Puri Heritage Walk Highlights Colonial Rail Legacy and Sacred Shrines of Shreekhetra

Puri: The historic railway legacy of Odisha’s erstwhile garjat rulers came alive on Sunday as members of Puri Heritage Walks (PHW) explored remnants of the Parlakimedi Light Railway during their 16th heritage trail, offering a glimpse into the pro-people vision of the former princely states of Parlakimedi (Paralakhemundi) and Mayurbhanj.

More than 20 heritage enthusiasts from different parts of the State participated in the walk, which began with a visit to the Chanakya BNR Hotel on historic Chakratirtha Road. A prominent colonial-era structure, the building was originally constructed as Ashworth Villa in 1922 and later acquired by Indian Railways in 1925 to function as a railway guest house. Today, it stands as an important symbol of Puri’s modern heritage.

Participants were briefed on the hotel’s architectural features, historical significance and phases of transformation by property manager Pabitra Kumar Sarkar, while the walk was guided by PHW advisor Debi Prasanna Nanda.

A major attraction of the trail was the restored steam engine PL 692, displayed on the hotel lawn. The narrow-gauge engine, once part of the Nuapada–Gunupur line under the Parlakimedi Light Railway, drew keen interest from heritage enthusiasts. Regarded as a priceless relic of the early days of Indian Railways, the engine stands as a reminder of the region’s rich transport history.

The participants also toured the sprawling three-and-a-half-acre hotel campus, visited the heritage restaurant and viewed antique artefacts reflecting the lifestyle of a bygone era. The hotel has hosted several eminent personalities over the decades, including former Prime Ministers Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, and was a favourite destination of Biju Patnaik.

Exploring the Array of Shrines

Following the heritage rail experience, the PHW members proceeded along Chakratirtha Road to visit a series of ancient shrines deeply intertwined with Puri’s religious and cultural traditions. These included the Chakra Nrusimha Temple, Bedi Hanuman Temple, Sunar Gouranga and the sacred Chakratirtha Temple—sites closely connected to the rituals of the Shree Jagannath Temple.

Located near the Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal), these shrines collectively represent the spiritual essence of the “Shankha Kshetra”. Chakratirtha, along with the Chakra Nrusimha and Bedi Hanuman temples, holds particular ritual and mythological importance.

At Bedi Hanuman Temple, participants learned about the special rituals performed during Pana Sankranti or Mahavishuva Sankranti, which marks the birth of Lord Hanuman in Shreekhetra. On this occasion, the ‘Agyan mala’ is brought from the Shree Jagannath Temple, followed by rituals such as ‘Sheetala Bhoga’ and ‘Bandapana’. The idol of Hanuman, holding a mace and a mountain, is believed by archaeologists to date back to the Ganga dynasty.

The Chakra Nrusimha Temple showcased three rare forms of Lord Nrusimha—Lakshmi Nrusimha within the Sudarshan Chakra at the centre, Yogarudha Nrusimha on the left and Adi Nrusimha on the right. These nearly 1,000-year-old idols, dating to the Ganga period, reflect diverse traditions of Nrusimha worship. Behind the temple, remnants of the sand chariot (Bali Ratha) associated with medieval Vaishnava preacher Balaram Das, along with a small cave believed to have been his residence, were also pointed out to the participants.

Chakratirtha, the final stop of the trail, stands out as a unique sacred site where the Sudarshan Chakra—the divine weapon of Lord Narayana—is worshiped instead of an anthropomorphic idol. In later periods, a temple was constructed at the site and worship of the Chaturdha Murti was introduced.

The heritage walk concluded at the PHW Library on Station Road, where members shared their experiences and discussed the importance of conserving Puri’s layered heritage. The event was conducted with the support of conveners Biswaranjan Dehury and Dr. Kumar Aurojyoti, and co-conveners Ashoka Manjari Nayak and Pandit Sidharth Acharya.