India Guide
Orissa
Muktesvara Mandir
Address: Central group of temples, just off Lewis RoadPrice: free
Erected in the mid-tenth century, the Muktesvara Mandir is often dubbed "the gem" of Orissan architecture for its compact size and exquisite sculptural detail. It stands in a separate walled courtyard, beside the small Marichi Kund tank (whose murky green waters are believed to cure infertility). Constructed 200 years after the Parasuramesvara, it represents a new, more elaborate style. Its jagamohana sports the more distinctively Orissan pyramidal roof, while the deul, though similar in shape to earlier sanctuary towers, places more emphasis on vertical rather than horizontal lines. Directly facing the main entrance, the ornamental torana (gateway), topped by two reclining female figures, is Muktesvara's masterpiece.