Maa Sarala Temple at Jhankad is one of the most important religious and historical destinations in Jagatsinghpur district. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Sarala, who is traditionally regarded as a synthesis of Goddess Durga and Goddess Saraswati. The Jagatsinghpur District Administration identifies Jhankad as one of Odisha’s eight well-known Shakta shrines, giving the temple considerable importance in the religious heritage of the state.

The traditions associated with Maa Sarala combine elements of Vedic, Tantric and Vaishnavite worship. The principal stone image depicts the goddess in an eight-armed Mahishamardini form, with her right foot placed upon a lion. The district’s tourism information also associates the shrine’s early history with the Bhauma rulers and records traditions connecting the site with Parashurama.

The temple also occupies an important position in Odisha’s literary history because of its association with Adikavi Sarala Das, the celebrated 15th-century Odia poet. Sarala Das is closely connected with the development of Odia literature, and the association between the poet and the goddess has made Jhankad significant not only as a pilgrimage destination but also as a cultural and literary heritage site.

The temple is about 18 km by road from Jagatsinghpur district headquarters, according to the district tourism page. Its combination of Shakta traditions, distinctive deity, literary connections and long religious history makes Maa Sarala Temple one of the strongest temple listings to feature prominently on your Jagatsinghpur website.