The Times of India salutes the glory and greatness of Odisha, which is a perfect blend of the old and the new, We take pride in the fact that our beloved state is associated with some of India's most revered sites such as Jaganath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Udaygiri-Khandagiri, Mukteswar and Ratnagiri. If the venerable Puri Ratha stands for our etenal faith in divinity. Dhauli reminds us of the great KalingaWar that changed the heart of Emperor Ashoka.
Rourkela Steel Plant, Hirakud Dam and Ravenshaw College symbolize Odisha's transition into a modern, vibrant state. Gopalpur-on-sea, Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika, Similipal and Olive Ridley turtles make it a land of unparalleled beauty. Pipili, Raghurajpur, Sambalpuri sarees and Cuttack's silver filigree work are some of the rare examples of human endeavour to promote art as a source of livelihood.
In deference to love and reverence for these awe-inspiring, majestic sites, we have taken an initiative to help the reader choose his or her own "Seven Wonders of Odisha".
JAGANNATH TEMPLE-
Standing tall on the shores of Puri for centuries, the Jagannath Temple epitomizes Vasudheiba Kutumbakam (the world is one family), a global vision Indians have unfailingly cherished since time immemorial, a philosophy that goes beyond the realms of religion.
The Shrine is indeed a wonder. so are the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra.For , when votaries of religion have turned the world into a theatre of senseless violence each trying to be one above the other in the name of god, the abode of the trinity has remained a trans-continental confluence of people of all faiths, sending out the message that , methods of worship not withstanding, all are equal before the Almighty.
That possibly could be the reason the presiding deity is aptly known as Jagannath, (Lord of the Universe), a combination of what researchers say are two non-vedic names. Jagat (universe) and Nath(Lord).The host of rituals attached to the deities and people associated with the shrine point to the universality of Lord Jagannath and his Hometown, the holy city of Puri.
They typify the human cycle. Like any human being, the Lord sleeps, wakes up, brushes his teeth in the morning, takes breakfast, lunch, goes for an afternoon siesta, dinner at night, watches dances and listens to music, before retiring to bed .He suffers from fever and undergoes treatment with medicicines. Jagannath Temple represents any Odia family;the 'prasad 'cooked for the Lord is traditional. Vegetables like potato and tomato are not allowed as they are imports.
Putting behind the man-made caste barrier, the temple hosts prasad for all to sit together and eat . Everyday an average of 30,000 people have the Lord's prasad comprising rice, dal and other dishes from the world's largest kitchen. Gods and Goddess in major Hindu temples are usually made of stone or metal. But Jagannath, Balabhadra , Subhadra are a class apart. They are built from neem wood and look different sans legs , palms and faces unfinished with round huge eyes. The images are replaced every 8 to 12 yrs according to the calculations of the Odia Calendar.This ritual is known as 'Nabakalebara' symbolizing the age-old belief that the soul is immortal and migrates from one body to another. Jagannath is embedded so deeply in the psyche of the people that no Odia family ventures out without invoking His name. If there is a marriage, the first invitation card is either delivered personally or sent to Him by post. Jagannath is considered the eldest member of every family. In times of trouble, people go to Him with their problems, shout at Him, hold Him responsible for their woes and swear not to talk to Him until they find relief. The deity is reflected in every aspect of human life, be it religion, architecture, social custom or literature.
Irrespective of individual conviction the Jagannath temple commands the reverence of all faiths . True to its spirit of equality and harmony the temple throughout its existence has not been the cause of any major conflgaration among warring sects within Hinduism or outside. Instead, it assimilated views of preachers and philosophers above board,re-establishing the ultimate truth that God is one, beyond patent rights and belongs to all. That is why many scholars say that though Jagannath Dham is one of the four Dhams , it is not identified with any particular sect, unlike the other 3 (Rameswaram, Dwarka and Badrinath). Vaishnavites see Jagannath as Vishnu and Shaivites as Shiva . Tulsidas after visiting the temple felt he stood before Lord Rama.
Exponents of Tantra interpret Jagannath as Bhairava, their Almighty. Both Buddhists and Jains worship Jagannath. Guru Nanak Dev worshipped Him as the ultimate being . The Temple was the recipient of a huge amount of gold from Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who also wanted to gift the Koh-i-noor to the Lord. but the British took it to London.
Tribals say Jagannath is their God, and cite Daitapatis, a class of servitors as tribal descendants .Jagannath, researchers say , has for centuries evolved into a cult, truly global in character. The numerous soulful lyrics composed by 16 century Sufi Muslim Savant Salbeg in praise of Jagannath proves this point. Saint Kabir was a muslim weaver from Uttar Pradesh. He visited Puri around 16th Century and worshipped Jagannath. The famous applique work used in the temple and in the chariots during the annual Rath Yatra are made by Muslim artists. People of Christian origin participate in the festival in large numbers where they sing , dance and pull the chariots . No wonder, the festival is now universal, being observed in a no of countries.
Jagannath is often reffered to in academic circles as an enigmatic God .He is perhaps the most researched and discussed deity in the world . Yet His antiquity and origin of worship is still shrouded in mystery .Available archeological evidence shows that the present temple was started by the first Ganga King ,Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev and was probably completed by his great grandson Anangbhimadev III.According to the Madalpanji, the 3 wooden deities were installed around the 14 century AD. Earlier Jagannath was worshipped in the name of Purshottam. It is still not known what happened to the image , how it looked like before being replaced by the wooden trinity. But Puri as a holy place was known before the temple and the deities in their present form came into being. That Sankaracharya visited Puri in the early part of the 9th century establishes the sanctity of the place in ancient times.
Amid theunending search for the genesis of Jagannath , what looks relevant in the 21 st century is the global appeal of the deity. According to British Historian W W Hunter Puri is known to every hamlet throughout India , and to every civilized nation on earth as the abode of Jagannath , the Lord of the world ...As long as his towers rise over Puri sands so long there will be in India , a perpetual and visible protest of equality of man before God.
FACTS ABOUT LORD JAGANNATH
1)The 214.8 ft high Jagannath temple is one of the India's tallest Shrine.
2)The temple's kitchen is considered the world's largest . It serves' prasad ' to around 3,000 visitors daily.
3)European sailors called it the 'The White Pagoda"as it remained covered in a thick coat of lime for centuries. For the 1st time the superior artistic workmenship on the temple's Khondalite stone surface came to light when the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) began de-plastering it in 1975.
4) The Temple comprises about 4 lakh sq.ft area and houses over 100 other temples and old structures .
5)The holy city of Puri has over 100 mutts . The Govardhan mutt is said to be nearly 1,200 yrs old
6) The presiding deity is known as Jagannath (The lord of the universe) , a combination of what researchers say are non-vedic names -Jagat(universe) and Nath (lord).
7. Vaishnavites see Jagannath as Vishnu and Shaivites as Shiva .
8. The temple was the recipient of a huge amount of gold from Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who also wanted to gift the koh-i -noor to the Lord , but the British later took it to London.
9. Jagannath, researcher say, has for centuries itself evolved into a cult, truly global in chacter.The numerous soulful lyrics composed by 16th century Sufi Muslim savant Salbeg in praise of Jagannath proves this point.
10. The famous applique work used in the temple and in the chariots during the annual Rath festival are made by Muslim artists.
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IMAGE OF THE JAGANNATH TEMPLE
UDAYAGIRI-KHANDAGIRI- The sylvan environs of the picturesque Khandagiri-Udayagiri hills draw hundreds of tourists throughout the year who love to soak in the serenity of the place .The twin hills offer a breathtaking view of the temple city. The caves, for which hills are famed for , bears testimony to Odisha's cultural, architectural , and martial past. The inscriptions on the rock-cut Hatigumpha or Elephant caves on the Udaygiri Hills offer a sneak peek into the life and time of the
mighty King Kharvela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty of the 2nd century BC
Historian Sadanand Agarwal said the shape of the caves show they were used as dwelling units . Jain ascetics lived here They were designed like dormitories and an incline on the one side of the floor indicates the raised side served as a pillow.
According to Historian Sadanand Agarwal the inscription and sculptural arts indicate hail the Jain warrior king Kharvela not only as the greatest king of Kalinga but also as one who played a key role in the power politics of the Indian subcontinent.
Hatigumpha, situated to the south of Udaygiri , is a natural cave and was not sculpted. Unlike the other caves, it used to be the favourite abode of prehistoric hunter gatherers as 14 samples of engravings and paintings were found here. The engravings were the earliest inscriptions found in India , detailing the kings life from childhood to teens.
Sanjay Acharya, , Head of the History Dept of Utkal University said the inscriptions praised Kharvela as a great man in war as in peace.
Although he was a Jain, he patronized Brahminism and Buddhism.
Another attraction in Udayagiri, is the two-storey Ranigumpha , a kind of amphitheatre . The ground floor was perhaps used to stage dance performances.Ranigumpha has sculptural reprensentations of Odissi dance, mudras and movements. The Anantgumpha in Khandagiri showcases religious sculptures.
Historians are of the opinion that the ornate carvings on the walls of the Udayagiri caves depict scenes of the victory celebrations of the king when he returned from war.
Another interesting cave in Udaygiri is Baghagumpha, resembling the mouth of the tiger.
Every year saints and monks arrive at Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills from across the country to take part in the 10 day Magha Mela . Jain monks especially arrive on these twin hills to take part in a yajna conducted on the hills for the last several years. This year the mela will begin on January 26..Jain saints take out a viman from Udaigiri and conduct a procession around the temples and caves on this occasion . A rural fair organised by the local village community has more than 400 stalls displaying an array of products such as household items , utensils, stone carving and handicrafts . The mela is famous for jatras during which 10 jatra groups take part in the competion.
During the khandagiri Mela presiding deity Ananta Keshari Dev is worshipped. It is also believed that if a person takes a bath at Chandrabhaga on Magha Saptami and then visits Khandagiri hills during the Magha Mela he or see will be cured of all diseases.
Though some caves have been ruined, there are 17 caves in Udayagiri and 18 in Khandagiri. The Archeological survey of India along with the state tourism department are working together to preseve the historic significance of the site The Tourism Department has signed an MoU with the Indian Tourism Development Corporation for 30 minute light and Sound show at Khandagiri and Udayagiri.
State -of the art technology will be used to narrate the legends and stories of the two sites during the rule of emperor Kharvela.
Recently , the Khandagiri Anchalika Bikash Parishad , a body formed for the betterment of twin tourist sites has involved the local community for the protection of the place.The local community main aim will be to convince the tourists not to throw food packets and other items around the place.
FACTS ABOUT KHANDAGIRI -UDAYAGIRI
*Khandagiri -Udayagiri caves are partly natural and partly man-made.
*The Hills on which the caves stand is mentioned as Kumari Parvat in the Hatigumpha inscription.
*The Caves, which are called"lena ".in the inscriptions are believed to have been careved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the rule of emperor Kharvela .
*Based on reading the inscriptions, historians said King Kharvela had excavated 117 caves on the Kumari Hill.*
.* At present there are 33 rock-cut caves in the hills While there are 18 in Udaygiri ,Khandagiri has 15 caves
*Udayagiri means sunrise hills It has 18 caves . Ranigumpha in Udayagiri is a double storey monastery.
*Khandagiri means broken hills .It has 15 caves. It offers a fine view of Bhubaneswar from its summit.
*Jains asthetics lived in these caves . The caves were designed like dormitories and an incline on one side of the floor indicates the raised side served as a pillow.
*The caves were sculpted during the reign of the Meghavahana dynasty.
*The biggest attraction is the Hatigumpha , in the south of Udaigiri.
*Historians say the carvings on the walls of the caves of udayagiri depict scenes of the victory celebration of the king when he returned from war.
IMAGE OF KHANDAGIRI- UDAYAGIRI
KONARK SUN TEMPLE- The Sun Temples of Konark has awed everyone and made them curious . Though the beauty and grandeur of this place has been spellbinding .The stages in its lifecycle remains a jigsaw puzzle yet to unravel.It is an enigma of the monument , that its history raises more questions than answers.
Shrouded in mystery, Konark is a temple of a different genre. Many theories and legends are there regarding its construction, consecration to collapse.But there is no unanimity yet on whether the temple was ever completed , consecrated or how it was reduced to ruins.
Legends has it that it took 1,200 sculptors to work non-stop for 12 years to build the shrine,but when they failed to finish it, a small boy named Dharmapada,son of a sculptor took it upon him and fixed the final stone atop the structure.Historians and archeologists, however, are divided over the issue. Some doubt whether the sun god was actually worshipped in the temple , though the majority is of the opinion that it was consecrated.
The most widely accepted view of historians is that the temple fell into decay within 300 years of its construction.But views are spilt on how the temple fell. Some say it was devastated in a natural calamity like a cyclone, earthquake or lightning ;some believe the foundation gave in because of weak soil; others believe that a Muslim invader Kalapahar ( general of Sulaiman Karrani of Bengal )damaged the shrine;still others contend the temple was brought down during the British rule because a powerful magnet crowning the temple caused navigational problems for ships. There are some like historian Percy Brown who believe the temple caved in even before its completion.
A mythological version of the temple collapse also exists.According to it, the temple caved in, after the sun god , struck by the beauty of a girl, playing on the beach close to the Konark Temple, made sexual advances at her. Almost simultaneously the temple collapsed.But no account so far is regarded as authentic. No historian ,archeologist, Researcher can claim with certainity the real story behind Konark,which literally means 'sun god of the corner'. ( Arka means Surya or Sun and Kona stands for corner).
Spread on a sprawling 12 -acre patch, close to the Bay of Bengal, the Sun Temple was built during the reign of King Narasimha-I by spending the whole revenue of 12 years of the kingdom according to an account by Abul Fazal ( the court historian of Akbar)in his Ain-i -Akbari.Thousands of devotees of the Sun-god celebrate Magha Saptami every year at Chandrabhaga, near Konark Temple believing the legend that Samba, Son of Lord Krishna,had observed penance there and was cured of leprosy.
However, there is unanimity on Konark regarding its undisputed beauty, hightened level of creativity, the intricate carvings, the erotic sculptures telling tales of creation and procreation, architectural magnificence.
The entire structure, resembling a colossal chariot with 12 pairs of wheels, lavishly sculpted with symbolic motifs and pulled by seven horses, was so designed to let the first rays of the sun fall on the main entrance. say experts. The main temple which some believe rose to a height of 225feet, had disintegrated by early 17th century , and what is now left is the Jagamohan(audience chamber or hall infront of the sanctum.) Unlike the Jagannath Temple, also reffered to as the White Pagoda,Konark is not a living shrine.
Though the efforts towards conservating the temple began in the 19th century, it was between 1900 and 1903, on the order of then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal J.A Baurdilon that a major excavation was undertaken around the Jagamohan and the interior of the Jagamohan was stuffed with sand to prevent it from caving in.
More than a century later, the huge volume of sand is now said to be posing a threat to the Kondalite structure , resulting in cracks and seepagse of water. Big stone blocks have reportedly fallen off,triggering fears that the temple could some day cease to exist. The Archeological Survey of India has been entrusted the duty of its protection. The UNESCO declared it a world heritage site in 1984
IMAGE OF KONARK SUN TEMPLE
CHILKA LAKE- Asia's largest brackish lagoon, Chilka,is a jewel in Odisha's tourism crown attracting visitors all the year around. The tranquility, the picturesque island , the panoramic view, the colourful migratory birds, the Irrawady dolphins and above all the Bay of Bengal nearby make the lagoon a natural wonder.
The tourism department says Chilika is Odisha's 2nd most sought after destination after Puri -famous for the Jagannath Temple and the beach. Such is the beauty of Chilka that it features in the tour packages of every domestic and international tour operator.
Out of nearly 98 lakh tourists , who visited Odisha in 2013- 14 , more than 85% visited the Lake Satapada, Balugaon and Rambha are the three most visited spots in the lagoon. A tourist's trip in Odisha is incomplete without a visit to the lake especially the Kalijai Temple .
