The ancient holy city of Bhubaneswar, now the capital of the modern state of Orissa, was once a magnetic and powerful pilgrimage center, home of more than seven thousand temples. Orissa (Kalinga of ancient times) was where Emperor Ashok foreswore violence and converted to Buddhism. Between the 7th to the 11th century there was frenetic temple building and five of the extant temples of Bhubaneswar provide a walk through five centuries of the Golden Age of Hindu temple architecture. Popularly known as the "Temple City of India", hundreds of temples dot the landscape of the Old Town (Ekamakshetra) even today. The new Bhubaneswar with its modern buildings and extensive infrastructure perfectly complements its historic surroundings.
