Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/3QNTOSV1FyE
Reference: https://odishatour.in/gokarneswar-temple-jajpur/
Location:
“Gokarneshwara
Temple, Q4PW+6QC, NH16, Dharmasala, Odisha 755008”
Situated around 28 KMs from Jajpur town and around
15.5 KMs from Mahavinayaka temple, Chandikhole is the beautiful temple of
Gokarneshwara on the banks of Brahmani River on National Highway 16. The
presiding deity is Lord Shiva and it is one of the oldest ethnic temples of
Orissa. Mahashivaratri is the main festival here and throughout the year
devotees come here to pray for Lord Shiva. Kaudia comes to this temple to pour
water on Lord Shiva. This ancient Shiva temple is located just about a
kilometre away from Jaraka of Jajpur District, Odisha.
Legend:
As river Brahmani is considered one of holy rivers of
India, the Pandavas considered it the ideal place for their ancestral rituals.
Architecture:
Talking about the architecture, the temple follows a
very typical Kalinga style with a Rekha vimana. Two small shrines representing
pidha deuls are present. Since there is no evidence of how the original temple
looked like, nothing much can be said about, how the real structure would look
like, but there are scattered vigrahas around the temple, kept on the top of
the walls, which are interesting.
Major
Festivals:
Mahashivaratri
Nearest places of importance from Gokarneshwara
Temple:
1) Temples
in and around Jajpur like Biraja Maa temple, Jagannatha Temple, Yajna varaha
temple, Siddheshwara temple
2) Chhatia
Bata Jagannath Temple, (30 KMs from Cuttack)
3) Udayagiri,
Ratnagiri, Lalitagiri and Langudi Hills
4) Chandi
temple, Chandikhol
5) Ashokjhar
Waterfall, Sukinda
6) Mahavinayaka
Temple, Chandikhole temple (15.5 KMs on NH16)
Timings:
Everyday 6 am to 8 pm
How
to Reach:
By
Road:
Nearest bus stand is Dharmasala around 2 KMs from the temple. Since this temple
is right on National Highway, there won’t be any problem visiting the temple,
but be safe if you are crossing the National Highway. Self-drive is the best
way to reach the site if you are staying in Jajpur or Cuttack or Bhubaneshwar.
Hired cabs can be taken from Jajpur (around 39 KMs) or Bhubaneshwar (around 78
KMs) or Cuttack (around 51.1 KMs). Try to cover the temple while planning for
Jajpur or Cuttack areas.
By
Rail:
Nearest railway station is Jajpur
(around 30 KMs)
By
Air:
Nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar (around 103 KMs)
Parking
and Photography
There is no problem with parking at all, just get down
the highway and park your vehicle.
There is no restriction to photography. Drones can be
used from the bridge if required.
Staying
options
Jajpur and Cuttack are the nearest cities where good
stay options are available. Depending on the travel plan of visiting locations
either Cuttack or Jajpur can be selected as stay options. Both Cuttack and
Jajpur has many places to visit around. We stayed at Jajpur and can recommend
Hotel Mirabel at Byasanagar, which is a very good hotel for stay at a very
descent rate. Check the prices online for the lowest price and then negotiate
at hotel for over the counter booking.