Home to severalrare, vulnerable and endangered species of birds and marine life listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature -the world's apex authority on the conservation status of species-the lake is a biodiversity zone. Covering 1,168 sq.km in the east coast of Odisha , the lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal , through a narrow sea mouth. A survey on the fauna of Chilika by the Zoological Survey of India in 1985-87 recordedover 800 species -"the list includes a number of rare, threatened and endagered species , including the Barakudia limbless shrink . On accounts of the rich bio-diversity and ecological significance, Chilika was designated as the 1st ''Ramsar site'' of India .The place is not a delight just for tourists. The lake's ecosystem and biodiversity attract a large number of migratory birds each winter. Some of them come from as far as the Caspian Sea , Lake Baikal, Aral Sea , Russia , Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia and closer home Ladakh and the Himalayas.The Nalaban Island, a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife( Protection )Act, comes alive with the twitter of hundreds of birds basking in the sun every winter. Spread over 9 sq. km , Nalaban is a bird lover's paradise .
The latest survey of the wildlife division of the State forest Department shows over 7.61lakh migratory birds thronged the picturesque lake this winter compared to 1.79 lakh last year. The Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail are among the sought after species coming to Chilika.
Enchanted by the beauty of the lake and the livelihood options it throws up to hundreds of villagers in the coastal areas, it has found reference in Odia literature and documentary films . Ancient texts project Chilika as a major commercial port when King Kalinga ruled as the Lord of the Sea.
According to data of the Chilika Development Authority in 2002, 323 aquatic species including 261 fish species are found in the water. Herrings , Sardines, prawns , crabs and Hilsa are among the aquatic delights that helps this lake support a flourishing fishing community.
Chilika's natrural resources sustain the livelihood of over 2 lakh fisherfolk,living around the lagoon. Historians say the fisheries were part of the zamindari estates of Khallikote , Parikud Suna Bibi, Mirza Taher Baig and the Chaudhary families of Bhungarpur and the Khas Mahal areas of Khurda, lying within the kingdoms of the Rajas of Parikud and Khallikote.
FACTS ABOUT CHILIKA:
IMAGE OF CHILKA LAKE
PIPLI APPLIQUE-Master craftsmen have been creating artworks such as colourful garden umbrellas on beaches or hotel lawns , chanduas at functions and weddings and lampshades for years in Pipili near Bhubaneswar.The sheer brilliance and intricacy of the appliqued masterepiece astonishes everyone.
Though most applique makers are concentrated in PIpili,there are a few in Khallikote, Paralakhemundi and Boudh. The artistry involves a tedious process of stitching colourful pieces of cloth on a base cloth to form a running motif.The base fabric is usually black or midnight blue and and red and the contrasting applique needlework is in bright hues of yellow , red and blue.The patches are simple and bold motifs of gods, animals, bird , flower and plants accentuated by embroidery such as 'bakhia'', trupa' and chikan. sometimes small mirrors and shining metal pieces are stitched onto the motifs to accentuate the looks.
PROCESS FOR MAKING THE ARTWORK Craftsman of Pipili Jabar Khan explains the process of making the artwork.Craftsmen first design the piece and then cut the motifs . The base fabric and the motifs are then given to young artisans to complete the patchwork.
The mainstay of this applique industry is girls whose nimble fingers create fascinating displays. There are about 500 girls in this industry which also support a chain of shopkeepers and salesman. Certain traditional rules are followed while designing this artwork. For e.g, chanduas will always have a centrepiece surrounded by 'Pakka Chauka ' , khadiyali," nali phuti ''phulapati'and 'kalash'.There is certain restrictions even on the kind of motifs a craftperson can use. everyone cannot cut motifs of Rahu . Those who have a horoscope showing a favourable position of the demon ,can cut the motifs.
There is no historical evidence on the evolution of the applique work, but it is believed to have started in the 17th or 18 centuries when when clothes and decorative pieces were used at the Jagannath and other temples, particularly during Dol Jatra,'' said Art historian Dinanath Pathy.
The Chandua and Chhati are probably the earliest creations of this craft flourishing under the patronage of kings who wanted such regalia during special occasions. . 'Alatas, Chamaras and haudas( colourful cloth placed on the back of elephants and bullocks. was a symbol of status in the 19 century. Subjects would give Chanduas to temple when their wishes were fulfilled or put up small ones at home before temples, thus supporting the art. The advent of the Muslims. masters at making tents , led to the creation of the giant chanduas.
The artform is an example of communal harmony. Craftsman Jabar Khan created a 30ft by 40 ft chaduas for a confernence in Australia , employing 10 to 12 people who toiled over it for 7-8 hours everyday for a month. Muslim craftsmen are also employed to prepare chanduas for use in Jagannath Temple and and during the Annual Rath Yatra festival.
Families of craftsmen have been engaged in this art for generations. which has found a place of pride in many homes and spaces even outside the state.One of the major set back for this craft village is the construction of a bypass road to Puri.as earlier people would buy chanduas on their way to Puri.
Craftsmen feel that the ideal way to promote this art form is to include the products in government functions.
The government should also hire trained designers to teach the craftsmen the intricacies of the art. Regarding preservation of this art ,historian Sanjib Mitra says Designs could be etched on stones for preservations . The craftsmen of Pipili have moved on with the times.Apart from making chanduas for Jagannath Temple , They are getting orders from the Bokaro Steel Plant for applique work for use in their Annual Rath Yatra Festival. Chanduas are also used to decorate the interiors of tourist tents at Bhitarkanika. Betel holder has been modified to letter holders. Lace work and modern patchwork styles have been introduced in the making.Garden umbrellas are being made of waterproof material instead of cotton. Craftsmen have turned to the Internet for a wider reach. They have advertised their products on websites selling ethnic products.Photograps of the products are also sent on What's app.
FACTS ABOUT CHANDUA
HISTORY OF CRAFT:
IMAGE OF PIPLI APPLIQUE
RATHA YATRA;
The mammoth crowd that gathers at Puri during the Rath Yatra from all over the world, is an instance of the fact that despite rapidly changing modern technology , faith continues to hold its sway over millions in India and that the existance of god should never be questioned. Though the chariot festival of Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra.is celebrated everywhere, it is the Rath Yatra at Puri that continues to be the biggest draw. The festival is touted as the oldest festival on earth.
Held in June-July every year, the festival attracts around 9 lakh people. Since the Jagannath Temple is off limits to non-hindus , the nine day festival offers an opportunity to pilgrims of all religions to catch a glimpse of the three sibling deities.
On the day of the festival, the deities are taken out of the sanctum sanctorum and placed on wooden chariots.The crowd pulls the chariot till the Gundicha Temple, considered the birthplace of the three deities, through a distance of about 3 km.
There is no definite information either in the scriptures or books of history about the exact year when the festival at the 12th century shrine started.Though there is no corroborative evidence regarding the beginning of the Rath Yatra festival it is believed to have started in the 12th century .
Since Puri is the actual abode of Jagannath, Jagannath temples elsewhere started celebrating Rath Yatra in the Puri style.
Many believe the custom of placing idols on chariots and pulling them is of Buddhist origin. Fa Hien, the Chinese historian, who visited India in the 5th century AD, had written about the chariot of Buddha being pulled along roads.
This is the only religious festival for which the state government mobilizes almost all its departments and security agencies for the smooth conduct.
In next year Ratha Yatra , to be called Nabakalebara, almost 30 lakh people are expected .New idols of the three will be placed at the sanctum sanctorum , a ritual observed after every 12 years.
The process of creating the chariot is a wonder itself . Carpenters never resort to modern enginnering techniques nor do they use new tools.
Over 70 carpenters toil hard for 45 days or so to complete the chariots towering to 45 ft (Taladwaja chariot for Balabhadra, 45.6 ft (Nandighos chariot for Jagannath)and 44.6 ft (Devidalan for Subhadra). About 50 artists and Artisans are engaged in weaving fabric for the chariots and painting them in bright colours and motifs .
The temple needs around 1,139 logs weighing 13,000cubic ft and worth over 60lakh to build the 3 chariots .
Every year not less than 1,000 trees of 13 species are felled to meet the deadline. After the end of the mega festival, the chariot timbers are dismantled and used in the shrine kitchen , touted as the biggest kitchen in the world.
Mahaprasad for over 40,000 people are cooked on any given day.
Legends has it that carpenters used to build 6 chariots around 600 years ago.
"A small river Malini, used to flow at Badasankha, on the Grand road. After leaning Jagannath Temple , the chariots could not reach Gundicha Temple , which was located on the other side of the river. To ensure smooth journey of the deities , the 3 chariots used to be kept on the other side of the river to transport the deities.
The 3 chariots that brought the deities from Jagannath Temple were kept on the river bank and used again when the deities returned from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra.
History bears testimony to 'Elephant service' during Rath Yatra till the 1970's.Elephants used to be used as part of the rituals of Jagannath Temple for quite a long time.
Apart from escorting the chariots, the jumbos used to walk infront of Gajapati Maharaja's cavalcade during his' Chhera panhara" (ceremonial sweeping of chariots) serrvice.
Besides, adding a royal touch to the festival , the elephants also symbolized prosperity and a good omen according to Hindu beliefs.One of the four entrance gates of the Jagannath Temple is called "Hati Dwar''.
FACTS ABOUT RATH YATRA:
Image OF RATH YATRA
RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY-
Ravenshaw college, set up in 1968 and later declared a university in 2006 is revered as a temple of learning in Odisha . As the first college in the state Ravenshaw has played a vital role in the field of education in Odisha.The history of Ravenshaw is believed to be the history of modern Odisha. The beautiful red Victorian structure was the cradle of Odisha's renaissance in the 19th century. A stroll down the corridors of the edifice , spread over 87acre, is like revisiting the past.Every nook and corner has an intresting story to tell, The events leading to the birth of the institution is also interesting.
After the great famine of 1886, the then comissioner of Odisha, Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, after whom the college is named, decided to establish a college in the state for the social and intellectual development of the people . Ever since, the college has grown in strength.
The college started with only six students in the intermediate class and has now grown into a full fledged university with around 9,000 students. The University has over 27 department and offers P.H.D in over 20 subjects . Initially the university functioned from the premises of Ravenshaw collegiate school but was later shifted to the magnificient building in 1921.
The institution has produced students who are legends in their field of work like Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das , Madhusudan Das, Godabarisha Mishra ,former Chief Minister Nabakrushna Chaudhry, Biju Patnaik and Harekrushna Mahtab.
After Odisha was declared a separate province in 1936.the legislative assembly functioned from the hall of the institution,till it was shifted to Bhubaneswar in 1948. For 12 years the state assembly functioned in Ravenshaw , were the head of the state and the opposition leaders would script Odisha's growth.
Freedom Fighter Subhas Chandra Bose had visited Ravenshaw and stayed at the hostel to recruit candidates for the Forward Bloc.
Nobel Laurete C V Raman visited the campus and stayed in the quarters of the then faculty member, Prana Krushna Parija. The students took the lead role in the Quit India Movement, 1942 and the Salt Satyagraha following which the stir spread to other parts of the state.
The college was a part of the British colonial structure and so every docment related to the colony and Odisha was preserved here.
Ravenshaw was the centre of all political, intellectual and literary movement .Students were at the centre of nationalist activities that is why this university has peroduced so many politicians, poets and chief ministers , judges etc.
Ravenshaw, spread over an area of 87.4 acres, is a blend of Indian, Gothic and Victorian style of architecture has 500 rooms and completed in 2 yrs, built by British architects. The beautiful columns and corridors are reminiscence of the pre-independence era. The Kanika Library, East and West hostel are a treat to the eyes. The Utkal university and the Odisha State Museum are branches of Ravenshaw University.
Ravenshaw , regarded as the temple of learning is compared to the Jagannath Temple of Puri . These twin monuments represent Odisha to the world and is a sense of pride to every Odia.
IMAGE OF RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY
FACTS ABOUT RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY;
RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY IMAGE
HIRAKUD DAM- A symbol of the early nation building era after Independence, the Hirakud dam continues to remain the undisputed and biggest signature infrastructure project of Odisha.With two towers on either side, Nehru Minar and Gandhi Minar, the multipurpose river valley project symbolizes the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru's model of development for the country.
The 25.8 km dam is one of the longest aand largest in the world.The reservor, spread over 743sq . km is one of Asia's largest artificial lake.The amount of clay and concrete used to build the dam is enough to make a 8 metre wide road from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Amritsar to Dibrugarh .
Hirakud drains an area of 1,33,090 sq.km more than twice the area of Sri Lanka .Located around 15 km from Sambalpur city, the technological wonder was taken up within a year of India's freedom.Nehru laid the first batch of concrete in April 1948 and inagurated it in 1957 though it was conceived before Independence with then Odisha Governor Hawthorne Lewis laying the foundation stone in March 1946.Power generation and irrigation started in 1956.The project was completed at a cost of 100.02crore.
Hirakud is a engineering marvel from the time it was built and its continued relevance even today and for the future.
Hirakud literally means an island of diamonds. The early history of Sambalpur indicates the place was a hub of diamond trading in the 17th century and the 18 century. Though there is no diamond trading now, Hirakud continues to remain a priceless diamond for modern India.
The main dam of 4.8km connects Lamdungri on the left and Chandlidungri on the right and is flanked by 21km earthen dykes on the two sides. The dam intercepts 83,400 km of the Mahanadi catchment area. The reservoir has a live storage of 4,823M Cum. After the monstrous floods of 1937,M Vishveswararya, notable engineer and the Diwan of Mysore, had first proposed storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to check floods.
Ever since it was commissioned the dam has largely been credited with controlling floods in the Mahanadi Delta. The power houses at Burla and Chiplima, which use the dam water ,have a combined capacity to generate 347.86 megawatt.Around 75,000 sq.km of land in Bargarh,Bolangir,
Sonepur , and Sambalpur districts use water for farm irrigation while numerous industries around Sambalpur rely on its waters
The Hirakud township has turned into a tourist hub attracting thousands of visitors every year, who come to admire the dam and the islands.The Indian Department of posts released a commemorative stamp for 30 paise(denomination)on Hirakud in October 1979 while the Reserve Bank of India released a 100Rs note with an image of the dam in December 1960.The benefits of the dam withstanding it has also been responsible partly or fully for submerging 249 villages in Odisha and 36 in Chhatisgarh displacing around 26,500 families.
Around 200 temples were submerged ,the structures of some of them are still intact and become visible when the water level of the reservoir falls during summer.
Like all water bodies, the dam reservoir is a favourite roosting ground for thousands of migratory birds in winter.Around 59,000 birds of 45 species were found here this year. Migratory birds from the Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Central amd Southeast Asia and the Himalayas flock here to escape theharsh winter back home.Lakhanpur, Kamgaon, Rengali, Govindpur, and Debrigarh sanctuary, located around the reservoir are favourite roosting sites of the winged guests. Species such as Whistling duck , tufted duck common pochard, red crested pochard , great duck bill, spot bill,great crested grabe , little grabe , pond heron, painted stork , whiskered tern, Indian river tern and gadwall are among the various species found here. Each year the birds start arriving in November and leave in february before the onset of summer.
Image of Hirakud
IMAGE OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES
OLIVE RIDLEY:One of the greatest natural spectacles in Odisha is the yearly assembly of Olive Ridley turtles at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya, for mating, laying and hatching eggs. Tens of thousands of sea turtles swimming across the Indian Ocean from beyond Sri Lanka reach Odisha's coastline for the annual ritual. They arrive every winter in the beginning of november .The protected beach of Gahiramatha serves as an excellent nesting ground, perhaps the largest in the world. Strangely, the turtles return to the same beach to breed where they were born.
Apart from Odisha, Olive Ridley Turtles also lays eggs in large numbers on the coasts of Mexico and CostaRica. The best period to see them is between november and march. Visitors can spot hundreds of female turtles returning to their natal beach to lay eggs especially at night.Gahirmatha was declared a marine sanctuary in 1997 by the Centre for the protection of these turtles . Only, 1 out of every 1,000 baby turtles survive. On an average 40,00,000 turtles lay eggs on the beach. We have to protect their marine shelter as it is a rare phenomenon.Both Nasi-1 and Nasi -2 islands in Gahirmatha have a four -mile stretch of black sand beaches.In the dead of night , female turtles arrive on the coast, lay eggs and crawl back into the sea. All matings do not necessarily occur on this beach. They could have occured elsewhere too.Hatchlings emerge after 45-60 days.It is again a rarity that baby turtles grow without their mother. The mass nesting is best viewed between mid -January and the end of february. Just as hundreds of turtles are born, they are also lost because of fishing trawlers as they get caught in their nets and the fisherman in order to save their nets kill the turtles and throw their carcass in sea. The risk to turtles can be reduced by equipping trawlers with turtle excluder devices , a small additional net or metal grid placed inside the net allows the turtle to escape . but the rule to enforce this remains a distant dream
MYRIAD HUES OF RAGHURAJPUR:This is a heritage crafts village near Puri where the best traditions of Odisha paintings are on display in the form of patta paintings, palm leaf engravings, stone carvings, paper toys, masks and woodcraft. This village also boasts the tradition of Gotipua performing art, the earlier avatar of Odissi. Gurukuls here continue the tradition of teaching and performing Gotipua(Young boys dressed as boys).
