The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Hill and waterfall beckon tourists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 23, 2007
ePaper

Other States

Other States - Orissa

Hill and waterfall beckon tourists

Correspondent

Steps afoot to promote Jain heritage site

BHUBANESWAR: As you take a right turn from the National Highway-215 at Anandapur, a small and scenic town on the banks of Baitaraini river in Keonjhar district, the blue Boula hills at a distance of 20 km beckon you.

At the foothills, the Jain heritage site of Podasingidi awaits the heritage lovers, scholars, pilgrims and tourists.

At Podasingidi, one comes across the ruins of a fort and a Jain monastery. Three years ago, the State archaeology wing constructed a mini-museum here that houses 15 idols of Jain thirthankars which were recovered from the site.

Worship of idols

Oblivious of the historical background, people worship these idols as Hindu deities for centuries. “When we received a special grant from the Centre for preservation and promotion of seven Jain heritage sites in the State, we spent Rs. 5 lakhs for setting up the museum.

Later, it was handed over to the local community for their involvement and better management,” says an officer of the State archaeology.

The ruins of the monastery and idols recovered from the site dates back to the period between the eighth and 11th century, observs Tarun Kumar Ojha who has been doing research on the site and documenting it being supported by the premiere cultural organisation Samskritiki.

Samskritiki has been designing a brochure about the site for distribution to visitors to promote it as a popular destination for pilgrims and researchers of Jainism, he adds.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States