Set in Puri, Odisha, Vimala Temple honours Goddess Vimala, also called Bimala, a form of Durga and Shakti. It is also known as Bimala Temple, Vimala Shaktipeeth.
Vimala Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, also counted among the four principal Shakti Peethas of Odisha, marking where parts of the goddess Sati's body fell after the Daksha Yagna; here it is traditionally said to be her feet, referred to as Pada Khanda. According to the Madala Panji, the record book of the Jagannath Temple, Vimala Temple was built in the 6th century by Yayati Keshari of the Somavanshi dynasty, though its architecture points to a 9th-century construction during the Eastern Ganga dynasty, suggesting an original shrine that.
Odisha carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of Kalinga temple architecture, from Jagannath's Rath Yatra at Puri to the sculpted sun-chariot of Konark.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | Approximately 5:00 or 6:00 AM to 11:30 AM |
| Evening | Approximately 3:00 PM to 9:00 or 10:00 PM |
Reported daily aarti schedule: Kapoor Aarti 6:00 AM, Mangal Aarti and bath 6:30 AM, Bal Bhog Aarti 8:00 AM, Midday Bhog and Shayan Aarti 11:30 AM, Kapoor Aarti 3:00 PM, Sandhya Aarti 6:00 PM, evening darshan 8:15 PM, Sleeping Aarti 9:00 PM. As the temple is inside the Jagannath Temple complex, access follows the main temple's entry rules.
Poojas and daily rituals
Multiple daily aartis through the day; notably, food offered to Lord Jagannath is first offered to Goddess Vimala before it is considered Mahaprasad
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Durga Puja | Ashvin month, September-October | The temple's principal festival, with worship traditionally performed by the Gajapati King, culminating on Vijayadashami. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Built in Kalinga Deula style with four components: Vimana (sanctum), Jagamohana (assembly hall), Nata Mandira (dance and festival hall) and Bhoga Mandapa (offering hall), in sandstone and laterite; located to the right of the main Jagannath temple, next to the sacred Rohini Kund
History
According to the Madala Panji, the record book of the Jagannath Temple, Vimala Temple was built in the 6th century by Yayati Keshari of the Somavanshi dynasty, though its architecture points to a 9th-century construction during the Eastern Ganga dynasty, suggesting an original shrine that was later rebuilt. It stands within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri, Odisha.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, is about 60 km away. Puri railway station is about 3 km from the temple. The temple is inside the Jagannath Temple complex in central Puri, reachable by auto-rickshaw, bus or taxi.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Shakti Peetha status and general history are well corroborated, but the exact construction date and some timing details vary between sources