Baliharchandi temple

Balihar Chandi temple is located 30 kilometers from Puri and is one of the few sites to visit apart from the places to visit Bhubaneswar city. Tourists often include the tour of this temple in various Bhubaneswar Tour Packages as it resides in very close proximity. This temple belongs to Goddess Durga and is mounted on a Sandy hill near the ocean. Balihar Chandi temple faces the east and the deity of Ashta-Bhuja (eight-armed) Mahisamardini Durga. People worship her as Balihar Chandi. The locals believe that Balihar Chandi protects the fishermen and boatmen when faced with danger at sea. They also worship Goddess Balihar Chandi as the goddess of water and navigation.

Balihar Chandi temple is related to the world-famous Jagannath Temple in respect of the Mahanabami day indeed. People celebrate festivals like Navratri, Durga Puja, Chaitra, Ramanavmi, Mangala Bara, etc., with great devotion to her in this temple. The Balihar Chandi temple is a protected monument of Odisha state archaeology and is under the Endowment Department, Government of Orrisa.

Festival:

One of the main festivals of Balihar Chandi temple is the Raja festival, which continues for 4 days. On the first day of the festival, goddess Balli Harachandi is worshipped and dressed as Kumari; on the second day, Devi Mahalakshmi is worshipped, Devi Saraswati is worshipped on the third day, and on the fourth day as Devi Mahakali. People celebrate the Raja festival for 3 days across Odisha, but in Bali Harachandi Pitha of Brahmagiri, the festival happens for four days. Any devotee would feel the grace and presence of Goddess Durga here in Balihar Chandi temple indeed. This place is also a major tourist attraction due to its picturesque location between the Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri and the Alarnath temple of Brahmagiri indeed.

When to visit Balihar Chandi Temple:

The best time for visiting the spectacular Balihar Chandi temple is from the month of November to February, when the temperature is very pleasant and differs from between 12 degree C to 29 degree C indeed. Summers at this temple are very unpleasant because of the scorching heat and lots of unbearable humidity. The minimum temperature of this place during summer hovers around 23 degree C, and the maximum temperature soars through the roof, which touches around 40 degre C with loads of humidity.