The Leaning Temple of Huma is a Shiva shrine on the bank of the Mahanadi, about 23 km south of Sambalpur. Its presiding deity is Bimaleswar, a form of Shiva. The main temple leans to one side while its pinnacle stands upright, and the cause of the tilt is still unexplained. Smaller shrines to Bhairavi and Bhairo stand beside it, and the river below is known for its tame, sacred Kudo fish.
quick facts
- district
Sambalpur
- best time to visit
Around Maha Shivaratri, when the annual fair is held at the foot of the temple. The sources place the fair in March.
- dress code
Ethnic or traditional dress is customary.
know before you go
do
- Observe the lean from the riverbank and the temple courtyard
- Feed the Kudo fish only with prasad offered at the temple
- Keep to the paths near the water
avoid
- Do not try to catch the Kudo fish, which local belief holds to belong to the deity
- Do not lean on or climb the leaning structures
- Do not litter the riverbank
safety
The temple stands on the bank of the Mahanadi. Keep away from the water's edge during floods and the rainy season.
how to reach
By road, start from Sambalpur city or Maneswar and take the Sonepur-Sambalpur road to Huma village, about 25 km from Sambalpur. The nearest railway station is Maneswar, about 25 km away.
The nearest major airports are Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur (about 265 km) and Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar (about 300 km).
address: Huma, Sambalpur district, Odisha
history and significance
why it matters
Bimaleswar is worshipped here as Shiva. The river fish called Kudo are treated as sacred and as belonging to the deity, so they are fed and not caught.
history
Accounts of the builder differ. Wikipedia credits the Ganga emperor Anangabhima Deva III with the original temple, and says Baliar Singh (1660 to 1690), the fifth Chauhan king of Sambalpur, rebuilt or renovated it, with the other temples of the complex added under Ajit Singh (1766 to 1788). The Sambalpur district page credits the temple to Baliar Singh's reign.
According to local tradition, a milkman used to cross the Mahanadi every day to pour milk over a rock on the bank, and the rock absorbed it. When people enquired, the rock was recognised as sacred and the temple was raised. Priests and villagers say the angle of the lean has not changed in 40 to 50 years.
what to see
The temple is described as Kalinga style. According to Wikipedia the main shrine leans at about 13.8 degrees while its pinnacle stays perpendicular to the ground. The shrines of Bhairavi (to the left) and Bhairo (to the right) flank the main temple, and the smaller shrines and boundary walls lean in other directions.
The cause of the lean is unknown. Suggested explanations include a shift of the rock bed from river floods or an earthquake, or uneven rock beneath the plinth. Wikipedia notes that poor construction or a weak foundation are considered unlikely.
rituals and festivals
A large fair is held at the foothill every year on Maha Shivaratri, which the sources place in March, and draws crowds from the region.
On auspicious days the Kudo fish are called by name and given prasad, a custom described on the Sambalpur district page.
nearby
- Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur, about 23 km north
- Mahanadi River, along which the temple stands
other temples nearby2
questions visitors ask
Why does the Huma temple lean?
The cause is not known. Suggested explanations include a shift of the rock bed from floods or an earthquake, or uneven rock under the base. Priests and villagers say the angle has not changed in 40 to 50 years.
Who is the presiding deity at Huma?
The presiding deity is Bimaleswar, a form of Shiva. Shrines of Bhairavi and Bhairo stand on either side of the main temple.
What are the Kudo fish at Huma?
They are river fish regarded as sacred and tame. Local belief holds that they belong to the deity, so visitors feed them prasad and do not catch them.