Ananta Basudev Temple is unique as it is the only Vishnu temple, that was built during the golden age of temple architecture in Bhubaneswar. It was built during the reign of King Bhanudeva at the insistence of his wife Queen Chandrika Devi who was the daughter of king Anangabhimadeva III in the 13th Century AD. Queen Chandrika Devi was an accomplished musician, dancer and artist herself and a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
The temple resembles the Lingaraja Temple in form but the walls of the temple are adorned with Vaishnavite carvings. The presiding deity, Lord Krishna accompanied by Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra are similar in concept to the Jagannath temple in Puri. However the form of the deities at Ananta Basudev are complete unlike in the Jagannath Temple, Puri.
An important aspect of all Vishnu temples is the presence of the Bhoga Mandap. Vishnu is considered as the most human of all the gods and he is, as a human served food multiple times a day. This has led to the addition of a third hall in the temple, for offering food.
Legend has it that idol of Lord Krishna predates the temple. The Marathas renovated the temple during their reign in Odisha in the late 17th Century AD. The temple had a slab containing inscriptions of Chandrika Devi which is currently on display at the London museum. Noted Archaeologist and Padmashree recipient Late Shri Paramananda Acharya brought a cast of this inscription to Odisha during his tenure as Superintendent of Odisha State Museum in the early 1950’s . The cast is now on display at the Odisha State Museum.
| Timings | 6.30 AM till 9.00 PM |
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| Entry Fee | Free |
