Singhanath Temple, Cuttack - Timings, History, Darshan, Pooja Timings

At a distance of 70 km from Cuttack, and 70 km from Bhubaneswar, Singhanath Temple is an ancient temple situated in the Gopinathpur village, Baramba tehsil of Cuttack district, Odisha. Located atop a hill in the middle of the Mahanadi River, it is one of the oldest temples in Orissa, and among the most prominent places to visit as part of Cuttack tour.

Singhanath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped by Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu. It is believed to have been built in between the 8th and 9th centuries and is one of the most revered places of pilgrimage sites near Bhubaneswar. The temple is unique for its sculptural embellishment of both the Saivaite and Vaishnava sects.

The temple is built in the Panchayatana style of architecture where the main shrine is built on a raised platform with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners. The vimana is square on plan whereas the jagamohana is rectangular. The sanctum houses the presiding deity, Simhanatha, in the form of Shiva lingam with yonipitha attached to earth. The interior is plain except the ornate doorjambs of the vimana and the niches surmounted the lintel carved with the images of Uma Maheswara playing dice and surmounted with an image of Lakulisa.

The temple is famous for its intricate carvings and sculptures, which depict scenes from Hindu mythology. The temple complex also includes a number of smaller shrines dedicated to other deities, such as Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh, Surya and Mahishasuramardini. The temple also has several tanks and tanks which are believed to have been built by the King of the Bhoi Dynasty. Another point of attraction of this place is the T-Bridge, which is built over the Mahanadi River and connects Singhanath Mandir.

Singhanath Temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and is visited by thousands of devotees every year. It is especially crowded during the festival of Maha Shivaratri when the temple is decorated with flowers and lights, and special poojas and rituals are held to mark the occasion. Makar Sankranti, Dussehra, and Kartik Purnima are the other festivals celebrated here with great pomp and fervor.

Timings: 6 AM - 8 PM

Entry: Free