Situated in the middle of the Mahanadi River, the Lankeswari Temple in Sonepur, Subarnapur, Odisha, is a holy place that is deeply great importance in both a spiritual and historic sense. As the presiding goddess of the ancient Paschima Lanka, Goddess Lankeswari (or Nikumbhilaa) attracts devotees, particularly from the Kaivarta (fisherman) community, who seek blessings for safety and prosperity.
The fact that the shrine is built at a unique location on a hillock in the river, and can only be accessed using a boat, gives it a mystic charm. The temple is located at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Tel River. It is also a great representation of Odisha’s Tantric and Mata Shakti heritage.
The temple’s beauty and location, combined with stories related to Ravana, make it an attractive stop for those who want to see some spirituality, as well as tourists. This article will offer some history, cultural significance, and visitor info on the shrine to give you an idea of its mystical charm.
Historical and Mythological Significance
The Lankeswari Temple has an intense legacy. Historically and mythologically, the temple has historical roots with the ancient identity of Sonepur as Paschima Lanka. The legend has it that Ravana, the king of Lanka, brought the Goddess Lankeswari to Sonepur because it was an area to keep his army, tying it into the Ramayana.
Historically, we know of a 10th-century copper plate issued by a Somavamsi prince, Kumara Someswaradeva, stating Sonepur was Paschima Lanka and Lankeswari was the presiding deity. The initial worship directed at a rock on the hillock, today a proper Temple stands in its permanent form, illustrating the trajectory of the devotion from the local non-historical to the historical ambivalence of a place.
Similarly, the worship in the temple is exemplified in a horrendously Tantric and Shaktivent, which is an indication of its spiritual depth as a pilgrimage site. Further affliction to the myth of the narrative is Lankeswari Darha, a deep gorge close to where the temple is situated. Historical and devotional affections towards the temples augment their attractions.
Architectural and Natural Beauty
The Lankeswari Temple, located on an elevated area on the Mahanadi River, is simply splendid. Such an extravagant blend of historic architecture and nature has left an impression on visitors like us. There isn’t much information available about its architecture, but the temple’s location itself creates an ambience like no other sacred place in Odisha, as it stands on a rocky formation, once revered and worshiped by devotees, on the banks of a river and surrounded by flowing waters.
The temple’s confluence with water, magnificently decorated by nature, in what is called a “Darha”, is simply stunning, and the views become even more picturesque when we mention that on one side of the Darha is the Mahanadi and on the other is Sonepur town! The neighbouring views of the confluence of the Mahanadi and Tel rivers struck us as nothing short of mesmerizing, which would provide nature enthusiasts with hours of pedagogical bliss!
Accessible only by boat, the magnificent Lankeswari Temple journey on the river strikes a balance between pleasure and thrill, as we floated on the river waves and admired the traditional weaver villages in the distance that represent Sonepur town’s handloom’s cultural significance along the riverbanks. The essence of the connection between nature, architecture, and mankind truly makes the Lankeswari Temple a unique treasure gem!
Cultural and Religious Importance
The Lankeswari temple is a place full of cultural and religious activities in Subarnapur and is honored by the Kaivarta community and the local populace. Dedicated to Goddess Lankeswari also referred to as Nikumbhilaa (a form of Devi), the Lankeswari temple serves as a significant manifestation of Shakti worship; devotees offer a dry coconut, betel leaf, and areca nut on behalf of someone seeking the goddess’ blessings on protection and prosperity, and worshiping at a temple for a trusted deity is very powerful.
Major festivities like Chaitra Purnima and Kartika Purnima attract locals and devotees for essential rituals associated with a visit to the temple to celebrate the energy of the goddess. The significance of the Lankeswari temple lies in its preservation of the Tantric tradition of Sonepur and Shakti worship in general, indicating the cultural value of that region.
