Location & Overview
- The temple is located in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar (capital city of Odisha). Its address is Barhadanda Road, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002.
- It is dedicated to the fierce form of the Divine Mother, Maa Chamunda (also known locally as Kapaḷinī).
- Built in the 8th century (or around that period) and is a fine example of the Khakara-style of the Kalinga architecture (a regional temple style).
- It is also popularly called “Tini-munḍiā Deuḷa” (“three-headed temple”) because of its three spires on the roof.
History & Significance
- The temple dates back to the 8th century (approx) and reflects a transitional architectural phase in Odisha, showing influences of Dravidian/Khakara styles rather than the standard rekha deula style of many Odisha temples.
- The three spires on the roof are believed to represent the three powers of the Goddess: Mahā Saraswatī, Mahā Lakṣmī and Mahā Kālī.
- The deity Chamunda is depicted in her fierce form—eight-armed, holding weapons, seated on a corpse, with garland of skulls, flanked by jackal and owl in relief/blind niches.
- The temple has strong tantric associations, which is visible in some of the reliefs (sacrificial posts, jackal-/owl imagery, skull cups) and the dark interior.
- The architecture: The roof (sanctuary tower) is semi-cylindrical (vault shaped), reminiscent of Dravidian gopurams (rather than the usual vertical curvilinear towers in Odisha).
How to Reach
Here are directions and tips for getting to the Baitāla Deula Temple.
By Air
- The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar. From the airport you can hire a taxi/auto to Old Town Bhubaneswar (about 5-6 km).
By Rail
- The nearest railway station is Bhubaneswar Railway Station, which is about 3-4 km from the temple. From there one can take auto-rickshaw / taxi / e-rickshaw.
By Road / Local Transport
- Within Bhubaneswar city you can reach Old Town (Barhadanda Road area) by taxi/autos. The bus network and local transport are decent.
- The temple opens roughly from 8:00 a.m. to ~6:00 p.m. (as per latest tourist info) though some sources say 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Visiting from outside:
- If you are in India and plan a trip to Odisha, reach Bhubaneswar first and allocate half a day to visit Old Town temples including Baitala Deula.
- Since the temple is in the central Old Town area, you can combine it with visits to other nearby temples (like the Lingaraj Temple) and explore the heritage zone.