Kapilash Temple
Chandrashekhar Mahadev Temple
Shiva as 'the one crowned with the moon', atop a forested hill nicknamed Odisha's Kailash.
⭐ Why it is famous
Kapilash is a 14th-century Ganga-period hilltop temple whose deity is worshipped as Chandrashekhar — Shiva bearing the crescent moon on his matted hair. It is not a documented Chandra-graha kshetra, but its very name and iconography make it the honest choice to anchor the Moon leg of this trail. Pilgrims climb roughly 1,352 stone steps through sal forest to reach the shrine.
📜 Pilgrimage history
Local tradition says king Prataparudra Deva of the Gajapati dynasty built the temple after a dream instructing him to atone here for the death of a bull, and the hill has been a Shaivite pilgrimage site ever since, drawing large crowds on Mahashivaratri.
🕰️ Temple timings
- 5:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
🙏 Darśan details
- Free darshan; the climb up stone steps takes 45–60 minutes, or a hill road runs partway up.
- Mahashivaratri fair draws the biggest crowds and needs an early start.
🚉 Location & getting there
📍 Kapilash Temple, Dhenkanal, DhenkanalDhenkanal (DNKL) — 26 km
Dhenkanal bus stand — state transport buses stop here.
Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (BBI) — 90 km
Kapilash is 26 km north of Dhenkanal town off the Dhenkanal–Kamakhyanagar road; autos run from Dhenkanal.
🪔 Poojas, sevās & tickets
This temple does not publish a rate list. Darśan is free; ārcanā, abhiṣeka and other sevās are booked at the counter inside the temple on the day.
🧭 Around the temple
Places to see besides the temple — tap any one to open it in Google Maps.
🛏️ Where to stay
- OTDC and private lodges in Dhenkanal town
- Basic guesthouses at the hill base
₹ Indicative trip cost (per head, 2 days)
| Budget | Standard | Comfort |
|---|---|---|
| ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹7,500 |
🛕 Nearby temples
📌 Other attractions nearby
- Dhenkanal old palace
- Sal-forest hill trail
🧵 Part of these circuits
📅 Best time to visit
November to February, and around Mahashivaratri (Feb/Mar) for the hill fair.