Bhubaneswar Stories

The majestic Ananta Vasudeva Temple standing tall on the banks of Bindusagar in old Bhubaneswar. Pic @ Krushna's As a child I had always flooded my father with numerous questions about various aspects of temples whenever we used to visit one. The answers in the form of narrations and stories always fascinated me and further increased my quest for knowing more about them. The same childlike curiosity within me continues as I always get super excited whenever I get an opportunity to listen to the ever fascinating temple tales. As it happened, on a Sunday morning, while participating in the weekly heritage walk 'Ekamra Walks', I walked into the abode of Lord Ananta Vasudev, the only ancient Vishnu temple in the Ekamra Kshetra or the Old town area of Bhubaneswar. Standing tall on the banks of pristine Bindusagar lake, I had been to this Maha Vishnu temple nearly hundred times over the years, once in a while to pay obeisance to the deities and mostly to relish on t...

After making it to Arribada, the annual mass nesting and egg laying ritual of Olive Ridley sea turtles, I was keenly following the events around the marine turtles. As the mass nesting was over, I was curious to know about the hatchling time, when the baby turtles tumble out from eggs laid deep in the sands. It takes around 45 days after the mother turtle lays the eggs inside the pits in the sand. The hope of making it to this spectacle brightened when a former colleague, whose hubby is a wildlife professional, asked me whether I should be part of the team of volunteers  going to help out the baby turtles reach the open sea safely. I immediately registered as a volunteer in the limited member team finalized for this trip. While getting confirmation about my participation, I was informed that attending a nearly two hour orientation programme is a pre-requisite for volunteering to this unique rescue mission. Given the skeptic within me, as I entered the hall where t...

Photo@ Krushna's The weekly guided heritage walk  'Ekamra Walks' in the old town area of Bhubaneswar taught me many lessons on the history and heritage of the city. Walking along the heritage trails of old town, knowing about the numerous stories behind each monument has been an enlightening experience all-together for a person like me who came to the city just 15 odd years ago. As someone who studied at picturesque Ravenshaw College, my eyes are always on the look for iconic structures, especially colonial era structures whenever I walk along ancient monuments. The weekly tour of the old city trail was no different either.  Curzon Mandap view tower near North gate of Lingaraj Temple. Photo @ Krushna's In my quest for British era structures, the first one I stumbled upon is a small structure though but with prominent footprints of colonial era building pattern. This is an elevated viewing tower adjacent to the boundary wall of Lingaraj Temple near the no...

When a longtime friend and study pal called one weekend march morning to join him for a walk at Ekamra Kanan, I was in two minds on whether to accept the offer. The reasons being the sprawling 64 acres botanical garden-cum-park at IRC village on the heart of Bhubaneswar is little far away from where I stay and the infamous buzz about the park being a free den for lovebirds. While bunking the invitation and opting for a cycling expedition instead, I had assured to join him for the walk on one of the week days. With my five year old kid joining a new school nearby, I proceeded for Ekamra Kanan after dropping him at school on one Monday. Pic @ Krushna's As I reached the parking lot, a smile greeted me when the person standing there told there is no parking charges collected from morning walkers and the smile broadened further as the guard at the entry gate informed about nominal entry ticket of Rs. 5 per day or Rs. 100/- per month for morning walkers. I was told that the Regio...