Panchalingeswar Temple is located in the Balasore district of Odisha. It is 27.7 km southwest of Balasore. The name Panchalingeswar is named after the five lord shiva lingas which are enshrined inside. This temple is situated on the top of a hill rock near Nilagiri hill. To reach this place, you have to climb 263 steps, which start from the foot of the hill.
After racing the hill rock, you need to bend down to look for five lingas at this place. These lingas are created by the waterfall and continuously washed by the water of the perennial water stream. If you want to worship the Shiva Linga, you have to lie on your chest over the rock parallel to the water stream.
This temple holds a special significance inside the devotee’s heart. For this reason, this place is one of the prominent pilgrimage spots in the Balasore district. This is also a bundle of joy for nature lovers.
Though Panchalingeswar Temple is situated on the hilltop, you can enjoy the surroundings of this hilltop. You can enjoy the stunning small tribal villages. This pilgrimage site is one of the famous tourist spots in Odisha.
The history behind this temple is still a mystery. The temple was discovered by the king Krishna Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan. According to people, the King came to this place in search of five Shiva Lingas.
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There are some other theories behind this temple. Some people say that these Shiva Lingas were enshrined by Goddess Sita. Whereas other people say that a powerful demon and Lord Shiva devotee King Banasura installed the five lingas to worship Lord Shiva.
The best time to visit this temple is from the month of November till March. At this particular time, the climate is really good to enjoy this beautiful place.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: November to March.
Nearest Bus Stop: Balasore(25 km)
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneswar(182 km)