.Situated on the southern bank of the Bhargavi River, the coconut and palm shaded village and its surrounding seem to be in tune with the creative leanings of the 123 families of artisans , who created poetry on the pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaf and paper.Jagannath cult, Krishna Leela and other characters from mythology and their sagas with rich imagery are depicted on these materials in resplendent colours.
Scenes from the Mahabharat and Ramayana adorn the walls of houses, arranged in two rows facing each other. Behind every door , there is an artist engrossed in intricate detailing.The deft hands of Mahapatras and Maharanas have converted the village into a living reference for Odisha's mural painting tradition. Though Pattachitra is the mainstay of Raghurajpur's artistic brilliance, an array of other crafts-Palm leaf engravings , tussar paintings, Ganjappa cards , stone and wood carvings,cow dung and papier mache masks and toys -are proudly on display.
The village has managed to keep alive this indigenous tradition, closely associated with Puri and Jagannath Temple. Chitrakar(artist) families from Puri district created ansara pattis of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, which were worshipped at the temple during the 15-day indisposition of the deities after Snana Purnima
Raghurajpur also boasts of a rich Yatra tradition. The eight temples & the lone bhagbat Tungi , community meeting place ,stand testimony to this.The Raghunath Deb Temple , which is being renovated , hosted Dola Yatra, Sahi Yatra, and Ramleela in the past.Every winter ,Raghurajpur gets swarmed with tourists from India and abroad. The village has a transit restaurant, a small accomodation unit, called Gram Kutir, a crafts centre and an amphitheatre for live performance of Gotipua and Odissi. These were built during the revival of the mural painting project by INTACH with support from NORAD, Norway and the Odisha govt during 2002 and 2005.
The Vasant Utsav held in February every year since 1994 is the brain child of Odissi Legend Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra , who hails from this village . With this festival , he wanted to promote the art forms and Raghurajpur.His NGO is working on utility items to jack up the sale of Pattachitra.
Another touchstone of this village is Dasabhuja Gotipua Odissi Nrutya Parishad . Established in 1977 by Guru Maguni Das, Guru Maguni Das , A Padmashree Awardee, and Recipient Of Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy award,the dance school played a lead role in revival of the dance form, a precursor of the Odissi classical dance.Guru Maguni Das is considered the initiator of group performance of Gotipua Dance. Earlier , it was performed by a single boy as the name indicates along the processions of Jagannath . Most of the sequences represent mythological tales from the life of Krishna.
International artists get a taste of the village art & crafts during the 5 week Raghurajpur International art/craft Exchange conceived in 2011 by Kshitish Das (India) and Carrol Hummel (USA). They live and work in the village, participate in local customs and festivals. This initiative has helped artists of Raghurajpur showcase their craft on a global platform.
PATTACHITRA IN RAGHURAJPUR
The womenfolk of Raghurajpur are adept in Pattachitra and other crafts,which was earlier a male domain. Today, every house in the village is a studio and every resident an artist.
The credit for converting Raghurajpur into a craft village goes to Jagannath Mohapatra, who won the national award for Patta Painting in 1965, and American researcher Halina Zealey.
Initially , the village was home to 5 to 6 chitrakar(artist) families .The fortune of these artists dwindled at the beginning of the 20th century with the entry of middlemen.Till then, they created pattis for Jagannath Temple and also sold them at the Bedha Mahal on its premises.
Pattachitra was a dying art by the 1950's. The kings no longer patronized the artists and the public did not buy it. In 1952, Zealey organised a competition in which artists from nearby village participated. Jagannath Mohapatra impressed zealot by a painting on Matsya Avatar. By then most artists of Raghurajpur had turned labourers and the neighbouring villagers joked about it.This aggrieved Mohapatra and he decided to create an artist in every home.Zealey understood
the need to promote these products to sustain this art form. She set up the Banijya Bikash Kendra in Puri and gave Jagannath Mohapatra the funds to support the cause.
The Roots of Pattachitra
The roots of Pattachitra can be traced to the traditional Jatri Patti . In ancient days visitors to Puri carried back Jatri Pattis, which depicted tales and rituals related to Jagannath as Momentos.The artists continue to draw inspiration from Jatri Patti with Thia Badhia- depiction of the temple of Jagannath , Krishna Leela, Dasavatar- the ten incarnations of Vishnu and Panchmukhi - the five headed Ganesh dominating the pattis.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING PATTACHITRA
Pattachitra is a form of painting that is done on cloth. The art form can be traced back to as early as the 12th century and has evolved around the Jagannath cult.
The process begins with creating the canvas.Agummy paste of boiled tamarind and powdered chalk is plastered on a stretched piece of cloth twice over, so that it becomes stone hard and does not crack.It rubbed with scrubbing stone to make the surface smooth.It takes around 7 days to prepare a canvas. Once dry, the bare outlines of the painting are traced with charcoal and limestone(Chalk). The artists earlier used Red Ochre and Cinnabar (red), Lamp Black(black) , conch shell ( white)and Opriment (yellow) to colour the different stories from mythology.
IMAGE OF PATTACHITRA, RAGHURAJPUR.
LINGARAJ TEMPLE-
Legend has it that Lord Shiva chose Ekamra Kshetra as his favourite resort,stayed there for an eternity and was henceforth worshipped as Lingaraj. Over centuries, the pull and popularity of the famous shrine has increased. On an average about 6,000 to 7,000 pilgrims visit the shrine everyday.
A major stopover on the Golden Triangle tourist route, the 11th century Shaiva shrine is also dedicated to Tribhubanswar from which the name Bhubaneswar has been derived.
One of the prominent temples of Odisha where worship is still on centuries after it was built, Lingaraj temple is not only an icon of sculptural grandeur and architectural elegance.It is also undoubtedly most important monument in the temple city of Bhubaneswar.
The famous temple, which attracts devotees from far and wide ,has found mention in several historical scripts.
There are some ancient scripts of the 15th century that also serve as tourist guides - 'Ekamara Purana',' Ekamara Chandrika' and 'Ekamara Swarnadri Mahodaya'.
These guides mention Ekamara Kshetra as a tourist spot of that time. After taking a holy dip in the Ganga Sagar Mela , it was customary for pilgrims to visit the Shaiva Kshetra in Bhubaneswar on their way to Srikshetra Puri.
The 54 -meter high structure symbolizes the zenith of the Kalinga style of architecture.
The temple premises, sprawled over a 25,000 sq ft area, has more than 150 small and large subsidiary temples in its courtyard.Each of them has an interesting legend linked with it. The ornamental details of stone carvings and minutely sculpted figures on the walls depicting gods & goddess, dancing girls, musicians in action, hunters and couples are full of grace, and seem to have a silent rhythm.
Non- hindus are not allowed inside the temple, but they can view the temple premises from a watch tower located outside the temple premises.
Another unique feature of the deity is that it is worshipped as Harihara, a combination of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The 2.5 metre wide lingam is also a 'syambhu' or self-established one , and is one of the 12 jyotirlingams of India .
The Archeological survey of India is the custodian of the temple while the Lingaraj Temple Trust Board is in charge of its administration.The temple's crown is made of eight metals( astadhatu).
In the Hindu month of Shravan,lakhs of 'bol bum' devotees walk long distances carrying water and congregate at Lingaraj Temple to pour the holy water on the Shiva linga on auspicious Mondays with the hope that their prayers will be answered.
Rukuna Rath Yatra, the chariot festival of Lord Lingaraj , precedes the more famous car festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri held in June or July every year.
Following custom, the Rukuna Rath does not turn back , which is called 'analeuta'.After a five -day retreat at the Mausima temple,the chariot is drawn from the behind during the return journey.
According to Mahagovinda Mahasupakar, a priest at Lingaraj Temple ''The Rukuna Rath festival is older than the Puri car festival. Lord Shiva was given this chariot by all the gods to kill a demon called Tri-
purasura .He was accompanied by Godess Shakti or Rukumini . That is why the festival is called Rukuna Rath Yatra.
However, as with all heritage structures in the country.Urbanization has taken its toll on the ancient monument.The rapid pace at which buidings are built and cars are increasing after the establishment of capital has been affecting monuments and temples the most.
Out of 1,001 temples in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. Only 320 temples remain, but many of them are not visible due to the emergence of high-rises and concrete structures around them.
IMAGE OF LINGARAJ TEMPLE
RATNAGIRI-Buddhism once flourished in what is now Odisha and evidence of this can be found in Lalitgiri , Ratnagiri and Udayagiri in Jajpur districtoThis hill-top monastery or mahavihara in Jajpur district bears testimony to the flourishing period of Buddhist religious, cultural and architectural eminence between the 6th and 12th centuries when this place was a seat of learning and excellence. Many stone and bronze images and brass statues of Buddha, reminiscent of the Gupta period, have been discovered. Ratnagiri was part of the famed Puspagiri University along with Lalitagiri and Udayagiri.Buddhism once flourished in what is now Odisha and evidence of this can be found in Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri three sites are also known as the 'Diamond Triangle'.The sites were also ancient centres of learning at par with Nalanda in present day Bihar and Taxila in what is now Pakistan.
DHAULI-
Dhauli hills on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is an island of peace & tranquility far from the maddening crowd.
It was nearly 2,300 years ago that Dhauli hills showed the world the path from war to peace
IMAGE OF DHAULI
SAMBALPURI SAREE- The unique feature of this weave from Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur and other areas, is they are first tied and dyed and then woven into exquisite pieces. The high point of this weave is the 'baandha'. The base colours are bright with contrasting borders. Shankha (conch), chakra (wheel), phula (flowers) geometrical patterns and landscapes form the main motifs. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is credited to have popularized this saree outside Odisha.
In Odisha, No marriage is complete without Sambalpuri sarees. The tie -and -dye handloom wonder from western Odisha is intrinsically woven into the lives of the people here.What makes this traditional weave so popular even in contemporary times is the blend of ethnic designs with modern motifs. No wonder it has carved out a distinct niche for itself in markets globally and is still a rage.
The unique ikat patterns, in which threads are first dyed according to the design and the layout and then the fabric is hand- woven, has survived competition from machine made textiles over several decades and has emerged a far stronger and more sought -after handloom Attempts has been made to produce automated sambalpuri designs , but these attempts proved futile.
Originally , craftsmen would make 'bandhas' with images of flowers, animals, and geometric patterns. Later, the designs changed to portraits and landscapes. But the essence of Sambalpuri sari remains wide temple-style borders with patterns in the middle reflecting the cultural heritage of the state . Bhulia (Meher ) community is the dominant weaving community for the Sambalpuri Sari.The prices range from a very affordable Rs 500 to 1 lakh and above . There is a sari for every pocket, every occasion and every age . The brilliant base colours and the contrasting motifs are a delight for the eyes.
The Bargarh handloom cluster is the centre of Sambalpuri handloom production . Spread over Bargarh , Barpalli, Bheden, Bhattli, Attabira , Bijepur, Padampur and Sohela blocks,the weavers churn out not only yarns of fantasy , but also table cloths, napkins, bedspreads, and wall hanging.Recently, the handloom crossed gender barrier, by designing materials for men shirts and kurtas.The Sambalpuri weave has become a way of life and has kept itsoriginal charm alive by creating designs to suit contemporary times.
The weekly market at Balijuri, about 8 km from Bargarh, sees transactions worth crores of rupees every week when weavers come to sell their products .
Presiding deities in western Odisha , Samaleswari ( Sambalpur), Pataneshwari (Patnagarh), Manikeswari ( Bhawanipatna) , are draped in Sambalpuri Sari. Chaturbhuja's exquisite showroom, Mehers in Bhubaneswar boasts of finest collection of Sambalpuri weaves.He runs a cluster of about 100 looms and imparts training to youngsters in traditional weaving and also gives stipend to students .
According to the Handloom Census 2009 of the Union government , the cradle of this weave , Bargarh has the biggest clusters of weavers in Odisha.There are over 35,000 weavers and allied textile workers and 12, 500 looms.
ROURKELA STEEL PLANT-
IMAGE OF SAMBALPURI SAREE
BHITARKANIKA- This is India's second largest mangrove eco-system and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including white crocodiles, pythons, cobras, Olive Ridley sea turtles and the famed saltwater crocodiles stretching to about 23 ft. This sanctuary served as a hunting ground for the Kanika kings. Ancient Hindu temples are among the park's attractions.The Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapada is the 2nd largest mangrove forest after the sylvan Sunderbans in neighbouring West Bengal. The unique eco-system criss-crossed by a network of rivers and creeks, is home to about 1,600 crocodiles, the biggest attraction of this retreat.
This fragile ecology ,spread over 672 sq.km and once the happy hunting grounds of the Kanika kings, was declared a sanctuary in 1975.Subsequently in 1998,the core area of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was made into a national park.
The Union government, under the United Nations Development Project , initiated a scheme in 1975 for the conservation of salt water crocodiles. Breeding and management of the reptile was the focus of the scheme, which was executed by the forest department.In the last three decades, emphasis was laid on the collection of eggs laid in the wild.The rear -and release programme at the Salt Water Crocodile Conservation and Research Centre at Dangamal has resulted in a substantial increase in a number of reptiles.According to last year census there are 1,664 crocodiles in Bhitarkanika now.
The Guiness Book of World Records shows the rivers are also home to the largest crocodile species in the world. A 39 year old albino crocodile "Gori ''is a major attraction at Dangamal.
Breeding of three species of crocodiles, saltwater, mugger and Gharial, was initiated in 34 centres in West Bengal,Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states in 1975. The rivers and the thick vegetation of Bhitarkanika also attract a large number of migratory birds.Thousands of birds arrive every winter to roost.Birds like gadwall, pintail, lesser whistling duck teal,geese, storks , swans, gebes , coots, sandpipers, plovers and skimmers are found in abundance. For tourists, the sightings of almost 85 species of birds frolicking and flouncing in the water is a visual treat.
The northern pintail, gull-billed tern, common sand-piper red kite , spot -billed pelican and the lesser flamingo set off a riot of colors in this sylvan oasis . Their chorus calls is a delight for bird lovers . The rivers provide excellent pray base for the birds and this brings them in droves for a winter sojourn.
There are 82 varieties of mangrove trees flanking the brim. Heavy with foliage and an ever expanding mesh of roots , they spread to the edges of the lapping water.During the SuperCyclone, that strucked Odisha, villages around Bhitarkanika remained largely unaffected . Mangrove forests provide a natural barrier against calamities like cyclone and storms as they help in stabilizing the shoreline.The forests also serve as nesting & breeding grounds for various terrestrial, arboreal,benthic and aquatic organisms.
The existance of a hunting tower in the core area of Bhitarkanika indicates that the royal family members of Rajkanika were hunters. The hunting tower,once in a dilapidated condition are major draws at Bhitarkanika.
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IMAGE OF BHITARKANIKA
SILVER FILGREE WORK-This ancient art of jewellery making occupies a place of pride in the annals of Odisha. It is a major source of livelihood for hundreds of artisans, who make exotic ornaments and mementos with a wide range of motifs.Odisha is home to many beautiful art forms, but the intricate silver filgree work is probably the oldest among all art forms. Locally , known as 'tarakasi', silver filgree work is Odisha's artistic heritage and pride.
The delicate artefacts, handcrafted intricately with thin silver wires, are a treat for the eyes.The pieces reflect the spectacular workmanship and expertise of the artisans.
This unique artform has flourished for years in the 1,000 year old city of Cuttack. It has also given Cuttack its sobriquet of 'Silver City'.
Although there is no historical evidence on how and when artisans in Odisha started crafting silver filgree items, veterans say the artform was patronized the most during the Mughal era. Old timers say silver filgree originated in Cuttack and traders who went on trips to Indonesia and Java carried the artefacts with them and earned huge profits .
