This crowning piece of Orissan architecture and sculpture, built in the 13th century , the golden era of orissan art, is a poetry in stone and on the World Heritage list. The Mukhashala , or entrance hall continues to interest both devotees and visitors. The walls of this magnificent ruin have exquisite sculptures covering many aspects of life, Scenes of love and war, trade and court transactions , hunting, catching of elephants ,  sages teaching , childbirth, amorous dalliances, dancers and mythical figures , all vie for attention on the panels and niches of this immortal work of  art.

The colossal figures of the war elephants holding aloft a dazed soldier or the enraged war-horses trampling under their hooves a fallen warrior , the last fittingly chosen  as the emblem of the State, and above all, the twenty-four giant wheels of this temple-chariot,The Lords then convalesce inside the sanctum sanctorum, closed to public view, during which time the devotees have to be satisfied with a darshan by images of the Lords on cloth paintings or Pattachitra especially made for the purpose. Then comes the annual sojourn of the three deities riding three grand chariots to their garden house, greeting on the way their aunt who feeds them with podapitha (specially baked rice cakes). The deities then assume new attires (Vesha) every day and after a lapse of 8 days, they return to the main temple riding their chariots.

 The grand road, as it is called, is ideal for a leisurely stroll and shopping for souvenirs and mementoes.