7th Puri Heritage Walk Highlights Odisha’s Cultural Legacy, Raises Concern Over Kuruma Monastery

Puri: The 7th edition of the Puri Heritage Walk (PHW) was held on Sunday, continuing its mission to promote awareness and appreciation of Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. Conducted on the second Sunday of every month, this heritage walk took participants on a journey through significant historical sites, including the Buddhist Monastery at Kuruma, the Archaeological Survey of India Museum in Konark, the Interpretation Centre by Indian Oil near the Konark Sun Temple, and the iconic Sun Temple itself.

During the walk, heritage enthusiasts voiced their disappointment over the deteriorating condition of the Kuruma Buddhist Monastery, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention to ensure its preservation. Meanwhile, the detailed research presentations at the Interpretation Centre impressed visitors, while the intricate carvings of the Konark Sun Temple left them spellbound.

This edition of the PHW saw participation from around 40 heritage lovers from various regions, including Puri, Cuttack, Khurda, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. Among the notable attendees were renowned photographer Kishore Bit, Subash Mahapatra, educationist Prakash Chandra Khatoi, and Rabindra Pradhan. The event was successfully coordinated by Biswaranjan Dehury, Dr. Kumar Aurojyoti, Sanjay Baral, and Ashoka Manjari Nayak.