Cultural integrity of Lingaraja Temple
Numerous ancient stone temples can be seen in this temple village, ranging in size from the enormous Lingaraja, which is 128 feet tall, to the tiny ones that are just a few feet tall and placed along the sides of roads or the banks of ancient tanks. It is said that there are 150 shrines within the large temple complex. The 10 kilometers of the area where the ruins or live monuments are dispersed are evidence of Bhubaneswar’s continuous habitation over the past. In addition to its wealth in spirituality, religion, and architecture, the property is rich in archaeological evidence, as shown by the vast Sisupalgarh ruins, Ashokan rock carvings, and evidence of an old wall at Dhauli Hillock.
Lingaraj Temple
Lingaraja Temple was built in the eleventh century AD and is considered the biggest attraction of Bhubaneswar in Odisha. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples devoted to the form of Shiva known as Harihara and is the most well-known tourist destination in Odisha. It was constructed using Kalinga architecture which is a sub-class under the Nagara category and is thought to have been built by King Jajati Keshari in the 10th Century and completed by King Lalatendu Keshari in the 11th Century. Later, even the Ganga kings contributed to the construction of this temple. Currently, the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951, governs the Lingaraja Temple.