Markandeshwar Temple in Puri | Odisha Tourism | Things to do in Markandeshwar Temple, Places to visit near Markandeshwar Temple

The temple is situated on Markandeswar street adjacent to Markandeswar tank to the north of the Jagannath temple. It is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on lord Shiva. He saw a small child on a banyan leaf floating on the sea and wondered upon. Finally, lord Vishnu assured him from the doubt. The ancient Markandeswar Shiva Temple is situated in the Markandeswar street by the side of the Markandeswar tank, to the north of the Jagannath temple, Puri. This place can be approached on the right side of Markandeswar road leading from Markandeswar chowk to Puri-Brahmagiri road.

Markandeya tank is an open structure and it enclosed within a stone wall made of dressed laterite blocks. Bathing ghats are provided for the tourists in southern side of the tank. The tank is used for rituals as well as for normal bathing. Rituals like Pinda Dana, Mundan Kriya etc. are observed on the steps of the tank. The temple and the tank have ancient stone incriptions found that are of great interest to historians. The inscriptions are concerning to the Ganga dynasty, and both structures date back to the 12th century AD when Puri became an important center of pilgrimage.