About the Temple
Samaleswari Temple dedicated to Goddess Samaleswari, popularly known as Samalei Maa is the presiding deity of Sambalpur. Samaleswari Pitha is considered as one of the most powerful force in the Western Odisha as well as neighbor Chhattisgarh. The temple is an ancient one situated on the river bank of Mahanadi.
There are many legends about the place, which can be heard from the local people or the worshippers. The temple was actually built by King Balaram Dev of Chowhan Dynasty under a Simuli Tree sometime in the middle of 16th Century AD. But the temple was rebuilt by the 7th Independent King of Sambalpur Chhatra Sai Deo sometime in between 1657 to 1665 AD. As the temple was built under a Simuli Tree, so the Goddess was named as Samalei.
Temple Architecture
The Temple is built by a kind of stone similar to Granite but not actually Granite. The temple has two parts. One is larger part known as Badagudi, where the idol of Goddess exists and other part is Sanagudi or Mandap, where one can found the idol of Lord Ganesh and others. The idol of Maa Samalei consists a block of Granite Rock designed and ornamented in a perfect manner to give it the shape of a face. The outer wall of the temple consists of the idols of eleven other goddesses. Apart from the main Goddess, Pitabali, the God of Kondhas is also worshipped in this temple.
Festivals Celebrated
A number of festivals are organized here with great enthusiasm throughout the year. Among them the Navaratri or Dusshera and Nuakhai are the most prominent ones, which observed with great splendor and devotion.
How to Reach the Temple and Accommodation Facilities
Sambalpur is 320 Km away from State Capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar. It is well connected both by Rail as well as bus to almost all important places of India.
It has train links to New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Mumbai and Bokaro via Jharsuguda Junction.
NH-06 connecting Mumbai and Kolkata passes through Sambalpur. Sambalpur is connected to Cuttack via NH-42. Uninterrupted Bus facilities are available from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to reach this place.
The Nearest airport is Raipur Airport which is 270 Km away.
Accommodation facilities in the form of Guest House, Hotels and Dharmashalas are available here to provide shelter to the pilgrims.
