Stayed three days in the capital of Orissa. It has nice temples, but not so nice budget hotel options. The Kalpana Square ghetto is truly atrocious, world class shitholes. But the temples are great. They are everywhere and very impressive. Of course, non-Hindus are not allowed in the Lingaraj. But there are lots of very impressive sites around town. Great old temples seem to be everywhere. Reminded me a bit of Bijapur, which is scattered with Muslim shrines and mosques, seemingly around every corner.
Temple monkeys, out by Udyagiri Hill Caves
Look how this one is sitting
Gangs of them
This one had a look in her eye that had me fleeing
Shakespearean
Pissed off
Old grimace
MacBeth, contemplating his actions
See no evil . . .
One of the minor temples
They must have been really amazing before all the carvings were destroyed
Even for temples set off behind fences, these were impressive.
This I'd never seen, in 11 trips to India.
How I feel most days
It must have been wedding season in Bhubaneswar. Lots of people dancing in the streets behind garlanded caravans
Nandi looks a bit chilled
Bells at one of India's four Yogini temples
Ugly American, a mirror, a Jain temple
The flag of Jainism
The Yogini temple
Udyagiri Hills
Bhubaneswar
Dharamsala detail
It was wedding season
Guardian lion. Orissa has its own, unique guardian lion iconography.
Temple tower
Lingam
Flags atop Lingaraj
Tower details
You can't go into Lingaraj, but you can climb a tower and shoot it.