Jagatsinghpur: The tenth edition of the Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walk (JHW) concluded on Sunday, marking yet another milestone in the district’s growing movement to rediscover and preserve its rich historical and cultural legacy. Around 35 heritage enthusiasts gathered near the Anakhia Post Office under Biridi block, embarking on a day-long journey that began with a visit to one of the region’s oldest shrines — the Lakshminarayan Temple at Sadhei Sashan village.
Believed to date back to the 15th–16th century during the Gajapati rule, the Lakshminarayan Temple stands as a fine example of Odisha’s classic peedha deula architecture. Built entirely from stone, the temple complex includes a sanctum sanctorum, a rectangular Jagamohana with a flat roof, and a more recent hall in front. The presiding deity, Lord Narayan, is carved from chlorite stone and flanked by Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati, with the sculptural details reflecting stylistic influences from the Ganga dynasty. Within the same complex lies the Banteswar Mahadev Temple, adding to the spiritual resonance of the site.
The participants then visited the ancient Bhubaneswar Mahadev Temple and Bhagwati Peeth near Balia Gopinathpur village, located along the serene banks of the Biluakhai River. As per the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Bhubaneswar Mahadev Temple is estimated to be over 1,100 years old, making it one of the most ancient Shaivite shrines in the region. The temple, built from black stone, houses a chlorite stone Shiva Lingam in its sanctum. Notably, the main deity here is worshipped in the rare Bhubanmohan form — depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together playing the veena, a symbol of divine harmony.
Adjacent to it, the Bhagwati Temple—a reconstructed shrine built upon ancient remains—enshrines a deeply revered idol of Goddess Bhagwati, believed to be centuries old. The peaceful riverine setting and the spiritual aura of both temples made this leg of the walk a memorable experience for participants.
The milestone event was coordinated by JHW convener Srikant Singh, with support from senior members Basant Nayak, Ranjit Kumar Sahu, and prominent contributors Trilochan Swain, Sambit Singh, Prabhudutta Dash, Debashish Patra, Dinesh Swain, Ratiranjan Panda, and Amar Prasad.
A key highlight of the day was the formal release of the second JHW e-magazine, compiled and designed by Aditya Prasad Ghosh and launched by advisor Pravanshu Samantaray during the concluding session. Six tourist guides from the All India Tourist Guides Association, led by Lalit Mohan Panda, also participated in the walk and expressed enthusiasm about including these sites in their future national and international itineraries.
Biswaranjan Dehury, Convenor of Odisha Heritage Walks, extended his gratitude to all participants and urged for greater planning, documentation, and exposure to promote such historically rich destinations in Jagatsinghpur.
The 10th Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walk not only celebrated the district’s architectural and spiritual heritage but also reflected the growing community spirit among those dedicated to preserving and promoting Odisha’s timeless past