Nilakantheswar Temple
About Nilakantheswar Temple
Located on the Jagamanda hills in Padmapur village, Nilakantheswar Temple stands as a distinctive 7th-century Buddhist shrine built upon seven rocks, making it architecturally unique. Though primarily identified as a Buddhist temple, it is also venerated as a shrine dedicated to Manikeswar Shiva. The hillock hosts three additional Shiva temples—Pudukeswar, Dhabaleswar, and Mallikeswar—creating a sacred complex. The original structure has been preserved with a small cemented front hall added in recent times. The temple serves as a significant tourist center for Rayagada district, drawing devotees throughout the day for darshan and aarti, with evening rituals and festival celebrations attracting particularly large gatherings.
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