The artform is found in some other parts of the world as well,but artisans in the Silver City claim that Cuttack's filgree work is distinctive
The silver filgree artifacts made in Odisha are much lighter , more delicate and have more finesse. Wires of pure silver are used and detailed work is done on it.The filgree work is all about deftness of the hand and innovation of the mind.
What enhances the beauty of Cuttack's threaded silver work and makes it distinctive is that the artifacts appear like nets.
The pace of modern times has, however, had its impact on the art and at other places,artisans have started using machines to make silver filgree items.But craftsmen in Cuttack have kept tradition alive. The process of melting silver, converting it into thin strands and then magically weaving the wires into the most intricate design is done by hand.
IMAGE OF CUTTACK SILVER FILGREE WORK
SIMLIPAL NATIONAL PARK-
IMAGE of Simlipal
GOPALPUR_ON-sea-This scenic beach in Ganjam district, attracting tourists from all over the country, was once a sleepy little fishing village that shot to prominence during British rule when the East India Company built a commercial port here largely to facilitate trade between India and Rangoon. Rice used to be the principal export from here. The port lost its eminence and relevance after the British left. Efforts are on to reconstruct the port. After World War II, the trade stopped.In 2008, the state government entrusted the Odisha Stevedores Limited and Sara International Limited to develop the port.The Gopalpur Port Limited started commercial operations in May 2012
Unfortunately, a severe cyclonic storm ,'Phailin", which had a wind speed of 220kmph , hit the coast in 2013 and halted the operations of the port. The cyclone also affected the lives of the people in the villages along the coast .Nature's fury devasted their home and livelihood, and the fishermen were terrified of venturing into the sea for several months.
But no sooner the people started rebuilding their lives another cyclone 'hudhud ' hit the coast. Though the storm was not severe.Its impact was sufficiently damaging . Thousands of people were rendered homeless. The coast also witnessed thewrath of the Super Cyclone of 1999, a nightmare villagers cannot erase from their minds.
GOPALPUR-ON -SEA IMAGE
ROURKELA STEEL PLANT-
IMAGE OF ROURKELA STEEL PLANT
MUKTESWAR TEMPLE-Dedicated to Shiva, this temple in Bhubaneswar is one of the earliest works from the Somavamsi period and its architecture embodies the culmination of an age of experimentation evident in the artistry and architecture of Rajarani and Lingaraj temples. This 10th century marvel is often described as one of Odisha's jewels because of its exquisite sculptures and elegance.Standing testimony to the glorius cultural traditions of Odisha, the 10th century Mukteswara Temple marked the culmination of all earlier developments in temple architecture and initiated a period of experiments, which continued for an entire century
Bhubaneswar is known as the city of temples with each shrine standing tall flaunting its magnificient architectural style.But Mukteswara's architecture is unrivalled.
The shrine, dedicated to Shiva, is called the 'Gem of Odisha architecture' for its exquisite sculpture and elegance.It is unique as every inch of its surface is carved.Built in 950 AD the temple marks an important transition point between the early and later phases of the Kalinga school of temple architecture.
The decorations are executed beautifully and speak eloquently of the sense of proportion and perspective of the sculptors . The builders of Mukteswar introduced new architectural designs , art motifs and conceptions about the iconography of cult images.There are a number of depictions of skeletal asthetics among the images in teaching or meditation poses, which seem appropriate as the name Mukteswar means 'Lord who gives freedom through yoga'.
The 35ft temple is among the earliest works of the Somavanshi rulers.King Yayati I contributed immensely towards the building of the temple. The sculpted gateway , the 'jagamohana'with diamond shaped latticed windows , the decorated interiors and the perfect depiction of details point to the great artistic skills of the craftsmen.
The Jagamohana is a pidha deul, a first in Odisha temples.The ceiling flaunts a lotus with eight petals.
The change in iconography is equally noticeable with Ketu introduced as the ninth planet and the appearance of the mouse as the mount of Ganesh.
The temple is described as a 'dream realized in sandstone'as sculpture and architecture are in complete harmony . Sculptures of elephants, monkeys ,lions and other animals add variety to the sculpted tapestry.Around the windows of the Jagamohana are lively scenes of monkeys engaged in humourous activities.
The sculptures on the ceiling of the jagamohana' depict 'asthamatruka'. The structure has some of the most ornate carvings and renditions of the panchatantra fables.
The most important feature of the temple is the 'Torana'or the arched gateway, showing the influence of Buddhist architecture. The gateway has thick pillars with strings of beads and other ornaments carved on statues of smiling women.The porch is a walled chamber with a low , massive roof and internal pillars.The combination of vertical and horizontal lines is skillfully arranged so as to give dignity to the structures.The porch is remarkable for the sculptural treatment of the interior, a rare feature in Odisha temples.
The 'vimana ' is built on a raised platform with pilasters in each facade . The' Shikara'rising to a height of 10.5 m, is small compared to other temples.The crown of the Shikara has a 'Kalasa'. The sanctum is sculpted with beautiful damsels entwined with 'nagas'and 'nagins'exhibiting feminine charm.
The southwest corner of the temple boasts of a well, 'maricha kunda'. A dip in thewater of the well is believed to cure barrenness in women on the eve of Ashokastami.Legend has it that Bhubaneswari, after whom the Odisha's capital is named killed two demons.However, when she realized the widows were childless, she blessed them and asked them to pray at the Lingaraj Temple and bath in the sacred waters of the well on the eve of Ashokastami. The architecture is unique and the designs are exquisite.
The daily rituals of mukteswara comprise 'magha snana', 'jala lagi', 'chandan lagi', 'dhupa alati', naibedya samarpan and sandhya alati . After the rituals , the temple is closed for 'darshan'.Shivaratri, Pana Sankranti, Sravana Jala Sankalpa( devotees pour holy water),Odhani Sasthi, Baisakha Purnima(The deity is immersed in water for two hours)In winter , the deity is draped in Odhana bastra( warm clothes) for one month.
A sun clock was set up on the temple premises during the raj days. But because of poor upkeep , it is now lying defunct.
IMAGE OF MUKTESWAR TEMPLE
Rourkela Steel Plant, Hirakud Dam and Ravenshaw College symbolize Odisha's transition into a modern, vibrant state. Gopalpur-on-sea, Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika, Similipal and Olive Ridley turtles make it a land of unparalleled beauty. Pipili, Raghurajpur, Sambalpuri sarees and Cuttack's silver filigree work are some of the rare examples of human endeavour to promote art as a source of livelihood.
In deference to love and reverence for these awe-inspiring, majestic sites, we have taken an initiative to help the reader choose his or her own "Seven Wonders of Odisha".
JAGANNATH TEMPLE-
Standing tall on the shores of Puri for centuries, the Jagannath Temple epitomizes Vasudheiba Kutumbakam (the world is one family), a global vision Indians have unfailingly cherished since time immemorial, a philosophy that goes beyond the realms of religion.
The Shrine is indeed a wonder. so are the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra.For , when votaries of religion have turned the world into a theatre of senseless violence each trying to be one above the other in the name of god, the abode of the trinity has remained a trans-continental confluence of people of all faiths, sending out the message that , methods of worship not withstanding, all are equal before the Almighty.
That possibly could be the reason the presiding deity is aptly known as Jagannath, (Lord of the Universe), a combination of what researchers say are two non-vedic names. Jagat (universe) and Nath(Lord).The host of rituals attached to the deities and people associated with the shrine point to the universality of Lord Jagannath and his Hometown, the holy city of Puri.
They typify the human cycle. Like any human being, the Lord sleeps, wakes up, brushes his teeth in the morning, takes breakfast, lunch, goes for an afternoon siesta, dinner at night, watches dances and listens to music, before retiring to bed .He suffers from fever and undergoes treatment with medicicines. Jagannath Temple represents any Odia family;the 'prasad 'cooked for the Lord is traditional. Vegetables like potato and tomato are not allowed as they are imports.
Putting behind the man-made caste barrier, the temple hosts prasad for all to sit together and eat . Everyday an average of 30,000 people have the Lord's prasad comprising rice, dal and other dishes from the world's largest kitchen. Gods and Goddess in major Hindu temples are usually made of stone or metal. But Jagannath, Balabhadra , Subhadra are a class apart. They are built from neem wood and look different sans legs , palms and faces unfinished with round huge eyes. The images are replaced every 8 to 12 yrs according to the calculations of the Odia Calendar.This ritual is known as 'Nabakalebara' symbolizing the age-old belief that the soul is immortal and migrates from one body to another. Jagannath is embedded so deeply in the psyche of the people that no Odia family ventures out without invoking His name. If there is a marriage, the first invitation card is either delivered personally or sent to Him by post. Jagannath is considered the eldest member of every family. In times of trouble, people go to Him with their problems, shout at Him, hold Him responsible for their woes and swear not to talk to Him until they find relief. The deity is reflected in every aspect of human life, be it religion, architecture, social custom or literature.
Irrespective of individual conviction the Jagannath temple commands the reverence of all faiths . True to its spirit of equality and harmony the temple throughout its existence has not been the cause of any major conflgaration among warring sects within Hinduism or outside. Instead, it assimilated views of preachers and philosophers above board,re-establishing the ultimate truth that God is one, beyond patent rights and belongs to all. That is why many scholars say that though Jagannath Dham is one of the four Dhams , it is not identified with any particular sect, unlike the other 3 (Rameswaram, Dwarka and Badrinath). Vaishnavites see Jagannath as Vishnu and Shaivites as Shiva . Tulsidas after visiting the temple felt he stood before Lord Rama.
Exponents of Tantra interpret Jagannath as Bhairava, their Almighty. Both Buddhists and Jains worship Jagannath. Guru Nanak Dev worshipped Him as the ultimate being . The Temple was the recipient of a huge amount of gold from Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who also wanted to gift the Koh-i-noor to the Lord. but the British took it to London.
Tribals say Jagannath is their God, and cite Daitapatis, a class of servitors as tribal descendants .Jagannath, researchers say , has for centuries evolved into a cult, truly global in character. The numerous soulful lyrics composed by 16 century Sufi Muslim Savant Salbeg in praise of Jagannath proves this point. Saint Kabir was a muslim weaver from Uttar Pradesh. He visited Puri around 16th Century and worshipped Jagannath. The famous applique work used in the temple and in the chariots during the annual Rath Yatra are made by Muslim artists. People of Christian origin participate in the festival in large numbers where they sing , dance and pull the chariots . No wonder, the festival is now universal, being observed in a no of countries.
Jagannath is often reffered to in academic circles as an enigmatic God .He is perhaps the most researched and discussed deity in the world . Yet His antiquity and origin of worship is still shrouded in mystery .Available archeological evidence shows that the present temple was started by the first Ganga King ,Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev and was probably completed by his great grandson Anangbhimadev III.According to the Madalpanji, the 3 wooden deities were installed around the 14 century AD. Earlier Jagannath was worshipped in the name of Purshottam. It is still not known what happened to the image , how it looked like before being replaced by the wooden trinity. But Puri as a holy place was known before the temple and the deities in their present form came into being. That Sankaracharya visited Puri in the early part of the 9th century establishes the sanctity of the place in ancient times.
Amid theunending search for the genesis of Jagannath , what looks relevant in the 21 st century is the global appeal of the deity. According to British Historian W W Hunter Puri is known to every hamlet throughout India , and to every civilized nation on earth as the abode of Jagannath , the Lord of the world ...As long as his towers rise over Puri sands so long there will be in India , a perpetual and visible protest of equality of man before God.
FACTS ABOUT LORD JAGANNATH
1)The 214.8 ft high Jagannath temple is one of the India's tallest Shrine.
2)The temple's kitchen is considered the world's largest . It serves' prasad ' to around 3,000 visitors daily.
3)European sailors called it the 'The White Pagoda"as it remained covered in a thick coat of lime for centuries. For the 1st time the superior artistic workmenship on the temple's Khondalite stone surface came to light when the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) began de-plastering it in 1975.
4) The Temple comprises about 4 lakh sq.ft area and houses over 100 other temples and old structures .
5)The holy city of Puri has over 100 mutts . The Govardhan mutt is said to be nearly 1,200 yrs old
6) The presiding deity is known as Jagannath (The lord of the universe) , a combination of what researchers say are non-vedic names -Jagat(universe) and Nath (lord).
7. Vaishnavites see Jagannath as Vishnu and Shaivites as Shiva .
8. The temple was the recipient of a huge amount of gold from Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who also wanted to gift the koh-i -noor to the Lord , but the British later took it to London.
9. Jagannath, researcher say, has for centuries itself evolved into a cult, truly global in chacter.The numerous soulful lyrics composed by 16th century Sufi Muslim savant Salbeg in praise of Jagannath proves this point.
10. The famous applique work used in the temple and in the chariots during the annual Rath festival are made by Muslim artists.
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IMAGE OF THE JAGANNATH TEMPLEUDAYAGIRI-KHANDAGIRI- The sylvan environs of the picturesque Khandagiri-Udayagiri hills draw hundreds of tourists throughout the year who love to soak in the serenity of the place .The twin hills offer a breathtaking view of the temple city. The caves, for which hills are famed for , bears testimony to Odisha's cultural, architectural , and martial past. The inscriptions on the rock-cut Hatigumpha or Elephant caves on the Udaygiri Hills offer a sneak peek into the life and time of the
mighty King Kharvela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty of the 2nd century BC
Historian Sadanand Agarwal said the shape of the caves show they were used as dwelling units . Jain ascetics lived here They were designed like dormitories and an incline on the one side of the floor indicates the raised side served as a pillow.
According to Historian Sadanand Agarwal the inscription and sculptural arts indicate hail the Jain warrior king Kharvela not only as the greatest king of Kalinga but also as one who played a key role in the power politics of the Indian subcontinent.
Hatigumpha, situated to the south of Udaygiri , is a natural cave and was not sculpted. Unlike the other caves, it used to be the favourite abode of prehistoric hunter gatherers as 14 samples of engravings and paintings were found here. The engravings were the earliest inscriptions found in India , detailing the kings life from childhood to teens.
Sanjay Acharya, , Head of the History Dept of Utkal University said the inscriptions praised Kharvela as a great man in war as in peace.
Although he was a Jain, he patronized Brahminism and Buddhism.
Another attraction in Udayagiri, is the two-storey Ranigumpha , a kind of amphitheatre . The ground floor was perhaps used to stage dance performances.Ranigumpha has sculptural reprensentations of Odissi dance, mudras and movements. The Anantgumpha in Khandagiri showcases religious sculptures.
Historians are of the opinion that the ornate carvings on the walls of the Udayagiri caves depict scenes of the victory celebrations of the king when he returned from war.
Another interesting cave in Udaygiri is Baghagumpha, resembling the mouth of the tiger.
Every year saints and monks arrive at Khandagiri and Udayagiri hills from across the country to take part in the 10 day Magha Mela . Jain monks especially arrive on these twin hills to take part in a yajna conducted on the hills for the last several years. This year the mela will begin on January 26..Jain saints take out a viman from Udaigiri and conduct a procession around the temples and caves on this occasion . A rural fair organised by the local village community has more than 400 stalls displaying an array of products such as household items , utensils, stone carving and handicrafts . The mela is famous for jatras during which 10 jatra groups take part in the competion.
During the khandagiri Mela presiding deity Ananta Keshari Dev is worshipped. It is also believed that if a person takes a bath at Chandrabhaga on Magha Saptami and then visits Khandagiri hills during the Magha Mela he or see will be cured of all diseases.
Though some caves have been ruined, there are 17 caves in Udayagiri and 18 in Khandagiri. The Archeological survey of India along with the state tourism department are working together to preseve the historic significance of the site The Tourism Department has signed an MoU with the Indian Tourism Development Corporation for 30 minute light and Sound show at Khandagiri and Udayagiri.
State -of the art technology will be used to narrate the legends and stories of the two sites during the rule of emperor Kharvela.
Recently , the Khandagiri Anchalika Bikash Parishad , a body formed for the betterment of twin tourist sites has involved the local community for the protection of the place.The local community main aim will be to convince the tourists not to throw food packets and other items around the place.
FACTS ABOUT KHANDAGIRI -UDAYAGIRI
*Khandagiri -Udayagiri caves are partly natural and partly man-made.
*The Hills on which the caves stand is mentioned as Kumari Parvat in the Hatigumpha inscription.
