Rest of Odisha · Shakti Peetha on the Rushikulya hills
Maa Tara Tarini Temple
Twin goddesses Tara and Tarini enshrined on Kumari hill above the Rushikulya river — one of the four Adi Shakti Peethas of India, reached by 999 steps or a ropeway.
History & legend
Tara Tarini is counted among the four Adi Shakti Peethas where, according to the Puranas, the breasts of Sati fell when Vishnu's Sudarshana cut her body — hence the twin hill. Worship here predates the 5th century; Kalinga's Ganga and Gajapati kings endowed it, and the goddesses are the family deity (Ishta Devi) of many Odia royal houses. Legend links the shrine to Emperor Ashoka's Kalinga war on the nearby Rushikulya banks and to the Tantric Bhairavi cult described in the Kalika Purana.
Timings
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · ropeway 8 AM – 6 PM
Best time to visit
Chaitra (Mar–Apr) Tuesdays for the mela; Oct–Feb weather
Entry fee
Free · ropeway ₹80 return
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹4,375 · 175 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- 999-step climb or ropeway
- Rushikulya river views
- Chaitra Parba fair
- Breast-shaped hill legend
Local tip: Tuesdays are the auspicious day and get very crowded in Chaitra. Combine with Gopalpur beach on the same trip.
On the map
