The ever-beautiful Nirmalajhara and temples around it, Ganjam, OdishaThe temples were built in the year 1776, during the reign of the ruler of Khallikote, Sri Balunkesvar Mardaraja. The very name 'Nirmalajhara' has 2 parts - 'Nirmal' means pure and 'Jhara' means stream. It is a perennial stream in the Ganjam District, Odisha. The Nirmalajhara flows from the Badaghati Mountains in Eastern Ghats and the flow of its pure water comes to the compound of these temples (There are many deities such as Shree Jagannath, Nilakantheshvara, Maa Bimala, Radha Krishna, murty of Shree Ganesha, Narayana and Surya Deva).

Among them 3 major temples are -

1. Shree Jagannatha Temple

Exterior of the temple is plain, except udyotasimhas on each raha and dopichhasimhas over the beki. Two rampart lions are also flanked on each side above the jagamohana. Both the vimana & jagamohana are pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation. Pidha vimana and jagamohana of impoverished Kalingan order. Temple is constructed with Khondalite stone and lime wash on the temple can be seen.

2. Radha-Krisna Temple

The temple has a pidha vimana and an open-pillared pidha jagamohana of impoverished Kalingan order. A perennial spring locally known as Nirmalajhara flows through the temple complex. The presiding deities are Shree Krishna and Maa Radha made of khondalite stone.

3. Nilakantheshvara Shiva Temple

It is a pidha temple of impoverished Kalingan order, pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation.

It's decorated with sculptural embellishments in the jangha portion. The talajangha is adorned with khakharamundi niches housing dancing nayikas and the uparajangha adorned with pidhamundi niches housing divinities such as Ganesa, kurmavatara of Visnu, Varaha, Narasimha, Parshurama, Visnu, Jagannatha, etc.

The conjunction in between the pagas are housed with gaja-vidala, nara-vidala in the talajangha & erotics in the upper jangha. Temple is enshrining a Sivalinga within circular yonipitha in the sanctum.

Also, constructed with Khondalite & white/red wash is seen on the exterior.

Temples of Nirmalajhara, Odisha, India

One of the lesser known places of Odisha.