Akhandalamani Temple stands in the village of Aradi on the bank of the Baitarani River in Bhadrak district. Shiva is worshipped here as Akhandalamani, and the shrine is one of the most famous religious sites in Bhadrak district. The present temple is a tall Kalinga style structure that replaced an older wooden shrine. Pilgrims gather in large numbers on Mahashivaratri for the Jagara fair, and in the month of Sravana, when Bol Bam devotees bring river water to pour over the linga.
quick facts
- district
Bhadrak
- best time to visit
Mahashivaratri, when the Jagara fair is held, and the month of Sravana, for the Bol Bam pilgrimage.
- dress code
Ethnic or traditional dress is customary.
know before you go
do
- Remove footwear before entering the temple precincts
- Follow the guidance of the temple servitors
- Carry river water or offerings only as the temple permits
- Keep the precincts clean
avoid
- Do not litter in the temple or on the river bank
- Do not push through queues on festival days
- Do not disturb worship in progress
how to reach
Aradi is about 37 km east of Bhadrak town by road, via Asurali, Kothara and Dhusuri. Bhadrak is the nearest railway station on the main coastal line.
Boats have been reported to run from the Chandabali ferry ghat to Aradi in about two hours; confirm locally before planning.
address: Aradi, Bhadrak district, Odisha
history and significance
why it matters
The temple is a centre of Shaiva devotion in Bhadrak district. Akhandalamani is a local name of Shiva, and on Mahashivaratri pilgrims from inside and outside the state gather here.
Devotees carry water from rivers such as the Ganga, Baitarani and Mahanadi to bathe the linga during Sravana.
history
No conclusive written history of the temple or its deity is available. According to local tradition, King Niladri Samara Singha Mohapatra founded the first shrine about 350 years ago after a plough struck a stone at the site. This is a local legend and not documented history.
The present main temple is attributed to King Harihara Bhanja and his chief queen Satyabhama Patadei, with stone said to have been brought from Lalitgiri hill near Chandikhol. An earlier wooden temple was replaced by the present structure sometime between 1830 and 1840 CE. These dates and attributions rest on local tradition and should be treated as such.
what to see
The temple follows the Kalinga style. The present structure is built of cement and concrete and rises to about fifty feet according to one account, although another section of the same source gives a height of about 150 feet, so the figure is uncertain.
rituals and festivals
Mahashivaratri is the major festival and is locally called the Jagara mela.
In Sravana, Bol Bam devotees bring holy water from rivers such as the Ganga, Baitarani and Mahanadi and pour it over the Shiva linga.
nearby
- Kali temple at Rameswarpur village, about 18 km away
- Chandabali ferry ghat on the Baitarani
questions visitors ask
Which deity is worshipped at Akhandalamani Temple?
Shiva, worshipped locally as Akhandalamani.
Where is the temple?
In Aradi village on the bank of the Baitarani River, about 37 km east of Bhadrak town.
What is the main festival here?
Mahashivaratri, locally called the Jagara mela. The month of Sravana also brings Bol Bam pilgrims.