnima, Janmashtami, Vasantotsav and Raja Parba. 7. The present structure of the temple is said to have been built by Raja Buddha Chandar Deo in between 1300 and 1400 AD. Here are some facts about the Odisha temple.These facts will help you understand why it is oldest temple list of the best temples in Odisha

Worship Method:

The primary method of worship at the Harishankar Temple in Balangir is offerings of flowers, fruits, lamps, incense, and food items. Prayers are offered to the deity and then priests chant mantras and perform aarati or poojas. The rituals followed during the worship differ according to the festivals. Some of these festivals include Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Krishna Janmashtami, and Dusshera. During these festivals, special rituals are performed and the devotees also celebrate the occasions in a grand way by singing religious songs and performing traditional dances. This most visited temple in Odisha

Opening Timing:

Harishankar Temple - Balangir in Odisha is open from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM everyday. top temples in Odisha

How to reach:

? The nearest Airport to Harishankar Temple is the Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda which is located about 175 Km away. The nearest Railway Station to the temple is Balangir Railway Station which is just 25 Kms away. From the station, shared transport like buses and auto-rickshaws are available to reach Harishankar Temple. famous temples in Odisha