*The Caves, which are called"lena ".in the inscriptions are believed to have been careved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the rule of emperor Kharvela .
*Based on reading the inscriptions, historians said King Kharvela had excavated 117 caves on the Kumari Hill.*
.* At present there are 33 rock-cut caves in the hills While there are 18 in Udaygiri ,Khandagiri has 15 caves
*Udayagiri means sunrise hills It has 18 caves . Ranigumpha in Udayagiri is a double storey monastery.
*Khandagiri means broken hills .It has 15 caves. It offers a fine view of Bhubaneswar from its summit.
*Jains asthetics lived in these caves . The caves were designed like dormitories and an incline on one side of the floor indicates the raised side served as a pillow.
*The caves were sculpted during the reign of the Meghavahana dynasty.
*The biggest attraction is the Hatigumpha , in the south of Udaigiri.
*Historians say the carvings on the walls of the caves of udayagiri depict scenes of the victory celebration of the king when he returned from war.
IMAGE OF KHANDAGIRI- UDAYAGIRIKONARK SUN TEMPLE- The Sun Temples of Konark has awed everyone and made them curious . Though the beauty and grandeur of this place has been spellbinding .The stages in its lifecycle remains a jigsaw puzzle yet to unravel.It is an enigma of the monument , that its history raises more questions than answers.
Shrouded in mystery, Konark is a temple of a different genre. Many theories and legends are there regarding its construction, consecration to collapse.But there is no unanimity yet on whether the temple was ever completed , consecrated or how it was reduced to ruins.
Legends has it that it took 1,200 sculptors to work non-stop for 12 years to build the shrine,but when they failed to finish it, a small boy named Dharmapada,son of a sculptor took it upon him and fixed the final stone atop the structure.Historians and archeologists, however, are divided over the issue. Some doubt whether the sun god was actually worshipped in the temple , though the majority is of the opinion that it was consecrated.
The most widely accepted view of historians is that the temple fell into decay within 300 years of its construction.But views are spilt on how the temple fell. Some say it was devastated in a natural calamity like a cyclone, earthquake or lightning ;some believe the foundation gave in because of weak soil; others believe that a Muslim invader Kalapahar ( general of Sulaiman Karrani of Bengal )damaged the shrine;still others contend the temple was brought down during the British rule because a powerful magnet crowning the temple caused navigational problems for ships. There are some like historian Percy Brown who believe the temple caved in even before its completion.
A mythological version of the temple collapse also exists.According to it, the temple caved in, after the sun god , struck by the beauty of a girl, playing on the beach close to the Konark Temple, made sexual advances at her. Almost simultaneously the temple collapsed.But no account so far is regarded as authentic. No historian ,archeologist, Researcher can claim with certainity the real story behind Konark,which literally means 'sun god of the corner'. ( Arka means Surya or Sun and Kona stands for corner).
Spread on a sprawling 12 -acre patch, close to the Bay of Bengal, the Sun Temple was built during the reign of King Narasimha-I by spending the whole revenue of 12 years of the kingdom according to an account by Abul Fazal ( the court historian of Akbar)in his Ain-i -Akbari.Thousands of devotees of the Sun-god celebrate Magha Saptami every year at Chandrabhaga, near Konark Temple believing the legend that Samba, Son of Lord Krishna,had observed penance there and was cured of leprosy.
However, there is unanimity on Konark regarding its undisputed beauty, hightened level of creativity, the intricate carvings, the erotic sculptures telling tales of creation and procreation, architectural magnificence.
The entire structure, resembling a colossal chariot with 12 pairs of wheels, lavishly sculpted with symbolic motifs and pulled by seven horses, was so designed to let the first rays of the sun fall on the main entrance. say experts. The main temple which some believe rose to a height of 225feet, had disintegrated by early 17th century , and what is now left is the Jagamohan(audience chamber or hall infront of the sanctum.) Unlike the Jagannath Temple, also reffered to as the White Pagoda,Konark is not a living shrine.
Though the efforts towards conservating the temple began in the 19th century, it was between 1900 and 1903, on the order of then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal J.A Baurdilon that a major excavation was undertaken around the Jagamohan and the interior of the Jagamohan was stuffed with sand to prevent it from caving in.
More than a century later, the huge volume of sand is now said to be posing a threat to the Kondalite structure , resulting in cracks and seepagse of water. Big stone blocks have reportedly fallen off,triggering fears that the temple could some day cease to exist. The Archeological Survey of India has been entrusted the duty of its protection. The UNESCO declared it a world heritage site in 1984
IMAGE OF KONARK SUN TEMPLECHILKA LAKE- Asia's largest brackish lagoon, Chilka,is a jewel in Odisha's tourism crown attracting visitors all the year around. The tranquility, the picturesque island , the panoramic view, the colourful migratory birds, the Irrawady dolphins and above all the Bay of Bengal nearby make the lagoon a natural wonder.
The tourism department says Chilika is Odisha's 2nd most sought after destination after Puri -famous for the Jagannath Temple and the beach. Such is the beauty of Chilka that it features in the tour packages of every domestic and international tour operator.
Out of nearly 98 lakh tourists , who visited Odisha in 2013- 14 , more than 85% visited the Lake Satapada, Balugaon and Rambha are the three most visited spots in the lagoon. A tourist's trip in Odisha is incomplete without a visit to the lake especially the Kalijai Temple .
Home to severalrare, vulnerable and endangered species of birds and marine life listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature -the world's apex authority on the conservation status of species-the lake is a biodiversity zone. Covering 1,168 sq.km in the east coast of Odisha , the lake is connected to the Bay of Bengal , through a narrow sea mouth. A survey on the fauna of Chilika by the Zoological Survey of India in 1985-87 recordedover 800 species -"the list includes a number of rare, threatened and endagered species , including the Barakudia limbless shrink . On accounts of the rich bio-diversity and ecological significance, Chilika was designated as the 1st ''Ramsar site'' of India .The place is not a delight just for tourists. The lake's ecosystem and biodiversity attract a large number of migratory birds each winter. Some of them come from as far as the Caspian Sea , Lake Baikal, Aral Sea , Russia , Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia and closer home Ladakh and the Himalayas.The Nalaban Island, a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife( Protection )Act, comes alive with the twitter of hundreds of birds basking in the sun every winter. Spread over 9 sq. km , Nalaban is a bird lover's paradise .
The latest survey of the wildlife division of the State forest Department shows over 7.61lakh migratory birds thronged the picturesque lake this winter compared to 1.79 lakh last year. The Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail are among the sought after species coming to Chilika.
Enchanted by the beauty of the lake and the livelihood options it throws up to hundreds of villagers in the coastal areas, it has found reference in Odia literature and documentary films . Ancient texts project Chilika as a major commercial port when King Kalinga ruled as the Lord of the Sea.
According to data of the Chilika Development Authority in 2002, 323 aquatic species including 261 fish species are found in the water. Herrings , Sardines, prawns , crabs and Hilsa are among the aquatic delights that helps this lake support a flourishing fishing community.
Chilika's natrural resources sustain the livelihood of over 2 lakh fisherfolk,living around the lagoon. Historians say the fisheries were part of the zamindari estates of Khallikote , Parikud Suna Bibi, Mirza Taher Baig and the Chaudhary families of Bhungarpur and the Khas Mahal areas of Khurda, lying within the kingdoms of the Rajas of Parikud and Khallikote.
FACTS ABOUT CHILIKA:
- The state government set up the Chilika Development Authority in 1991 for the conservation of the lagoon's ecology and to bring in all-around development in and around the lake.
- The watershed area of Chilika varies between 1,165 sq.km and 900 sq.km during monsoon and summer respectively.A 32 km long,narrow outer channel, connects the main lagoon to the Bay of Bengal, near village Motto.
- There are a number of islands in the lagoon with habitation and some without. The prominent among them are Krushnaprasad, Nalaban, Kalijai, Somolo, Honeymoon , Breakfast and Birds Islands.
- Flocks of migratory waterfowl arrive from as far as the Caspian Sea , Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia , Kirghiz steeps of Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas to roost and breed.
- The catchment of the lagoon enjoys a tropical climate with an average annual maximum temperature of 39.9 deg centigrade and a miniumum temp of 14.0 deg centigrade.The lagoon experiences southwest and northeast monsoons during June -September and November -December respectively.
- The British Started a co-operative store in Balugoan in 1926 to provide fishing equipment to locals.The British constituted the 25 primary Fishermen Co-operatives during World War II
- The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project is being implemented in Chilika to retain its eco-system and conserve its fauna . The project is being funded by the World Bank through the Union ministry of forest & Environment.The project is aimed at an integrated approach to the coordinating activities of various stake holders for a sustainable use of coastal natural resources.
IMAGE OF CHILKA LAKEPIPLI APPLIQUE-Master craftsmen have been creating artworks such as colourful garden umbrellas on beaches or hotel lawns , chanduas at functions and weddings and lampshades for years in Pipili near Bhubaneswar.The sheer brilliance and intricacy of the appliqued masterepiece astonishes everyone.
Though most applique makers are concentrated in PIpili,there are a few in Khallikote, Paralakhemundi and Boudh. The artistry involves a tedious process of stitching colourful pieces of cloth on a base cloth to form a running motif.The base fabric is usually black or midnight blue and and red and the contrasting applique needlework is in bright hues of yellow , red and blue.The patches are simple and bold motifs of gods, animals, bird , flower and plants accentuated by embroidery such as 'bakhia'', trupa' and chikan. sometimes small mirrors and shining metal pieces are stitched onto the motifs to accentuate the looks.
PROCESS FOR MAKING THE ARTWORK Craftsman of Pipili Jabar Khan explains the process of making the artwork.Craftsmen first design the piece and then cut the motifs . The base fabric and the motifs are then given to young artisans to complete the patchwork.
The mainstay of this applique industry is girls whose nimble fingers create fascinating displays. There are about 500 girls in this industry which also support a chain of shopkeepers and salesman. Certain traditional rules are followed while designing this artwork. For e.g, chanduas will always have a centrepiece surrounded by 'Pakka Chauka ' , khadiyali," nali phuti ''phulapati'and 'kalash'.There is certain restrictions even on the kind of motifs a craftperson can use. everyone cannot cut motifs of Rahu . Those who have a horoscope showing a favourable position of the demon ,can cut the motifs.
There is no historical evidence on the evolution of the applique work, but it is believed to have started in the 17th or 18 centuries when when clothes and decorative pieces were used at the Jagannath and other temples, particularly during Dol Jatra,'' said Art historian Dinanath Pathy.
The Chandua and Chhati are probably the earliest creations of this craft flourishing under the patronage of kings who wanted such regalia during special occasions. . 'Alatas, Chamaras and haudas( colourful cloth placed on the back of elephants and bullocks. was a symbol of status in the 19 century. Subjects would give Chanduas to temple when their wishes were fulfilled or put up small ones at home before temples, thus supporting the art. The advent of the Muslims. masters at making tents , led to the creation of the giant chanduas.
The artform is an example of communal harmony. Craftsman Jabar Khan created a 30ft by 40 ft chaduas for a confernence in Australia , employing 10 to 12 people who toiled over it for 7-8 hours everyday for a month. Muslim craftsmen are also employed to prepare chanduas for use in Jagannath Temple and and during the Annual Rath Yatra festival.
Families of craftsmen have been engaged in this art for generations. which has found a place of pride in many homes and spaces even outside the state.One of the major set back for this craft village is the construction of a bypass road to Puri.as earlier people would buy chanduas on their way to Puri.
Craftsmen feel that the ideal way to promote this art form is to include the products in government functions.
The government should also hire trained designers to teach the craftsmen the intricacies of the art. Regarding preservation of this art ,historian Sanjib Mitra says Designs could be etched on stones for preservations . The craftsmen of Pipili have moved on with the times.Apart from making chanduas for Jagannath Temple , They are getting orders from the Bokaro Steel Plant for applique work for use in their Annual Rath Yatra Festival. Chanduas are also used to decorate the interiors of tourist tents at Bhitarkanika. Betel holder has been modified to letter holders. Lace work and modern patchwork styles have been introduced in the making.Garden umbrellas are being made of waterproof material instead of cotton. Craftsmen have turned to the Internet for a wider reach. They have advertised their products on websites selling ethnic products.Photograps of the products are also sent on What's app.
FACTS ABOUT CHANDUA
- Base cloth is red, black and blue cut in the shape of a rectangle, square,or oval.
- Motifs are in the shape of Gandamayura,peacock. parrot,swans,elephants, jasmine sunflower and lotus.
- Traditional handicrafts include chandua, chhati, trasa, alata, adoni, mandhant and bana.
- Nowadays, garden umbrellas, lampshades, letter holders, bags, purses and' batuas' are in vogue.
- A huge chandua combining Pipili craft and soura motifs decorate the airport in Bhubaneswar.
HISTORY OF CRAFT:
- 17century is considered the golden period of sea trade in Odisha.
- Pipili too flourished as a port during the time along with Balasore , Harishpur and Manikpatna.
- Small vessels used to set sail on a river flowing near Pipili and load wares onto ships near its mouth.
- They used to sail to Candy in Srilanka , the Maldives, Thailand , Sumatra,Persian Gulf , Surat and Kochi carrying the rice, spices, products of cottage industry, particularly the 'gamocha'.
IMAGE OF PIPLI APPLIQUERATHA YATRA;
The mammoth crowd that gathers at Puri during the Rath Yatra from all over the world, is an instance of the fact that despite rapidly changing modern technology , faith continues to hold its sway over millions in India and that the existance of god should never be questioned. Though the chariot festival of Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra.is celebrated everywhere, it is the Rath Yatra at Puri that continues to be the biggest draw. The festival is touted as the oldest festival on earth.
Held in June-July every year, the festival attracts around 9 lakh people. Since the Jagannath Temple is off limits to non-hindus , the nine day festival offers an opportunity to pilgrims of all religions to catch a glimpse of the three sibling deities.
On the day of the festival, the deities are taken out of the sanctum sanctorum and placed on wooden chariots.The crowd pulls the chariot till the Gundicha Temple, considered the birthplace of the three deities, through a distance of about 3 km.
There is no definite information either in the scriptures or books of history about the exact year when the festival at the 12th century shrine started.Though there is no corroborative evidence regarding the beginning of the Rath Yatra festival it is believed to have started in the 12th century .
Since Puri is the actual abode of Jagannath, Jagannath temples elsewhere started celebrating Rath Yatra in the Puri style.
Many believe the custom of placing idols on chariots and pulling them is of Buddhist origin. Fa Hien, the Chinese historian, who visited India in the 5th century AD, had written about the chariot of Buddha being pulled along roads.
This is the only religious festival for which the state government mobilizes almost all its departments and security agencies for the smooth conduct.
In next year Ratha Yatra , to be called Nabakalebara, almost 30 lakh people are expected .New idols of the three will be placed at the sanctum sanctorum , a ritual observed after every 12 years.
The process of creating the chariot is a wonder itself . Carpenters never resort to modern enginnering techniques nor do they use new tools.
Over 70 carpenters toil hard for 45 days or so to complete the chariots towering to 45 ft (Taladwaja chariot for Balabhadra, 45.6 ft (Nandighos chariot for Jagannath)and 44.6 ft (Devidalan for Subhadra). About 50 artists and Artisans are engaged in weaving fabric for the chariots and painting them in bright colours and motifs .
The temple needs around 1,139 logs weighing 13,000cubic ft and worth over 60lakh to build the 3 chariots .
Every year not less than 1,000 trees of 13 species are felled to meet the deadline. After the end of the mega festival, the chariot timbers are dismantled and used in the shrine kitchen , touted as the biggest kitchen in the world.
Mahaprasad for over 40,000 people are cooked on any given day.
Legends has it that carpenters used to build 6 chariots around 600 years ago.
"A small river Malini, used to flow at Badasankha, on the Grand road. After leaning Jagannath Temple , the chariots could not reach Gundicha Temple , which was located on the other side of the river. To ensure smooth journey of the deities , the 3 chariots used to be kept on the other side of the river to transport the deities.
The 3 chariots that brought the deities from Jagannath Temple were kept on the river bank and used again when the deities returned from Gundicha Temple to Jagannath Temple on the occasion of Bahuda Yatra.
History bears testimony to 'Elephant service' during Rath Yatra till the 1970's.Elephants used to be used as part of the rituals of Jagannath Temple for quite a long time.
