Baitala Temple, Bhubaneswar
This interesting 8th century temple is dedicated to Chamunda (A form of Kali) and it is one of the oldest temples of Odisha. It also assumes greater significance as it is a rare temple in the country because this temple is used as a shrine devoted to Tantric cult!
It is said that Vaital Temple is an excellent example of Kalinga architecture. It is a representative of the Khakhara order that was specially devoted to Tantric cults. The entire temple is an exhibition of the finest skill of Odiyan artisans. Some of the sculptures are so fantastic that they almost look like living human beings. Each sculpture is decorated with different ornaments. The extent to which those unknown sculptors have given importance to the finest detail is simply amazing! This is one of the finest temples I have visited in India.
