The Temple of Nilakantheswar Padmapur is located 70 kilometers south of Rayagada and 20 kilometers north of Gunupur. It is famous for its antiquities. This location is surrounded by hills and forests. There are five Shiva temples on top of the hill: Manikeswar temple, Dhabaleswar temple, Mallikeswar temple, Nilakhantaswar temple, and Pudukeswar temple. Mallikeswar’s inscriptions tell the story of a thousand monasteries and a Buddhist philosopher named Dharmakriti. A hillside perennial water reservoir and cave appear to be very appealing.
Padmapur is famous for its Buddhist temple, Nilakantheswar Temple, which is located on the Jagamanda hills. The temple is entirely made of seven rocks. There are three other Shiva temples on the hill: Pudukeswar, Dhabaleswar, and Mallikeswar. Because of this 7th-century Buddhist temple, Padmapur is a popular tourist destination in Rayagada district. The temple is also known as Manikeswar Siva’s shrine. The original structure recently received a small cement front hall.
History The temple dates from the seventh century. Based on a Buddhist inscription found on one of the temple’s rocks, Padma Shri Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru, an eminent historian and epigraphist, identifies the temple as once housing the Buddhist logician-philosopher, Dharmakirti. It is the only Buddhist monastery in the Rayagada district of Odisha. Here, the Maha Sivaratri festival is celebrated. Tuesday is a particularly special day for visitors and devotees to visit here.
Destination Attractions, Destination Facilities, Transportation, Accessibility, How to Reach
Opening Time
Budharaja Shiva Temple’s opening time is Monday to Sunday 6 am to Evening 7 pm.
Best Time to visit
The best time to visit Budharaja Hilltop Park is at all times of the year.
Best Time to visit
The best time to visit Budharaja Hilltop Park is at all times of the year.
Nearest Railway Station
The Nearest Railway Station is Sambalpur, which is located around 5 Km distance from Budharaja Shiva Temple.
Nearest Airport
The nearest Airport is Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda, which is located around 61 KM distance from Budharaja Shiva Temple and 285 km from Biju Patnaik International Airport.