This is the Raghunathjew Temple in Odagaon, 26 kilometres from Babarkhat Nayagarh town in central Odisha. The temple was one of the least recognised Vaishnav pilgrimage locations in the state – a working temple with authenticity and real history, not a shrine created for tourist purposes. That’s why most people travel to Odagaon Nayagarh.
About the Raghunathjew Temple
The Odagaon Temple is dedicated to Lord Raghunath and contains cast images of three gods: Raghunath, Lord Rama himself, and two minor deities, Sita and Lakshman. The oddest thing about this temple is that the images are all dressed in Van Vasa dress, the modest clothing worn by Rama, Sita and Lakshman during their 14 years exile in the forest, compared with the richly royal images of other Ram temples in India, adorned with the more grandiose Avishek Vesa. It is a clearly intentional, individual and striking feature.
This is expressed most spectacularly in the temple’s kalashas, the pot-shaped summits over the pinnacle, made of gold (individual kalashas, and the temple has three), weighing in total 45 kg. Enormous sums of gold, ranking below only the Kalinga temples at Puri, perhaps the most sacred Vaishnav holy site in Odisha. Architecturally, the temple follows classic Kalinga style, built in three connected sections: the Bhadra Mandap, Nata Mandap, and Darshan Mandap, a structural sequence common to Odisha’s older temples, moving from the outer hall through to the inner sanctum.
The temple’s founding date is genuinely debated among various sources, worth knowing rather than taking it at face value. The government’s own tourism page says that the temple was completed in c. 1903; and another widely disseminated tradition credits the construction of the temple to 1763, by Mrityunjay Singh, the 19th king of Nayagarh. The most believable specific account, hard to reconcile with any other, is that it was originally constructed in much earlier times and simply remodeled and reconstructed repeatedly over many centuries, and we are actually looking at the 1903-era rebuild of an ancient temple. But nobody seems able to conclusively say when the original temple was erected, so take a claim of a specific date elsewhere with a pinch of salt.
A local legend that introduces another more mythological dimension is that the site of this temple was the Yagna Kunda, or the altar of the sage Atri Muni which is part of why the location carries spiritual weight beyond the temple structure itself.
Significance the temple in Odisha
Apart from its building, the Odagaon temple also has a real literary connection. The 17th century Odia poet Upendra Bhanja, one of the most revered classical Odia poets, is believed to have used Odagaon as his Sadhana Pitha (seat of practice) and sung his immortal Baidehisha Vilas there. It is said in local legend that it is also here that he performed his Rama Taraka Mantra Sadhana to attain perfection.
The temple complex by itself is also actually a small group of shrines rather than one building; you would encounter temples to Maa Durga, Sri Narsingh, the Navagraha (the 9 planets of Hindu astrology), Surya (Sun), Ganesh and Narayan surrounding it, adding a more complete religious experience than single-deity temple would.
The temple’s main festival is the Ramanavami Yatra, a nine-day celebration of Rama’s birth watched by hundreds of villagers and visitors from farther afield. The festival also hosts Yatra and Ravan Podi, the burning of the Ravan Effigy, part of the same good-over-evil theme of Dussehra in other parts of India.
How to Reach Raghunathjew temple Odagaon?
- By road: The nearest to Odagaon is 26 km from Nayagarh town in the district, if you are at the hotspot itself. Perhaps the most accessible is the New Jagannath Sadak, the historic road between Odisha and Puri, which passes through Odagaon.
- From Bhubaneswar: at about 88-90 km from Nayagarh town, Odagaon is a total of about 110-115 km from the state capital, possible as a day trip by private car or taxi, considering the weak intra-district public transportation.
- Nearest amenities: There is a Community Health Centre (CHC) in this town at Odagaon and a branch of the State Bank of India, good to know if you are travelling independently rather than on an organised tour.
Best Time to Visit
The most exciting time is during Ramanavami itself, when the nine-day festival kicks the temple into life with concerts, mobs and the complete itinerary of pujas; still, it also means that the temple and the town will be a lot busier than normal days. Ramanavami is celebrated in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March/ April); keep an eye out for the actual date in 2026.
For a less hectic visit, focused on the temple architecture and ambience and less on the festival crowds, the more temperate months from Nov-Apr may be more comfortable for travel in this part of Orissa generally; this avoids the peak summer heat and the effects of the monsoon season on the rural roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Raghunathjew Temple located?
The village known as Odagaon is situated in Nayagarh district of Odisha state. It is 26 kilometres away from Nayagarh town and between 110 and 115 kilometres from Bhubaneswar.
Who is the presiding deity of Odagaon Temple?
Here, Lord Raghunath (the name of Rama) is worshipped, along with Sita and Lakshman, whose idols were made of neem wood.
What is the temple famous for?
The first and most striking feature is its numerous gold kalashas, approximately 45 kgs, the highest after Puri. With its unique Van Vasa-style dressing of deities and its association with the 17th century classical Odia poet, Baidehisha Bansa, who is thought to have composed the Baidehisha Vilas here.
When was the temple built?
There are odd tales about the origins of the temple which vary from the Middle Ages to its consecration by King Mrityunjay Singh in 1763 to a construction date of 1903. It is probable that the temple has been reconstructed and renovated over many centuries, with no one source citing an explicit original date.
What is the main festival celebrated at the temple?
The Ramanavami Yatra, a nine-day festival marking Rama’s birth, featuring traditional stage performances and the Ravan Podi ceremony.
How do I reach Odagaon from Bhubaneswar?
By road, around 110-115 km through Nayagarh town- about a 3.5-hour drive. A private car or taxi is the best option because this district does not have suitable public transport options.
Is Odagaon worth visiting outside the festival season?
Yes. The architecture of the temple, the cluster of shrines and the literary tie to Upendra Bhanja make it a worthwhile visit any time of the year. Visiting outside Ramanavami would mean a quieter, less crowded experience.