Apart from escorting the chariots, the jumbos used to walk infront of Gajapati Maharaja's cavalcade during his' Chhera panhara" (ceremonial sweeping of chariots) serrvice.
Besides, adding a royal touch to the festival , the elephants also symbolized prosperity and a good omen according to Hindu beliefs.One of the four entrance gates of the Jagannath Temple is called "Hati Dwar''.
- On the day of the festival Puri Maharaja and the Shankaracharya have special roles to play. The Maharaja has to carry out the tradition of sweeping chariot floors with a golden broomstick.The Sankaracharya is the first person to ascend the chariot to see the deities.
FACTS ABOUT RATH YATRA:
- The nine-day Rath Yatra is observed in June-July every year, but the state government starts preparations from February-March.
- On Saraswati Puja (observed in January -February every year), priests of Jagannath Temple perform a ceremonial puja of the Rath timber . Construction of the wooden chariots starts about 45 days before the festival.
- 'Snana Purnima' marks the countdown to the car festival.On this day,the three deities are given a ceremonial bath,After 15 days, the deities start their annual sojourn to Gundicha Temple(believed to be their birth place)on Rath Yatra.
- A total of 865 timbers of different species such as phasi, daura, simili, sahaj are used to make the chariots
- No less than 1,000 trees of different species are felled for the purpose of making the chariots
- More than 100 carpenters are engaged in the first phase of
- chariot work.
- Besides nearly 70 assistants (bhois) , 10 blacksmiths , 22 painters and some traditional tailors are assigned to give the finishing touch to the chariots.
- The state government spent more than 2.2 crore rupees under different heads for 2014 Rath Yatra
- This is the only festival when almost all the government agencies gear upto ensure its smooth conduct, Police personnel from across the state and central forces are also mobilized.
Image OF RATH YATRARAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY-
Ravenshaw college, set up in 1968 and later declared a university in 2006 is revered as a temple of learning in Odisha . As the first college in the state Ravenshaw has played a vital role in the field of education in Odisha.The history of Ravenshaw is believed to be the history of modern Odisha. The beautiful red Victorian structure was the cradle of Odisha's renaissance in the 19th century. A stroll down the corridors of the edifice , spread over 87acre, is like revisiting the past.Every nook and corner has an intresting story to tell, The events leading to the birth of the institution is also interesting.
After the great famine of 1886, the then comissioner of Odisha, Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, after whom the college is named, decided to establish a college in the state for the social and intellectual development of the people . Ever since, the college has grown in strength.
The college started with only six students in the intermediate class and has now grown into a full fledged university with around 9,000 students. The University has over 27 department and offers P.H.D in over 20 subjects . Initially the university functioned from the premises of Ravenshaw collegiate school but was later shifted to the magnificient building in 1921.
The institution has produced students who are legends in their field of work like Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das , Madhusudan Das, Godabarisha Mishra ,former Chief Minister Nabakrushna Chaudhry, Biju Patnaik and Harekrushna Mahtab.
After Odisha was declared a separate province in 1936.the legislative assembly functioned from the hall of the institution,till it was shifted to Bhubaneswar in 1948. For 12 years the state assembly functioned in Ravenshaw , were the head of the state and the opposition leaders would script Odisha's growth.
Freedom Fighter Subhas Chandra Bose had visited Ravenshaw and stayed at the hostel to recruit candidates for the Forward Bloc.
Nobel Laurete C V Raman visited the campus and stayed in the quarters of the then faculty member, Prana Krushna Parija. The students took the lead role in the Quit India Movement, 1942 and the Salt Satyagraha following which the stir spread to other parts of the state.
The college was a part of the British colonial structure and so every docment related to the colony and Odisha was preserved here.
Ravenshaw was the centre of all political, intellectual and literary movement .Students were at the centre of nationalist activities that is why this university has peroduced so many politicians, poets and chief ministers , judges etc.
Ravenshaw, spread over an area of 87.4 acres, is a blend of Indian, Gothic and Victorian style of architecture has 500 rooms and completed in 2 yrs, built by British architects. The beautiful columns and corridors are reminiscence of the pre-independence era. The Kanika Library, East and West hostel are a treat to the eyes. The Utkal university and the Odisha State Museum are branches of Ravenshaw University.
Ravenshaw , regarded as the temple of learning is compared to the Jagannath Temple of Puri . These twin monuments represent Odisha to the world and is a sense of pride to every Odia.
FACTS ABOUT RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY;
- After the disastrous famine of 1866, in which lakhs of people were killed , the commissioner T. E Ravenshaw mooted the idea to set up the Ravenshaw College . It was believed that backwardness and impoverishment were the main causes of the famine.
- The college which opened in 1868 , was initially named Cuttack College and it offered intermediate courses only.
- Degree classes started in the year 1876.
- The college was rechristened Ravenshaw College in 1879, after the retirement of the then commissioner T E Ravenshaw , who was instrumental in setting up the institution.
- The institution was the main centre of political and cultural activities in the Pre-independence era. Historians say the Quit India Movement, Civil disobedience Movement and Non- cooperation movement all started from this Campus.
- The college initially started functioning from the campus of Ravenshaw Collegiate School and was shifted to the present campus in 1921.
- Apart from the British Government , many rulers of princely states , such as Maharaja of Kanika and Mayurbhanj had provided funds for the construction of the college building.
- The college is spread over 87 acres of land . Historians claim the red heritage structure of the college is a mix of Neoclassical and Victorian architecture.
- The College Library, Kanika Library is one of oldest in the state.
RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY IMAGEHIRAKUD DAM- A symbol of the early nation building era after Independence, the Hirakud dam continues to remain the undisputed and biggest signature infrastructure project of Odisha.With two towers on either side, Nehru Minar and Gandhi Minar, the multipurpose river valley project symbolizes the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru's model of development for the country.
The 25.8 km dam is one of the longest aand largest in the world.The reservor, spread over 743sq . km is one of Asia's largest artificial lake.The amount of clay and concrete used to build the dam is enough to make a 8 metre wide road from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Amritsar to Dibrugarh .
Hirakud drains an area of 1,33,090 sq.km more than twice the area of Sri Lanka .Located around 15 km from Sambalpur city, the technological wonder was taken up within a year of India's freedom.Nehru laid the first batch of concrete in April 1948 and inagurated it in 1957 though it was conceived before Independence with then Odisha Governor Hawthorne Lewis laying the foundation stone in March 1946.Power generation and irrigation started in 1956.The project was completed at a cost of 100.02crore.
Hirakud is a engineering marvel from the time it was built and its continued relevance even today and for the future.
Hirakud literally means an island of diamonds. The early history of Sambalpur indicates the place was a hub of diamond trading in the 17th century and the 18 century. Though there is no diamond trading now, Hirakud continues to remain a priceless diamond for modern India.
The main dam of 4.8km connects Lamdungri on the left and Chandlidungri on the right and is flanked by 21km earthen dykes on the two sides. The dam intercepts 83,400 km of the Mahanadi catchment area. The reservoir has a live storage of 4,823M Cum. After the monstrous floods of 1937,M Vishveswararya, notable engineer and the Diwan of Mysore, had first proposed storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to check floods.
Ever since it was commissioned the dam has largely been credited with controlling floods in the Mahanadi Delta. The power houses at Burla and Chiplima, which use the dam water ,have a combined capacity to generate 347.86 megawatt.Around 75,000 sq.km of land in Bargarh,Bolangir,
Sonepur , and Sambalpur districts use water for farm irrigation while numerous industries around Sambalpur rely on its waters
The Hirakud township has turned into a tourist hub attracting thousands of visitors every year, who come to admire the dam and the islands.The Indian Department of posts released a commemorative stamp for 30 paise(denomination)on Hirakud in October 1979 while the Reserve Bank of India released a 100Rs note with an image of the dam in December 1960.The benefits of the dam withstanding it has also been responsible partly or fully for submerging 249 villages in Odisha and 36 in Chhatisgarh displacing around 26,500 families.
Around 200 temples were submerged ,the structures of some of them are still intact and become visible when the water level of the reservoir falls during summer.
Like all water bodies, the dam reservoir is a favourite roosting ground for thousands of migratory birds in winter.Around 59,000 birds of 45 species were found here this year. Migratory birds from the Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Central amd Southeast Asia and the Himalayas flock here to escape theharsh winter back home.Lakhanpur, Kamgaon, Rengali, Govindpur, and Debrigarh sanctuary, located around the reservoir are favourite roosting sites of the winged guests. Species such as Whistling duck , tufted duck common pochard, red crested pochard , great duck bill, spot bill,great crested grabe , little grabe , pond heron, painted stork , whiskered tern, Indian river tern and gadwall are among the various species found here. Each year the birds start arriving in November and leave in february before the onset of summer.
Image of HirakudIMAGE OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLESOLIVE RIDLEY:One of the greatest natural spectacles in Odisha is the yearly assembly of Olive Ridley turtles at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya, for mating, laying and hatching eggs. Tens of thousands of sea turtles swimming across the Indian Ocean from beyond Sri Lanka reach Odisha's coastline for the annual ritual. They arrive every winter in the beginning of november .The protected beach of Gahiramatha serves as an excellent nesting ground, perhaps the largest in the world. Strangely, the turtles return to the same beach to breed where they were born.
Apart from Odisha, Olive Ridley Turtles also lays eggs in large numbers on the coasts of Mexico and CostaRica. The best period to see them is between november and march. Visitors can spot hundreds of female turtles returning to their natal beach to lay eggs especially at night.Gahirmatha was declared a marine sanctuary in 1997 by the Centre for the protection of these turtles . Only, 1 out of every 1,000 baby turtles survive. On an average 40,00,000 turtles lay eggs on the beach. We have to protect their marine shelter as it is a rare phenomenon.Both Nasi-1 and Nasi -2 islands in Gahirmatha have a four -mile stretch of black sand beaches.In the dead of night , female turtles arrive on the coast, lay eggs and crawl back into the sea. All matings do not necessarily occur on this beach. They could have occured elsewhere too.Hatchlings emerge after 45-60 days.It is again a rarity that baby turtles grow without their mother. The mass nesting is best viewed between mid -January and the end of february. Just as hundreds of turtles are born, they are also lost because of fishing trawlers as they get caught in their nets and the fisherman in order to save their nets kill the turtles and throw their carcass in sea. The risk to turtles can be reduced by equipping trawlers with turtle excluder devices , a small additional net or metal grid placed inside the net allows the turtle to escape . but the rule to enforce this remains a distant dream
MYRIAD HUES OF RAGHURAJPUR:This is a heritage crafts village near Puri where the best traditions of Odisha paintings are on display in the form of patta paintings, palm leaf engravings, stone carvings, paper toys, masks and woodcraft. This village also boasts the tradition of Gotipua performing art, the earlier avatar of Odissi. Gurukuls here continue the tradition of teaching and performing Gotipua(Young boys dressed as boys).
.Situated on the southern bank of the Bhargavi River, the coconut and palm shaded village and its surrounding seem to be in tune with the creative leanings of the 123 families of artisans , who created poetry on the pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaf and paper.Jagannath cult, Krishna Leela and other characters from mythology and their sagas with rich imagery are depicted on these materials in resplendent colours.
Scenes from the Mahabharat and Ramayana adorn the walls of houses, arranged in two rows facing each other. Behind every door , there is an artist engrossed in intricate detailing.The deft hands of Mahapatras and Maharanas have converted the village into a living reference for Odisha's mural painting tradition. Though Pattachitra is the mainstay of Raghurajpur's artistic brilliance, an array of other crafts-Palm leaf engravings , tussar paintings, Ganjappa cards , stone and wood carvings,cow dung and papier mache masks and toys -are proudly on display.
The village has managed to keep alive this indigenous tradition, closely associated with Puri and Jagannath Temple. Chitrakar(artist) families from Puri district created ansara pattis of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, which were worshipped at the temple during the 15-day indisposition of the deities after Snana Purnima
Raghurajpur also boasts of a rich Yatra tradition. The eight temples & the lone bhagbat Tungi , community meeting place ,stand testimony to this.The Raghunath Deb Temple , which is being renovated , hosted Dola Yatra, Sahi Yatra, and Ramleela in the past.Every winter ,Raghurajpur gets swarmed with tourists from India and abroad. The village has a transit restaurant, a small accomodation unit, called Gram Kutir, a crafts centre and an amphitheatre for live performance of Gotipua and Odissi. These were built during the revival of the mural painting project by INTACH with support from NORAD, Norway and the Odisha govt during 2002 and 2005.
The Vasant Utsav held in February every year since 1994 is the brain child of Odissi Legend Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra , who hails from this village . With this festival , he wanted to promote the art forms and Raghurajpur.His NGO is working on utility items to jack up the sale of Pattachitra.
Another touchstone of this village is Dasabhuja Gotipua Odissi Nrutya Parishad . Established in 1977 by Guru Maguni Das, Guru Maguni Das , A Padmashree Awardee, and Recipient Of Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy award,the dance school played a lead role in revival of the dance form, a precursor of the Odissi classical dance.Guru Maguni Das is considered the initiator of group performance of Gotipua Dance. Earlier , it was performed by a single boy as the name indicates along the processions of Jagannath . Most of the sequences represent mythological tales from the life of Krishna.
International artists get a taste of the village art & crafts during the 5 week Raghurajpur International art/craft Exchange conceived in 2011 by Kshitish Das (India) and Carrol Hummel (USA). They live and work in the village, participate in local customs and festivals. This initiative has helped artists of Raghurajpur showcase their craft on a global platform.
PATTACHITRA IN RAGHURAJPUR
The womenfolk of Raghurajpur are adept in Pattachitra and other crafts,which was earlier a male domain. Today, every house in the village is a studio and every resident an artist.
The credit for converting Raghurajpur into a craft village goes to Jagannath Mohapatra, who won the national award for Patta Painting in 1965, and American researcher Halina Zealey.
Initially , the village was home to 5 to 6 chitrakar(artist) families .The fortune of these artists dwindled at the beginning of the 20th century with the entry of middlemen.Till then, they created pattis for Jagannath Temple and also sold them at the Bedha Mahal on its premises.
Pattachitra was a dying art by the 1950's. The kings no longer patronized the artists and the public did not buy it. In 1952, Zealey organised a competition in which artists from nearby village participated. Jagannath Mohapatra impressed zealot by a painting on Matsya Avatar. By then most artists of Raghurajpur had turned labourers and the neighbouring villagers joked about it.This aggrieved Mohapatra and he decided to create an artist in every home.Zealey understood
the need to promote these products to sustain this art form. She set up the Banijya Bikash Kendra in Puri and gave Jagannath Mohapatra the funds to support the cause.
The Roots of Pattachitra
The roots of Pattachitra can be traced to the traditional Jatri Patti . In ancient days visitors to Puri carried back Jatri Pattis, which depicted tales and rituals related to Jagannath as Momentos.The artists continue to draw inspiration from Jatri Patti with Thia Badhia- depiction of the temple of Jagannath , Krishna Leela, Dasavatar- the ten incarnations of Vishnu and Panchmukhi - the five headed Ganesh dominating the pattis.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING PATTACHITRA
Pattachitra is a form of painting that is done on cloth. The art form can be traced back to as early as the 12th century and has evolved around the Jagannath cult.
The process begins with creating the canvas.Agummy paste of boiled tamarind and powdered chalk is plastered on a stretched piece of cloth twice over, so that it becomes stone hard and does not crack.It rubbed with scrubbing stone to make the surface smooth.It takes around 7 days to prepare a canvas. Once dry, the bare outlines of the painting are traced with charcoal and limestone(Chalk). The artists earlier used Red Ochre and Cinnabar (red), Lamp Black(black) , conch shell ( white)and Opriment (yellow) to colour the different stories from mythology.
IMAGE OF PATTACHITRA, RAGHURAJPUR.LINGARAJ TEMPLE-
Legend has it that Lord Shiva chose Ekamra Kshetra as his favourite resort,stayed there for an eternity and was henceforth worshipped as Lingaraj. Over centuries, the pull and popularity of the famous shrine has increased. On an average about 6,000 to 7,000 pilgrims visit the shrine everyday.
A major stopover on the Golden Triangle tourist route, the 11th century Shaiva shrine is also dedicated to Tribhubanswar from which the name Bhubaneswar has been derived.
