Rest of Odisha · Presiding goddess of Western Odisha
Maa Samaleswari Temple
The 16th-century temple of Samalei, the mother goddess of Sambalpur, on the banks of the Mahanadi — the spiritual heart of Kosal culture, Sambalpuri weaving and dance.
History & legend
Built around 1546–1560 by Balaram Dev, founder of the Chauhan dynasty of Sambalpur, at the spot where the goddess was worshipped under a simul (silk-cotton) tree — hence 'Samalei' and the city's name. Sambalpur was the diamond-trading capital of ancient Kosala (Ptolemy's 'Sambalaka'), and the temple's Kosali-style architecture differs from coastal Kalinga temples. It survived the Maratha and British periods, and the 1857 revolt leader Veer Surendra Sai worshipped here.
Timings
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Best time to visit
Nuakhai (Aug–Sep) and Navaratri (Oct)
Entry fee
Free
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹8,125 · 325 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- Mahanadi riverbank aarti
- Sambalpuri ikat market
- Nuakhai festival
- Combine with Hirakud & Huma leaning temple
Local tip: Shop for genuine Sambalpuri saris at Bargarh weaver cooperatives, not roadside stalls.
On the map
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