The Kataka Chandi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi (an incarnation of Goddess Durga). She is reagrded as the presiding deity (adhisthatri devi) of Cuttack city of Odisha. In Cuttack, people strongly believe Maa Katak Chandi as ‘The Living Goddess’.

Special fact about the temple is taht the deity is older than the temple. It is believed that she was the family deity of Gajapati Empire in the medieval age, and due to Islamic invaders’ attacks, she was buried while the kings migrated to Puri and later was recovered out of the deep land by the King of Kanika after a message from one of his priest, whose name was Hansa Panda and in whose dream the Goddess “Chandika” appeared and instructed him to take her out of the land.

The temple is located near the banks of the Mahanadi River. It is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. The Durga Puja festivities are prominent in Maa Katak Chandi temple which takes place for 16 days starting from dark fortnight of Ashwina Krishna Ashtami till Ashwina shukla navami and Vijayadashami.

Cuttack is also famous as the birth place of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and for the Barabati Fort and its 1000 years’ old Tarakasi (silver filgree).

How to Reach: Cuttack is part of the twin city of Odisha with Bhubaneswar being the other and is located on the Kolkata Chennai national highway about 30 km from Bhubaneswar towards Kolkata. Cuttack is also a major rail head on the Howrah-Chennai main line.

Find more about the twmple on its official website.

Locate the temple on the Google Map.