Chitrakarini Temple

Chitrakarini Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple located in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, near the Lingaraj Temple complex. Dedicated to Goddess Chitrakarini, a form of Chamunda, it is notable for its Kalinga-style architecture, intricate stone carvings, and historical association with the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple is an important Shakti shrine within Bhubaneswar's temple city heritage.

Visitors can expect a small, historic stone temple in Kalinga architectural style set within the dense temple precinct of Old Town Bhubaneswar. The temple features a curvilinear vimana, carved walls depicting deities and motifs, and a sanctum enshrining the image of Goddess Chitrakarini. The surroundings are urban and religious, with narrow lanes, nearby temples and Bindusagar Lake, offering a quiet place for darshan, sightseeing and photography of heritage architecture.

Chitrakarini Temple is dated to the 13th century CE and attributed to the Eastern Ganga dynasty period. It represents the later phase of Kalinga temple architecture in Bhubaneswar and is part of the historic temple city that flourished under the Gangas. The temple has been preserved as a heritage structure reflecting medieval Odishan temple art and construction techniques.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chitrakarini, regarded as a form of Chamunda and a Shakti deity. It holds religious importance for devotees of Shakti worship and is part of the sacred geography around Lingaraj Temple and Bindusagar Lake. The temple is visited during daily worship and festivals associated with the Goddess, reflecting living religious traditions of Old Town Bhubaneswar.