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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sonpur
Sonepur / Subarnapur
A half-day temple stop between Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar: see the Lankeswari and Subarnameru temples, then move on.
Sonpur is a small temple town at the confluence of the Mahanadi and Tel rivers, once the capital of a princely state. Its cluster of architecturally notable temples — Lankeswari, Subarnameru and Sureswari — can be seen in a few hours. Most travellers use it as a short stop on the rail line between Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar, not a base.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- Sonepur / Subarnapur
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,000–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a local stall | ₹10–20 |
| Odia thali (lunch) | ₹100–200 |
| Auto-rickshaw within town | ₹50–100 |
| Train from Bhubaneswar to Sonpur, unreserved | ₹200–400 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BBI · Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
- About 3 h by road or train
- JRG · Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda
- About 1.5 h by road; check flight schedules
Typical fares
- Sonpur station → temples
- walk 10–15 min or auto ₹50–100
- Sonpur → Sambalpur by train
- about ₹100–200, about 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The temples are within walking distance of each other and the station. Auto-rickshaws are available for short trips.
See and do
Known for
- Lankeswari Temple
- Subarnameru Temple
- Sureswari Temple
- Confluence of Mahanadi and Tel rivers
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sambalpur | Train or bus, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Baripada | Train or bus via Balasore, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
| Rourkela | Train, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Keonjhar | Bus or train via Bhadrak, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Near the railway station
- A few basic hotels; most visitors stay in Sambalpur or Bhubaneswar
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | କେତେ?kete |
| Thank you | ଧନ୍ୟବାଦdhanyabāda |
| Where is the temple? | ମନ୍ଦିର କେଉଁଠି?mandira keunthi? |
| One plate of thali | ଗୋଟିଏ ଥାଲିgotie thali |
| Please stop here | ଏଠାରେ ଅଟକନ୍ତୁeṭhāre aṭakantu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Temples may close for midday rest (about 12:00–14:00); plan your visit accordingly.
- Limited accommodation: book ahead or stay in a nearby city.
- Monsoon flooding can affect road and rail access; check conditions before travelling.
Sonpur is generally safe for tourists. Watch out for stray animals and uneven temple steps. Carry water and sun protection.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sonpur yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lankeswari Temple
- Subarnameru Temple
- Sureswari Temple
- Confluence of Mahanadi and Tel rivers
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Odisha Tourism: odishatourism.gov.in/
- Wikivoyage: Sonpur (Odisha), revision 5293635 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5293635
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SonpurSonepur / Subarnapur
ଏହି ଠିକଣାକୁ, ଦୟାକରି
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US Embassy is in New Delhi; consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Most other countries have embassies in Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sonpur-odisha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.