Mukteswara Temple was built during the reign of the Somavamsi dynasty, specifically attributed to King Yayati I (or Keshari), who ruled over the Odisha region in the 10th century. The temple was constructed at a time when Kalinga architecture was evolving from the simpler style of the Parasurameswara Temple (7th century) to the grand scale of the Lingaraj Temple (11th century).
Mukteswara represents the experimental phase where architects began incorporating new elements — the most notable being the torana (gateway) borrowed from Buddhist architecture. The temple was dedicated as a Shaiva shrine and remained an active place of worship. In the 19th century, the temple was documented by British archaeologists and art historians who first called it the 'Gem of Odisha.'
The temple is now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) but continues to function as an active place of worship.
