Weekend Getaways from Kolkata: Panchalingeshwar

Panchalingeswar located in Balasore district of Orissa may not be your usual weekend gateway given the fact that one of the most beautiful beaches in the country is located just a few kilometers away. But the serenity and beauty of its surroundings coupled with the lack of utter chaos that surrounds a temple is what had made this place a perfect weekend gateway.

The Panchalingeswar Temple so named after the five 'lingams' of Shiva that are enshrined in the temple is located on top of a hillock near the Nilagiri hills. The lingams are said to have been enshrined by Sita, the consort of Lord Rama during the period of their exile while another story holds that it was King Banasura himself who installed the lingams at this place given the tranquility and captivating beauty of the place. A perennial stream, which is the main attraction of the area regularly, washes the lingams as it flows over them. To reach to the temple one has to lie flat on the rock parallel to the stream in order to touch and worship the lingams.

Apart from the Panchalingeswar Temple, visitors can soak in the beauty of the region. One can also take a trip to Sajanagarh - the seat of Bhudarachandi and an area rich in archaeological find. Those who like adventure can try to trek the

Remuna - the seat of Vaishnavite culture famous for its 19th century temple of Khirachora Gopinath (Butter stealing Krishna); Chandaneswar - for the beach and temple of Lord Chandaneswara; Khiching - famous for its 10th century Chamunda temple and the 7th century Kichakeswari temple, and Chandipur – one of the finest beaches of the eastern coast are some of the nearby places where one can go after visiting Sri Panchalingeswar.

There is Panthasala, a property run by Orissa Tourism Department Corporation and some basic hotels. Check Hotels in Panchlingeshwar

By Air: The Nearest airports are at Bhubaneshwar (294 km) and at Kolkata (206 km).

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Balasore (30 km) which is well connected to all major cities.

By Road: Panchalingeswar is 30 km from Balasore and 85 km from Baripada. There are regular buses, taxis and shared auto-rickshaw plying from Balasore and Baripada. You can also get an OTDC tour bus from Chandipur that goes to the nearby temples in the area.

Best time to Go: Though Panchalingeswar is a round the year destination the months of   Feb/March when the Magha Saptami fair and Maha Shivratri fair are held are the best time to visit.