Shatrughneswara Temple

Shatrughneswara Temple

The Shatrughaneshwar group of temples are a trio of 6th century A.D. temples built during the Sailodbhava rule, consisting of Shatrughaneshwar temple, Bharateshwar temple, and Lakshmaneshwar temple. They are located immediately opposite the Rameshwar temple, on the left side of the road leading from Kalpana Chowk to Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar

Recently extensively reconstructed by the ASI and now benefiting from nightime illumination, they were built in the Kalinga style of architecture and are probably the earliest temples still standing in Bhubaneswar. Architectually all three temples are very similar; west-facing, with a square shrine room and a rising tiered Shikhara above, and the absence of any mandap in front.

Orissa has been connected to various events from the Ramayana period, so it perhaps not surprising that the temple names in this group reflect heros from the epic. Together with the neighbouring Rameshwar temple, the four main heros of Ramayana are reflected here.

The Shatrughaneshwar temple is the best preserved of the group and has the most intact carvings present on the exterior, which are equisite. It’s probably due to this fact that the entire group adopted the name from this temple.