Jajpur also known as Jajapur is a town in Jajpur district in the state of Odisha. It is generally known as Biraja Khetra, which translates to – the place sacred to Goddess Biraja. It is surrounded by the Baitarani River in a semi-circle with a canal at the other end. It was the capital city of Odisha during the rule of Kesari dynasty. The capital was later shifted to the city of Cuttack. Presently it is the headquarters of Jajpur district in the state of Odisha.

Jajpur is 100 km from Cuttack and is to the southern side of the Baitarani River and is an historical place of pilgrimage. As per the Mahabharata, formerly great sages performed penances at this place. Thereby this place came to be known as Yajapura, meaning – the place where sacrifices are performed. Jajpura was also one of the capital cities of King Yayati and that Yajapura has come from the name Yayati-nagara. Lord Chaitanya visited this place on His way to Vrindavana.

There are many temples of demigods and incarnations here. There is a Deity of Lord Varahanatha here visited by many pilgrims since centuries. This Varaha temple houses a small shrine which has the footprints of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This was constructed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the spiritual master of ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

The local inhabitants also worship Varahi, Vaishnavi and Indrani, as well as many similar forms of Devi. There are also many Deities of Lord Shiva. Jajpura is also called Nabhi-gaya or Viraja-ksetra. Legend has it that when Lord Vishnu slayed Gayasura by performing a yajna upon his heart, Gayasura’s feet were at Pada-Gaya (Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh), his navel at Nabhi-Gaya (Jajpura) and head at Shiro-Gaya (Gaya, Bihar).

The distance from Jajpura to Puri is 160 km. There are many direct trains and it takes around three hours to reach this place.