One of the prominent temples of Odisha where worship is still on centuries after it was built, Lingaraj temple is not only an icon of sculptural grandeur and architectural elegance.It is also undoubtedly most important monument in the temple city of Bhubaneswar.
The famous temple, which attracts devotees from far and wide ,has found mention in several historical scripts.
There are some ancient scripts of the 15th century that also serve as tourist guides - 'Ekamara Purana',' Ekamara Chandrika' and 'Ekamara Swarnadri Mahodaya'.
These guides mention Ekamara Kshetra as a tourist spot of that time. After taking a holy dip in the Ganga Sagar Mela , it was customary for pilgrims to visit the Shaiva Kshetra in Bhubaneswar on their way to Srikshetra Puri.
The 54 -meter high structure symbolizes the zenith of the Kalinga style of architecture.
The temple premises, sprawled over a 25,000 sq ft area, has more than 150 small and large subsidiary temples in its courtyard.Each of them has an interesting legend linked with it. The ornamental details of stone carvings and minutely sculpted figures on the walls depicting gods & goddess, dancing girls, musicians in action, hunters and couples are full of grace, and seem to have a silent rhythm.
Non- hindus are not allowed inside the temple, but they can view the temple premises from a watch tower located outside the temple premises.
Another unique feature of the deity is that it is worshipped as Harihara, a combination of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. The 2.5 metre wide lingam is also a 'syambhu' or self-established one , and is one of the 12 jyotirlingams of India .
The Archeological survey of India is the custodian of the temple while the Lingaraj Temple Trust Board is in charge of its administration.The temple's crown is made of eight metals( astadhatu).
In the Hindu month of Shravan,lakhs of 'bol bum' devotees walk long distances carrying water and congregate at Lingaraj Temple to pour the holy water on the Shiva linga on auspicious Mondays with the hope that their prayers will be answered.
Rukuna Rath Yatra, the chariot festival of Lord Lingaraj , precedes the more famous car festival of Lord Jagannath in Puri held in June or July every year.
Following custom, the Rukuna Rath does not turn back , which is called 'analeuta'.After a five -day retreat at the Mausima temple,the chariot is drawn from the behind during the return journey.
According to Mahagovinda Mahasupakar, a priest at Lingaraj Temple ''The Rukuna Rath festival is older than the Puri car festival. Lord Shiva was given this chariot by all the gods to kill a demon called Tri-
purasura .He was accompanied by Godess Shakti or Rukumini . That is why the festival is called Rukuna Rath Yatra.
However, as with all heritage structures in the country.Urbanization has taken its toll on the ancient monument.The rapid pace at which buidings are built and cars are increasing after the establishment of capital has been affecting monuments and temples the most.
Out of 1,001 temples in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. Only 320 temples remain, but many of them are not visible due to the emergence of high-rises and concrete structures around them.
IMAGE OF LINGARAJ TEMPLERATNAGIRI-Buddhism once flourished in what is now Odisha and evidence of this can be found in Lalitgiri , Ratnagiri and Udayagiri in Jajpur districtoThis hill-top monastery or mahavihara in Jajpur district bears testimony to the flourishing period of Buddhist religious, cultural and architectural eminence between the 6th and 12th centuries when this place was a seat of learning and excellence. Many stone and bronze images and brass statues of Buddha, reminiscent of the Gupta period, have been discovered. Ratnagiri was part of the famed Puspagiri University along with Lalitagiri and Udayagiri.Buddhism once flourished in what is now Odisha and evidence of this can be found in Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri three sites are also known as the 'Diamond Triangle'.The sites were also ancient centres of learning at par with Nalanda in present day Bihar and Taxila in what is now Pakistan.
The archeological treasures of Lalitgiri were
first brought to public notice by Chandrasekhar Banerjee in 1869,leading to
subsequent documentation of the site by R.P Chanda.Considering its
archeological importance ,the ancient vestisages were centrally protected in
1937.
The
Archeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted excavations of Lalitgiri from
1985 to 1991.The excavations revealed the remains of a massive stupa on a hill
top. The excavations also brought to light the remains of an apsidal 'chaityagriha'with
a circular stupa at the western end.
The
sculptures of Buddha and other Buddhist divinities such as Tara, Manjushri , Bhrikuti, Hariti , Chunda,
Avalokiteswara,Maitreya , Aparajita, Vairochana,Vasundhara and so on have been
discovered at Lalitgiri along with many antiquities in stone , terracotta and
metal.
But the most magnificient discovery at Lalitgiri
was a golden casket containing tiny boxes, presumed to be the relics of
Lord Buddha and his favourite disciple. The relics were found inside a small
gold casket encased in multiple boxes of silver, steatite and khondolite.The
casket was discovered from among the ruins of a stupa on Lalitgiri hill.It has
now been moved to the Archeological Survey of India's office in Bhubaneswar,
where it has been kept in a strong room.
The
Archeological treasures of Ratnagiri
, also known as the 'Hill of Jewels', were first noticed by M. M Chakravarty in
1905. Extensive excavations at Ratnagiri carried out by the ASI between 1958
and 1961 brought to light the remains of a magnificient Buddhist establishment
consisting of a stupa , monastic complexes, shrines , votive stupas, many
sculptures, architectural fragments and other antiquities.
On the
basis of seals, found on the antiquities bearing the words "Sri Ratnagiri
Mahavihariya Arya Bhiksu Sangha , the place has been identified as Ratnagiri .
The construction activities at Ratnagiri got special impetus under the royal
patronage of the Bhaumakaras during the 9th and 10th centuries. The exquisitely
craved chlorite doorframe is unique.
The sanctum enshrines a massive statue of Buddha
seated in the Bhumisparsa mudra flanked by the standing figured of Padampani
and Vajrapani holding chamaras. Excavations have yielded a rich hoard of
antiquities including stone and bronze images of Buddha and Buddhist
divinities. Ratnagiri also houses a museum containing several artifacts
recovered from the excavation of Ratnagiri . The Museum has 3,535 listed
antiquities of which 244 are displayed in the galleries, corridor , verandah and front entrance of the
museum . The museum consists of four large galleries with a corridor that
displays various antiquities related to Buddhism.
Udayagiri
or the ‘Sunrise hill’lies on the slope of a crescent shaped hill located on
the right bank of the river Birupa. The site is spread over an area of 325.49
acres including colossal rock-cut Buddhist images atop the hill and a rock-cut
well with steps.The excavation at the site was undertaken in 2 phases from 1985
-1989and again from 1997 2003.The excavations at Udayagiri in 1985 brought to
light the remains of a huge monastic complex comprising a mahastupa and an
east-facing square monastry. The Mahastupa is made of brick and enclosed by a
compound wall, the vestiges of which are found in the northwest and partly on
the eastern side.The monastry has a shrine chamber with an ornate gateway
housing a colossal image of Buddha in the bhumisparsa mudra.
The excavations at Udayagiri in 1997 have brought
to light the remains of a brick double –storey monastic complex with features
such as the 1.4 meter wide pradakhinapatha around the sanctum chamber on the
first floor.The discovery of a series of monastries , stupas, Buddhist cult
images and scores of stone, terracotta and metal antiquities prove that for a
long period extending from the pre-christian era to the 12th
century, these establishment promoted Buddhist learning for all sects of
Buddhism.
Another famous Buddhist site , Langudi , about 20
kms from Ratnagiri , grabbed headlines after the announcement by many
historians and archeologists that they believed it was the famous Puspagiri
written about by famous Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang after the unearthing of
many Buddha images.The discovery of a rare stone image of King Ashoka at
Langudi hill has aroused fresh interest for excavations at the site Many
newly discovered Buddhist sites in Jajpur and its nearby areas are conclusive
proof of the existance of Buddhist culture in the state for centuries and its
immense impact on art , architecture , tradition and various aspects of
religion.
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DHAULI-
Dhauli hills on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is an island of peace & tranquility far from the maddening crowd.
It was nearly 2,300 years ago that Dhauli hills showed the world the path from war to peace
It is one of the most sought-after landmarks of Odisha with the edicts of Emperor Ashoka engraved on a pillar at the foot of the picturesque Dhauli Hills. It was here that Magadha Emperor Ashoka fought a war which remains unparalleled in history for its violence.The Kalinga war is believed to have been fought here which transformed Emperor Ashoka from 'Chandashoka' to 'Dharmashoka',a champion of Ahimsa or nonviolence that he transformed into when he saw the river Daya turning red with the blood of the slain Kalingan soldiers Thereafter he embraced Buddhism and turned the place into a peace pilgrimage with stupas, chaityas and pillars.
A rock-cut elephant and rock edicts at the foothills of Dhauli stands testimony to history while a gleaming peace pagoda( Vishwa Shanti Stupa)atop the hills symbolizes peace.
The historic battle ground of the Kalinga war gained prominence after the construction of the Peace Pagoda in 1972 by Japan's Buddha Sangha and Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha as an Indo-Japan collaboration.An architectural marvel, the pagoda is one of the most visited sites in the golden triangle tourist circuit. Built in the shape of a dome, the 200ft high stupa with five mushroom shaped umbrellas on the top symbolizes five important aspects of Buddhism . The pagoda has four giant statues of Lord Buddha in different postures on four sides , each guarded by a pair of lions.
The stone panels on the walls of the dome depict a reclining Buddha, an elephant procession, a Bodhi tree, footprints of Buddha bearing the chakra(wheel), a sleeping beauty fanned by female attendants, a procession on horseback , and Emperor Ashoka renouncing war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha at Dhauli hill. The stupa, which was funded by international Buddhist organization Nipponzan Myohoji , was built in just two years.
From the top of the pagoda visitors could get a panoramic view of Bhubaneswar and a sprawling landscape along the Daya river where the bloody Kalinga war was fought in 261BC.
Through rock edicts, Asoka disseminated Buddha's message not only to frontier and neighbouring territories but also as far as Greece, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Of the 14 of the famous rockedicts ,11 are found at Dhauli hills. Ashoka's edicts are mainly concerned with the reforms he instituted and the moral principles he recommended in his attempt to create a just and humane society.He apologized people for the Kalinga war and reassured people beyond the borders of his empire that he has no expansionist intentions towards them
One of the edicts also recorded the number of people deported and slained during the Kalinga war. He is the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquests after winning a war. A 30ft high Ashoka Stambha and a peace park dotted with statues of Buddha at the bottom of the hill creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The Hills also symbolize peaceful coexistance of Hinduism and Buddhism as a monastry and a Shiva temple lie close to the premises and are frequented by Hindus as well as Buddhist devotees
A rock-cut elephant and rock edicts at the foothills of Dhauli stands testimony to history while a gleaming peace pagoda( Vishwa Shanti Stupa)atop the hills symbolizes peace.
The historic battle ground of the Kalinga war gained prominence after the construction of the Peace Pagoda in 1972 by Japan's Buddha Sangha and Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha as an Indo-Japan collaboration.An architectural marvel, the pagoda is one of the most visited sites in the golden triangle tourist circuit. Built in the shape of a dome, the 200ft high stupa with five mushroom shaped umbrellas on the top symbolizes five important aspects of Buddhism . The pagoda has four giant statues of Lord Buddha in different postures on four sides , each guarded by a pair of lions.
The stone panels on the walls of the dome depict a reclining Buddha, an elephant procession, a Bodhi tree, footprints of Buddha bearing the chakra(wheel), a sleeping beauty fanned by female attendants, a procession on horseback , and Emperor Ashoka renouncing war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha at Dhauli hill. The stupa, which was funded by international Buddhist organization Nipponzan Myohoji , was built in just two years.
From the top of the pagoda visitors could get a panoramic view of Bhubaneswar and a sprawling landscape along the Daya river where the bloody Kalinga war was fought in 261BC.
Through rock edicts, Asoka disseminated Buddha's message not only to frontier and neighbouring territories but also as far as Greece, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Of the 14 of the famous rockedicts ,11 are found at Dhauli hills. Ashoka's edicts are mainly concerned with the reforms he instituted and the moral principles he recommended in his attempt to create a just and humane society.He apologized people for the Kalinga war and reassured people beyond the borders of his empire that he has no expansionist intentions towards them
One of the edicts also recorded the number of people deported and slained during the Kalinga war. He is the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquests after winning a war. A 30ft high Ashoka Stambha and a peace park dotted with statues of Buddha at the bottom of the hill creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The Hills also symbolize peaceful coexistance of Hinduism and Buddhism as a monastry and a Shiva temple lie close to the premises and are frequented by Hindus as well as Buddhist devotees
IMAGE OF DHAULISAMBALPURI SAREE- The unique feature of this weave from Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur and other areas, is they are first tied and dyed and then woven into exquisite pieces. The high point of this weave is the 'baandha'. The base colours are bright with contrasting borders. Shankha (conch), chakra (wheel), phula (flowers) geometrical patterns and landscapes form the main motifs. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is credited to have popularized this saree outside Odisha.
In Odisha, No marriage is complete without Sambalpuri sarees. The tie -and -dye handloom wonder from western Odisha is intrinsically woven into the lives of the people here.What makes this traditional weave so popular even in contemporary times is the blend of ethnic designs with modern motifs. No wonder it has carved out a distinct niche for itself in markets globally and is still a rage.
The unique ikat patterns, in which threads are first dyed according to the design and the layout and then the fabric is hand- woven, has survived competition from machine made textiles over several decades and has emerged a far stronger and more sought -after handloom Attempts has been made to produce automated sambalpuri designs , but these attempts proved futile.
Originally , craftsmen would make 'bandhas' with images of flowers, animals, and geometric patterns. Later, the designs changed to portraits and landscapes. But the essence of Sambalpuri sari remains wide temple-style borders with patterns in the middle reflecting the cultural heritage of the state . Bhulia (Meher ) community is the dominant weaving community for the Sambalpuri Sari.The prices range from a very affordable Rs 500 to 1 lakh and above . There is a sari for every pocket, every occasion and every age . The brilliant base colours and the contrasting motifs are a delight for the eyes.
The Bargarh handloom cluster is the centre of Sambalpuri handloom production . Spread over Bargarh , Barpalli, Bheden, Bhattli, Attabira , Bijepur, Padampur and Sohela blocks,the weavers churn out not only yarns of fantasy , but also table cloths, napkins, bedspreads, and wall hanging.Recently, the handloom crossed gender barrier, by designing materials for men shirts and kurtas.The Sambalpuri weave has become a way of life and has kept itsoriginal charm alive by creating designs to suit contemporary times.
The weekly market at Balijuri, about 8 km from Bargarh, sees transactions worth crores of rupees every week when weavers come to sell their products .
Presiding deities in western Odisha , Samaleswari ( Sambalpur), Pataneshwari (Patnagarh), Manikeswari ( Bhawanipatna) , are draped in Sambalpuri Sari. Chaturbhuja's exquisite showroom, Mehers in Bhubaneswar boasts of finest collection of Sambalpuri weaves.He runs a cluster of about 100 looms and imparts training to youngsters in traditional weaving and also gives stipend to students .
According to the Handloom Census 2009 of the Union government , the cradle of this weave , Bargarh has the biggest clusters of weavers in Odisha.There are over 35,000 weavers and allied textile workers and 12, 500 looms.
ROURKELA STEEL PLANT-
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, had described large industrial houses as temples of modern India. The Rourkela Steel Plant, the 1st public sector integrated steel plant in the country has infact been a temple to millions.
RSP has not just provided livelihood to thousands, both directly and indirectly, but also contributed significantly towards the development of the state as it has been the highest revenue earner for the exchequer for years.
The steel revolution in India began with the setting up of the first public sector integrated steel plant at Rourkela with Western German collaboration .On February 3, 1959, the then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad had lit the first blast furnace "Parvati"marking the commencement of a new era.
RSP has not just provided livelihood to thousands, both directly and indirectly, but also contributed significantly towards the development of the state as it has been the highest revenue earner for the exchequer for years.
The steel revolution in India began with the setting up of the first public sector integrated steel plant at Rourkela with Western German collaboration .On February 3, 1959, the then President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad had lit the first blast furnace "Parvati"marking the commencement of a new era.
With the setting up of this mega steel plant, the tribal village of Rourkela transformed into a modern township with all amenities.Thousands from across the country made a beeline for this village in search of work. Since then, the RSP has been synonymous with growth & development of the state anf the nation. The presence of the steel plant helped other industries grow like education and infrastructure grow.The local economy also got a boost with the development of ancillary industries .
