Bhubaneswar: The Ekamra Walks, the only guided heritage tour of the temple city, celebrated its first anniversary Sunday with 30 visitors, including a Netherland national, taking part in this unique monument hopping walk.
Ingeborg Krukkert, who is from Netherland and is on her first visit to Orissa and Bhubaneswar, was expressed her happiness for being able to be a part of this walk, which left her enlightened about the Orissa’s temple architecture. She praised Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar Development Authority and Orissa Tourism for organising such a beautiful walk, which projects how the ancient architectures are conserved.
Professor Chitta Baral from Arizona State University and his wife Mausumi Baral also participated in this anniversary tour. Apart from them, Col Chandan Jha of Indian Army and Lt. Commander Amar Lahariya from India Navy, both stationed at Berhampur, joined the walk and were filled with a pleasant experience. “The experience we had will last long and we are fondly waiting for next Saturday when we will take part in the walks in Khandagiri-Udayagiri,” they said, adding that they would also tell their friends and relatives to join the walk and experience the marvelous temple architecture whenever they are in Bhubaneswar.
The visitors went to Mukteswar, Parsurameswar, Kotitirtheswar, holy tank Bindusagar, Ananta Basudev, the only Vishnu temple in Ekamra Khetra, Old Dharmasala, Lingaraj temple, Sari Deula, Bharati Mutt and Vaital temple. They also had a quality time inside the medicinal garden at Ekamra Van, on the bank of the holy tank of Bindusagar.
Towards the end of the walk, the students of Art Vision, founded by noted Odissi and Chhau dancer Ileana Citaristi, mesmerised the visitors through their performance titled ‘Tarang Pallavi’, composed by none other than guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, who was also Illeana’s guru. Their facial expression, body movement and well synchronization left the visitors demanding more.
This monumental hopping programme has so far attracted tourists from 25 different foreign nations and has had more than 3000 footfalls.
PNN