Chausathi Yogini Temple, Hirapur

"Located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the Chausathi Yogini Temple at Hirapur is a rare 9th-century shrine dedicated to sixty-four yoginis mystical female deities of Tantric tradition. Built by Queen Hiradevi, this compact, circular temple is among only four surviving yogini shrines in India, two of which are in Odisha. Unique in design, the temple is open to the sky, reflecting the belief that each yogini embodies a centre of energy that flows freely in a circular form, unsuppressed by a roof.
Carved from dark chlorite stone, each of the sixty-four yoginis is distinct in form and expression, while a central pavilion houses the fierce Bhairava figures with Mahamaya being the presiding deity. Rediscovered in 1953 by historian Kedarnath Panigrahi and carefully restored, it stands today as one of India’s finest examples of temple reconstruction. Intimate, enigmatic and deeply atmospheric, Hirapur offers a rare glimpse into a lesser-known spiritual tradition just beyond the city."