The plant was initially designed to produce half a million tonnes of crude steel per annum and was upgraded to produce 1.0 MT.The units at 1.0MT stage were commissioned in December 1958 and early 1962. Considering the additional demand for flat products in the country, the capacity of the plant was again enhanced to as high as 1.8 MT which was commissioned between 1965 and 1969.In order to overcome technological obsolescence and to remain competitive in the market , RSP went in for modernization , which was conceived in 1988 and most of the units were completed in 1997.
The wide range of products of RSP , mainly its special steel products , have earned it a special place in the international market.There is a big demand for its plates in shipbuilding , high pressure vessels, and special plates in defence. Its other products like silicon steel in the electrical industry , corrugated galvanised sheets for roofing, pipes in the oil and gas sectors and tin plates in the packaging industry are established products in global markets.
RSP tried to create history by undergoing large-scale modernization and taking its production capacity to as high as 4.5 MT from the existing capacity of 2 MT.
The plant was initially designed to produce half a million tonnes of crude steel per annum and was upgraded to produce 1.0 MT.The units at 1.0MT stage were commissioned in December 1958 and early 1962. Considering the additional demand for flat products in the country, the capacity of the plant was again enhanced to as high as 1.8 MT which was commissioned between 1965 and 1969.In order to overcome technological obsolescence and to remain competitive in the market , RSP went in for modernization , which was conceived in 1988 and most of the units were completed in 1997.
The wide range of products of RSP , mainly its special steel products , have earned it a special place in the international market.There is a big demand for its plates in shipbuilding , high pressure vessels, and special plates in defence. Its other products like silicon steel in the electrical industry , corrugated galvanised sheets for roofing, pipes in the oil and gas sectors and tin plates in the packaging industry are established products in global markets.
RSP tried to create history by undergoing large-scale modernization and taking its production capacity to as high as 4.5 MT from the existing capacity of 2 MT.
IMAGE OF SAMBALPURI SAREEBHITARKANIKA- This is India's second largest mangrove eco-system and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including white crocodiles, pythons, cobras, Olive Ridley sea turtles and the famed saltwater crocodiles stretching to about 23 ft. This sanctuary served as a hunting ground for the Kanika kings. Ancient Hindu temples are among the park's attractions.The Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapada is the 2nd largest mangrove forest after the sylvan Sunderbans in neighbouring West Bengal. The unique eco-system criss-crossed by a network of rivers and creeks, is home to about 1,600 crocodiles, the biggest attraction of this retreat.
This fragile ecology ,spread over 672 sq.km and once the happy hunting grounds of the Kanika kings, was declared a sanctuary in 1975.Subsequently in 1998,the core area of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary was made into a national park.
The Union government, under the United Nations Development Project , initiated a scheme in 1975 for the conservation of salt water crocodiles. Breeding and management of the reptile was the focus of the scheme, which was executed by the forest department.In the last three decades, emphasis was laid on the collection of eggs laid in the wild.The rear -and release programme at the Salt Water Crocodile Conservation and Research Centre at Dangamal has resulted in a substantial increase in a number of reptiles.According to last year census there are 1,664 crocodiles in Bhitarkanika now.
The Guiness Book of World Records shows the rivers are also home to the largest crocodile species in the world. A 39 year old albino crocodile "Gori ''is a major attraction at Dangamal.
Breeding of three species of crocodiles, saltwater, mugger and Gharial, was initiated in 34 centres in West Bengal,Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states in 1975. The rivers and the thick vegetation of Bhitarkanika also attract a large number of migratory birds.Thousands of birds arrive every winter to roost.Birds like gadwall, pintail, lesser whistling duck teal,geese, storks , swans, gebes , coots, sandpipers, plovers and skimmers are found in abundance. For tourists, the sightings of almost 85 species of birds frolicking and flouncing in the water is a visual treat.
The northern pintail, gull-billed tern, common sand-piper red kite , spot -billed pelican and the lesser flamingo set off a riot of colors in this sylvan oasis . Their chorus calls is a delight for bird lovers . The rivers provide excellent pray base for the birds and this brings them in droves for a winter sojourn.
There are 82 varieties of mangrove trees flanking the brim. Heavy with foliage and an ever expanding mesh of roots , they spread to the edges of the lapping water.During the SuperCyclone, that strucked Odisha, villages around Bhitarkanika remained largely unaffected . Mangrove forests provide a natural barrier against calamities like cyclone and storms as they help in stabilizing the shoreline.The forests also serve as nesting & breeding grounds for various terrestrial, arboreal,benthic and aquatic organisms.
The existance of a hunting tower in the core area of Bhitarkanika indicates that the royal family members of Rajkanika were hunters. The hunting tower,once in a dilapidated condition are major draws at Bhitarkanika.
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IMAGE OF BHITARKANIKASILVER FILGREE WORK-This ancient art of jewellery making occupies a place of pride in the annals of Odisha. It is a major source of livelihood for hundreds of artisans, who make exotic ornaments and mementos with a wide range of motifs.Odisha is home to many beautiful art forms, but the intricate silver filgree work is probably the oldest among all art forms. Locally , known as 'tarakasi', silver filgree work is Odisha's artistic heritage and pride.
The delicate artefacts, handcrafted intricately with thin silver wires, are a treat for the eyes.The pieces reflect the spectacular workmanship and expertise of the artisans.
This unique artform has flourished for years in the 1,000 year old city of Cuttack. It has also given Cuttack its sobriquet of 'Silver City'.
Although there is no historical evidence on how and when artisans in Odisha started crafting silver filgree items, veterans say the artform was patronized the most during the Mughal era. Old timers say silver filgree originated in Cuttack and traders who went on trips to Indonesia and Java carried the artefacts with them and earned huge profits .
The artform is found in some other parts of the world as well,but artisans in the Silver City claim that Cuttack's filgree work is distinctive
The silver filgree artifacts made in Odisha are much lighter , more delicate and have more finesse. Wires of pure silver are used and detailed work is done on it.The filgree work is all about deftness of the hand and innovation of the mind.
What enhances the beauty of Cuttack's threaded silver work and makes it distinctive is that the artifacts appear like nets.
The pace of modern times has, however, had its impact on the art and at other places,artisans have started using machines to make silver filgree items.But craftsmen in Cuttack have kept tradition alive. The process of melting silver, converting it into thin strands and then magically weaving the wires into the most intricate design is done by hand.
IMAGE OF CUTTACK SILVER FILGREE WORKSIMLIPAL NATIONAL PARK-
Spread over more than 2,200 sqkm in Mayurbhanj district, Similipal, a treasure trove of hundreds of exotic plant, bird and animal species, is a major tourist attraction. Primarily known for its
tigers, elephants and crocodiles, this famed national park figures on Unesco's list of biosphere .reserves.SIMLIPAL NATIONAL PARK
Lush green hills are lined with avenues of 'simul'trees and meadows of sun-kissed sinus waters are heavenly experience for nature lovers. The sylvan paradise called Simlipal is extravagently patterned with forests, hills, and cascading waterfalls shimmering ethereal hues. The silence of this idyllic landscape is broken by the call of a little mynah and other birds and sometimes by a spine chilling roar of a tiger.
The reserve encompasses over 2,750 sq.km with a core area of 1,195 sq.km and a buffer of 1,550 sq.km . Tourists can enjoy myriad varieties of flora and fauna like 'simul' orchid , eucalyptus , tigers, leopard, elephants , deer and many other bird species, snakes,turtles ,crocodiles to name a few.
According to National Tiger Conservation Authority there are approximately 23 tigers in the sanctuary . Nearly 1,400 species of mammals, 62 types of reptiles and 361 species of birds in the reserve.
Budhabalanga , Khairi, Salandi, Palpala are the famous rivers originating from the Similipal hills. The magnificient waterfalls at Barehipani, and Joranda make for a great retreat from urban life and attract hordes of domestic and foreign tourists who get entranced by the virgin beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Tourists can visit Similipal via Jashipur on National highway no-6 and Baripada on NH -5 enroute Pithabhata . Last year, the waterfowl census had given similipal officials a reason to celebrate as rare birds like fulvous whistling duck, red crested poachard , tufted duck, gadwall, great crested grebe, common teal,and ferruginous were found.
Lush green hills are lined with avenues of 'simul'trees and meadows of sun-kissed sinus waters are heavenly experience for nature lovers. The sylvan paradise called Simlipal is extravagently patterned with forests, hills, and cascading waterfalls shimmering ethereal hues. The silence of this idyllic landscape is broken by the call of a little mynah and other birds and sometimes by a spine chilling roar of a tiger.
The reserve encompasses over 2,750 sq.km with a core area of 1,195 sq.km and a buffer of 1,550 sq.km . Tourists can enjoy myriad varieties of flora and fauna like 'simul' orchid , eucalyptus , tigers, leopard, elephants , deer and many other bird species, snakes,turtles ,crocodiles to name a few.
According to National Tiger Conservation Authority there are approximately 23 tigers in the sanctuary . Nearly 1,400 species of mammals, 62 types of reptiles and 361 species of birds in the reserve.
Budhabalanga , Khairi, Salandi, Palpala are the famous rivers originating from the Similipal hills. The magnificient waterfalls at Barehipani, and Joranda make for a great retreat from urban life and attract hordes of domestic and foreign tourists who get entranced by the virgin beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Tourists can visit Similipal via Jashipur on National highway no-6 and Baripada on NH -5 enroute Pithabhata . Last year, the waterfowl census had given similipal officials a reason to celebrate as rare birds like fulvous whistling duck, red crested poachard , tufted duck, gadwall, great crested grebe, common teal,and ferruginous were found.
IMAGE of SimlipalUnfortunately, a severe cyclonic storm ,'Phailin", which had a wind speed of 220kmph , hit the coast in 2013 and halted the operations of the port. The cyclone also affected the lives of the people in the villages along the coast .Nature's fury devasted their home and livelihood, and the fishermen were terrified of venturing into the sea for several months.
But no sooner the people started rebuilding their lives another cyclone 'hudhud ' hit the coast. Though the storm was not severe.Its impact was sufficiently damaging . Thousands of people were rendered homeless. The coast also witnessed thewrath of the Super Cyclone of 1999, a nightmare villagers cannot erase from their minds.
Barely 16 km away from Berhampur and close to the Andhra Pradesh border. Gopalpur provides a golden opportunity for travellers to soak in coastal life . A stroll down the beach would unfurl scenes of women making necklaces from sea shells, youngsters making sand sculptures , villagers weaving coir mats and fishermen mending nets.
The lighthouse on the beach is one of the oldest lighthouses in the country commissioned in 1870.
The beacon, with a range of 26 nautical miles offers a spectacular view of the sea from the lighthouse.In fact, the entire town of Gopalpur can be seen from the top of the lighthouse.When Phailin struck the coast, thousands of villagers took shelter in the Raj remnant to escape nature's fury.A stroll down the causarina lines beaches of Aryapalli and Patisonapur, strewn along the sandy stretch during the sunrise and sunset is a pleasure.
A couple of sight -seeing options like Buddhist Temple of Jirang in Gajapati district , around 75 km from the town , the Taratarini Temple on the hill top around 40 km away and the Bhairabi Temple , 20 km from the beach are some of the places vistors can explore while in Gopalpur. The state tourism department has constructed accomodation facilities for tourists here .
The lighthouse on the beach is one of the oldest lighthouses in the country commissioned in 1870.
The beacon, with a range of 26 nautical miles offers a spectacular view of the sea from the lighthouse.In fact, the entire town of Gopalpur can be seen from the top of the lighthouse.When Phailin struck the coast, thousands of villagers took shelter in the Raj remnant to escape nature's fury.A stroll down the causarina lines beaches of Aryapalli and Patisonapur, strewn along the sandy stretch during the sunrise and sunset is a pleasure.
A couple of sight -seeing options like Buddhist Temple of Jirang in Gajapati district , around 75 km from the town , the Taratarini Temple on the hill top around 40 km away and the Bhairabi Temple , 20 km from the beach are some of the places vistors can explore while in Gopalpur. The state tourism department has constructed accomodation facilities for tourists here .
GOPALPUR-ON -SEA IMAGEROURKELA STEEL PLANT-
IMAGE OF ROURKELA STEEL PLANTMUKTESWAR TEMPLE-Dedicated to Shiva, this temple in Bhubaneswar is one of the earliest works from the Somavamsi period and its architecture embodies the culmination of an age of experimentation evident in the artistry and architecture of Rajarani and Lingaraj temples. This 10th century marvel is often described as one of Odisha's jewels because of its exquisite sculptures and elegance.Standing testimony to the glorius cultural traditions of Odisha, the 10th century Mukteswara Temple marked the culmination of all earlier developments in temple architecture and initiated a period of experiments, which continued for an entire century
Bhubaneswar is known as the city of temples with each shrine standing tall flaunting its magnificient architectural style.But Mukteswara's architecture is unrivalled.
The shrine, dedicated to Shiva, is called the 'Gem of Odisha architecture' for its exquisite sculpture and elegance.It is unique as every inch of its surface is carved.Built in 950 AD the temple marks an important transition point between the early and later phases of the Kalinga school of temple architecture.
The decorations are executed beautifully and speak eloquently of the sense of proportion and perspective of the sculptors . The builders of Mukteswar introduced new architectural designs , art motifs and conceptions about the iconography of cult images.There are a number of depictions of skeletal asthetics among the images in teaching or meditation poses, which seem appropriate as the name Mukteswar means 'Lord who gives freedom through yoga'.
The 35ft temple is among the earliest works of the Somavanshi rulers.King Yayati I contributed immensely towards the building of the temple. The sculpted gateway , the 'jagamohana'with diamond shaped latticed windows , the decorated interiors and the perfect depiction of details point to the great artistic skills of the craftsmen.
The Jagamohana is a pidha deul, a first in Odisha temples.The ceiling flaunts a lotus with eight petals.
The change in iconography is equally noticeable with Ketu introduced as the ninth planet and the appearance of the mouse as the mount of Ganesh.
The temple is described as a 'dream realized in sandstone'as sculpture and architecture are in complete harmony . Sculptures of elephants, monkeys ,lions and other animals add variety to the sculpted tapestry.Around the windows of the Jagamohana are lively scenes of monkeys engaged in humourous activities.
The sculptures on the ceiling of the jagamohana' depict 'asthamatruka'. The structure has some of the most ornate carvings and renditions of the panchatantra fables.
The most important feature of the temple is the 'Torana'or the arched gateway, showing the influence of Buddhist architecture. The gateway has thick pillars with strings of beads and other ornaments carved on statues of smiling women.The porch is a walled chamber with a low , massive roof and internal pillars.The combination of vertical and horizontal lines is skillfully arranged so as to give dignity to the structures.The porch is remarkable for the sculptural treatment of the interior, a rare feature in Odisha temples.
The 'vimana ' is built on a raised platform with pilasters in each facade . The' Shikara'rising to a height of 10.5 m, is small compared to other temples.The crown of the Shikara has a 'Kalasa'. The sanctum is sculpted with beautiful damsels entwined with 'nagas'and 'nagins'exhibiting feminine charm.
The southwest corner of the temple boasts of a well, 'maricha kunda'. A dip in thewater of the well is believed to cure barrenness in women on the eve of Ashokastami.Legend has it that Bhubaneswari, after whom the Odisha's capital is named killed two demons.However, when she realized the widows were childless, she blessed them and asked them to pray at the Lingaraj Temple and bath in the sacred waters of the well on the eve of Ashokastami. The architecture is unique and the designs are exquisite.
The daily rituals of mukteswara comprise 'magha snana', 'jala lagi', 'chandan lagi', 'dhupa alati', naibedya samarpan and sandhya alati . After the rituals , the temple is closed for 'darshan'.Shivaratri, Pana Sankranti, Sravana Jala Sankalpa( devotees pour holy water),Odhani Sasthi, Baisakha Purnima(The deity is immersed in water for two hours)In winter , the deity is draped in Odhana bastra( warm clothes) for one month.
A sun clock was set up on the temple premises during the raj days. But because of poor upkeep , it is now lying defunct.
IMAGE OF MUKTESWAR TEMPLE
Bhubaneshwar is additionally a loved journey focus, alluded to in the Bhrama Purana.
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