The Mukteshwara Temple, famous for its decorated stone arch gateway (torana), is located in:

The Mukteshwara Temple is located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha.

About the Mukteshwara Temple:

• It was built in the 10th century CE (around 950-975 CE), probably during the Somavamshi period.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is a small but very beautiful temple, often called the "gem of Odishan architecture" or the "jewel of Odisha".
• Its most famous feature is the decorated stone arch (torana) at its entrance, with carvings of smiling women and other designs; this arch shows Buddhist influence.
• It marks a transition between the early and the later phases of the Kalinga style of temple architecture.
• It was one of the first temples in Odisha to have a jagamohana (assembly hall) with a pyramidal roof, along with the main tower.
• Its walls are decorated with carvings of ascetics, nagas, nagis (serpent figures), animals and scenes from the Panchatantra.
• A "Mukteshwar Dance Festival" of Odissi dance is held at the temple every year.

The Kalinga style of temple architecture:

• It is a regional variety of the Nagara style.
• A temple has a "rekha deul" (the tall curved tower over the sanctum) and a "pidha deul" (the pyramidal roof over the hall).

Other famous temples of Bhubaneswar:

• Parashurameshvara Temple (7th century): one of the oldest temples.
• Rajarani Temple (11th century): known for its carvings and the absence of a deity.
• Brahmeswara Temple (11th century).
• Ananta Vasudeva Temple (13th century): one of the few Vishnu temples.
• Bhubaneswar has hundreds of temples and is called the "Temple City of India".

Other temples of Odisha:

• Jagannath Temple, Puri.
• Sun Temple, Konark (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh have other famous temples, but the Mukteshwara Temple with the famous torana is in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.