Markandeswar Temple

Markandeswar Temple is a Shiva shrine on Markandeshwar Street in Puri, standing next to the Markandeshwar tank. The tank counts among the Pancha Tirthas, the five most important sacred tanks of the town. Local legend holds that the sage Markandeya was saved from danger by Shiva and raised a temple here out of gratitude, while the structure itself is dated to the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.

The temple follows the Odishan style, with a tall shikhara, carved pillars and sculpted panels showing gods and scenes from mythology. Its sanctum holds a lingam worshipped as Markandeswar, a form of Shiva. Set a little apart from the crowds around the Jagannath Temple, it draws worshippers who come to pray and meditate.