The temple is precisely positioned on the banks of the Mahanadi River, which is thought to purify pilgrims’ minds and souls, and facilitates rituals celebrating the goddess’s energy. It is home to several temples to Lord Shiva, such as Subarnameru and Rameswar. The combination of these temples makes this area a pilgrimage site on the north coast of Odisha or also known by tourists as “the Second Varanasi” because of its cluster of temples. The Lankeswari Temple continues to highlight the importance of faith and cultural heritage in Odisha.
Visitor Information and Accessibility
The journey to visit the Lankeswari Temple is like no other, as the temple is located in the middle of the Mahanadi River and is only reachable by boat from Sonepur town. The best seasons to visit the temple are during summer and winter, as you do not want to visit there during the rainy season since the temple may be under water during that time.
The nearest railway stations are Sambalpur Junction (71 km away) and Hirakud (86 km away), while the nearest airport is Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda, which is 70-144 km away. If you take a bus or taxi from Sambalpur or Sonepur town, you will have no access problems.
Their everyday hours are 6:00 am to 5:30 pm, free of entry; however, boat rentals could be costly to Pipar and anywhere else beyond. Other places of interest to visit while exploring the temple are Papakshya Ghat and Subarnameru Temple, while staying in Sonepur (which offers a Guest House and medium hotel pricing). For guests, it would be easy to come a long way and explore this spiritual habitat.
Nearby Attractions and Activities
Many attractions near the Lankeswari Temple in Sonepur will make your visit even more meaningful. Just 3 km from the Lankeswari Temple, there is the Rameswar Temple on the Mahanadi-Tel river junction. The shrine is an ancient temple dedicated to Shiva that was built at the end of the 18th century. The Subarnameru Temple, which has a great Shiva worship and a legend about rain of gold coins, is 2 km outside of Sonepur.
Papakshya Ghat, or “Papakshyaghata”, is located at Binika, about 27 km from Sonepur. It is known for its river dip, “purification of one’s sins. Most people would bathe to cleanse their being of their sins during an eclipse, when the sins were thought to be most powerful. In the area of Sonepur, you may also wish to visit the many weaver villages active in ecological and traditional weaving, especially the Bomkai saree textiles, or hand-woven costumes.
You may also want to check out Lankeswari Darha to go boating or fishing, and Thengo Dam, a peaceful cooking picnic spot nearby to the temple complex. The multitude of places to visit in the region and the temple unifying spirit of the Sonepur confluence are culturally rich and spiritually fulfilling!
Odisha is not simply a place of worship – it is a place of history, faith, and nature as one. The temple on the Mahanadi River, where the temple is located, gives the potential pilgrim a unique experience and connection to the mythology of Paschima Lanka and Ravana. The cultural significance stemming from the worship of Shakti through the Lankeswari Temple and celebrated at the temple through festivals like Chaitra Purnima serve as reasons for pilgrims and tourists to visit.
With the natural surroundings of the Lankeswari Darha, along with the joining of the Mahanadi and Tel rivers, you can take in the peacefulness and serenity it offers. Accessibility by boat, with Rameswar and Subarnameru temples near, makes Lankeswari Temple a potential spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic hotspot when visiting Odisha. Planeway, there is no substitute for experiencing the purity of divinity along with its innate charm at Lankeswari Temple, an extraordinary site worth going to site as a gem of Subarnapur.
Tourist Facilities, Transportation, Tourist Attractions, How to Reach, Accessibility
Opening Time
Lankeswari Temple opening time is from Monday to Sunday, Morning 6:00 am to Evening 5.30 pm
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Sonepur Lankeswari Mandir is at all times of the year.
Closest Bus Stand and Distance
The Closest Bus stand is Sonepur, which is located around 01 KM distance from Lankeswari Temple.
Closest Railway Station & Distance
The Closest Railway Station is Rairakhol, which is located around 68 KM distance from Sonepur Lankeswari mandir.
Closest Airport and Distance
The Closest airport is Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda, which is located around 144 KM distance from Sonepur Lankeswari mandir, and is about 274 km from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.
