The baitala deula (vaital deul), is an 8th century temple for the worship Of Maa Chamunda. The temple is also known as tini mundia mandira because of the three spires on top, each of which are Dedicated To The Three Supreme Divine Forms Of The Divine Mother As Maa Maha Kaali, Maa Maha Lakshmi, And Maa Maha Saraswati.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮

The Idol for the worship Of Maa Chamunda, Also Revered As Maa Charchika Is Depicted Sitting On a corpse Flanked By A Jackal And An Owl And Decorated With A Garland Of skulls. The Idol for the worship Of Maa Chamunda Is Also Depicted Holding A Snake, Bow, Shield, Sword, Trident, Thunderbolt And An Arrow, While Piercing the neck of a demon.

𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

Queen tribhuvana mahadevi, the first female ruler of the bhauma kara dynasty, commissioned the baitala deula (vaital deul) temple after her husband, king santikara I, died. The temple’s name has various origin stories. Some say it comes from the sanskrit word ‘vahitra,’ meaning ship, as the temple’s upper part resembles an upside-down ship. Others believe it’s named after a variety of pumpkin called ‘vaita kakharu’ locally.

The most widely accepted theory about the origin of the temple’s name is that ‘vaital’ comes from ‘vetala.’ meaning spirit. It is said that kapalikas (worshippers of human skulls) and tantriks invoked these spirits to gain siddhis.

Based on the temple’s likely association with kapalika practices, which include esoteric rituals and animal sacrifices, this theory is highly plausible. A medieval text, svarnnadri-mahodaya, also mentions of such practices at a temple located just west of bindhu sagar, matching the baitala deula temple’s location perfectly.

𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

The stone architecture of the 8th century baitala deula temple is of the typical khakara style of the kalinga architecture. It stands out for its unique sanctuary tower with a semi-cylindrical roof, similar to the south indian dravidian gopuram. The temple’s oblong plan features a rectangular hall with small shrines at each corner.Three sides of the exterior sanctuary wall contain niches With Graceful Depictions Of Divine Forms.

In addition To Beautiful Carvings Of Divine Forms, and intricate designs and patterns of great architectural importance, the walls of the temple have several inscriptions in the odia script.

𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The baitala deula temple is located 100 m west of bindhu sagar in bhubaneswar old town, and shares the same temple compound as the now much encroached upon sisiresvara temple.

The address of the temple is: barhadanda road, old town, bhubaneswar, odisha, 751002, india.

𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀

Bhubaneswar and its surrounding areas have a hot and humid climate in the summer, so it’s best to avoid visiting during this time. The best time to visit is from october to the end of march when the weather is more pleasant.

The temple is open to visitors all seven days of the week, from 7 am to 8 pm local time.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲

A visit to baitala deula temple is considered must when in bhubaneswar, not only by devotees but by all visitors owning to the legendary powerful tales.

To reach the baitala deula temple in bhubaneswar, odisha, you can follow these steps:

From outside india:

1. By air:
– Fly to india: Book a flight to one of the major international airports in India, such as indira gandhi international airport in new delhi, chhatrapati shivaji maharaj international airport in mumbai, or kempegowda international airport in bangalore.
– Connecting flight to bhubaneswar: From the international airport, take a domestic flight to biju patnaik international airport in bhubaneswar.

2. By train:
– Travel by train: After arriving in india, you can take a train to bhubaneswar from major cities like delhi, mumbai, kolkata, or chennai. Bhubaneswar railway station is well-connected with other parts of india.

3. By road:
– Rent a car or take a bus: Once you are in india, you can rent a car or take a long-distance bus to bhubaneswar. This option might be more time-consuming compared to flying or taking a train.

From within india:

1. By air:
– Domestic flight: Book a flight to biju patnaik international airport in bhubaneswar from any major city in india. The airport is well-connected to cities like delhi, mumbai, bangalore, kolkata, hyderabad, and chennai.

2. By train:
– Train to bhubaneswar: Book a train ticket to bhubaneswar railway station from your city. bhubaneswar is a major rail hub with numerous trains passing through it daily.

3. By road:
– Bus Services: Use interstate bus services to reach bhubaneswar. Various state and private bus operators run regular buses to bhubaneswar from nearby states and cities.
– Car: You can also drive to bhubaneswar. The city is connected by national highways and is accessible by road from various parts of the country.

Reaching the temple:

1. Local transport:
– Auto-rickshaw or taxi: From the airport, railway station, or bus stand in bhubaneswar, you can hire an auto-rickshaw or taxi to reach baitala deula temple.
– Public transport: Bhubaneswar also has local buses and shared auto-rickshaws that can take you to the temple.

Hotels near the temple:

Luxury hotels:

1. mayfair lagoon
– address: 8-b, jaydev vihar, bhubaneswar
– features: luxurious rooms, swimming pool, spa, multiple dining options, and lush green surroundings.

2. trident bhubaneswar
– address: cb-1, nayapalli, bhubaneswar
– features: elegant rooms, outdoor pool, fitness center, and fine dining restaurants.

3. the crown
– address: a-1/(a), irc village, nayapalli, bhubaneswar
– features: modern amenities, swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurants, and a bar.

Mid-range hotels:

1. fortune park sishmo
– address: 86/a-1, gautam nagar, bhubaneswar
– features: comfortable rooms, rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, and multi-cuisine restaurant.

2. vits bhubaneswar
– address: a/19, cuttack road, bhubaneswar
– features: spacious rooms, fitness center, swimming pool, and on-site dining.

3. hotel swosti grand
– address: 103, janpath, unit-3, bhubaneswar
– features: well-furnished rooms, restaurant, bar, and conference facilities.

Budget hotels:

1. ginger bhubaneswar
– address: plot no. 255/2 and 255/3, district center, chandrasekharpur, bhubaneswar
– features: affordable rooms, fitness center, and in-house dining.

2. hotel pal heights
– address: plot no 147, district centre, chandrasekharpur, bhubaneswar
– features: comfortable accommodations, restaurant, and shopping arcade.

3. hotel kalinga ashok
– address: gautam nagar, lewis road, bhubaneswar
– features: budget-friendly rooms, restaurant, and conference facilities.

More information can be found here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g297661-Bhubaneswar…

Google map link: https://www.google.com/…/data=!4m6!3m5…

For more information you can visit the following links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baitala_Deula
https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/…/vaita…/
https://bhubaneswartourism.in/vaital-deul-temple-bhubaneswar
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/arti…/57124400.cms
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297661…
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2700528446875852&set=a.1846554948939877&paipv=0&eav=AfYR1KJEgJW8PTUJGMFE9Da6Et_wKoPpUXzr7xQOOEU23uOQwQSN7Mo2vMYeowkp_A8
https://www.nativeplanet.com/…/baitala-deula-temple…
https://www.researchgate.net/…/364722436_The_Conceptual…
https://youtu.be/yrlo4uUELFU?si=6p7NU31DL_ABVI8q