Jagatsinghpur: The tenth edition of the Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walk (JHW) concluded successfully on Sunday, continuing its tradition of uncovering the rich historical and cultural treasures of the region. Around 35 enthusiasts of history and heritage gathered near the Anakhia Post Office under Biridi block and began their journey with a visit to the Lakshminarayan Temple at Sadhei Sashan village.
Believed to have been constructed during 15th and 16th Century during the reign of the Gajapati rulers, the Lakshminarayan Temple stands as a fine example of Odisha’s ‘peedha deula’ architectural style. Built from stone, the temple complex comprises a sanctum sanctorum, a rectangular Jagamohana with a flat roof, and an additional modern hall in front. The presiding deity, Narayan, is a low-seated on chlorite stone idol accompanied by Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. The idol’s sculptural finesse and stylistic features suggest an origin linked to the Ganga dynasty. Within the same complex lies the Banteswar Mahadev Temple, adding to the site’s spiritual ambience.
The group then proceeded to explore the ancient Bhubaneswar Mahadev Temple and Bhagwati Peeth near Balia Gopinathpur village, situated along the Biluakhai river basin. This ancient Shaivite shrine, believed to be over 1,100 years as per the Archaeological Survey of India’s assessment, is an invaluable relic of Odisha’s sacred heritage. The temple, crafted from black stone, enshrines a chlorite stone Shiva Lingam in its sanctum. Remarkably, the temple’s main deity is worshiped in the Bhubanmohan form—depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together, serenely playing the ‘veena’. Adjacent to it stands the Bhagwati temple, a modern reconstruction built upon the remnants of an ancient shrine, housing an exceptionally old and revered idol of Goddess Bhagwati.
The heritage lovers took part in this milestone edition was coordinated by JHW convener Srikant Singh with support from senior members Basant Nayak, Ranjit Kumar Sahu, along with prominent members Trilochan Swain, Sambit Singh, Prabhudutta Dash, Debashish Patra, Dinesh Swain, Ratiranjan Panda, and Amar Prasad .
A highlight of the day was the formal release of the second e-magazine of JHW, compiled and designed by Aditya Prasad Ghosh and launched by advisor Pravanshu Samantaray during the concluding session. Six tourist guides of All India Tourist Guides Association led by Lalit Mohan Panda also joined this walk and happy to include this destination for their national and international tourist. Convenor of Odisha Heritage Walks Biswaranjan Dehury thanked all the participants and asked them to ensure better plan and exposure for such heritage sites in Jagatsinghpur.
The 10th JHW not only celebrated Jagatsingpur’s architectural and spiritual legacy but also reaffirmed the growing community involvement among heritage enthusiasts dedicated towards preserving Odisha’s glorious past.