Nuapada: Even as quite a few sites having archaeological significance embellish the tourism map of the state, in due course they end up losing their sheen thanks to departmental apathy.
A case in point is Patora, one of the major spots of tourist attraction in this district. Though the place, surrounded by natural sceneries, still attracts national and international tourists, it is on the wane as the administration never bothers to add to its splendor.
According to archeologists, the civilisation in present day Nuapada had developed in the seventh century during the reign of Chola rulers.
Huge idols and Shiva lingams were recovered during the construction of the Patora dam here in the 1990s. Yogeswar Temple, an ancient shrine with a height of 72 ft, came into prominence after Hindi film industry personalities like late Gulshan Kumar and singer Anuradha Paudwal attended a musical programme on the temple premises at that time.
The temple, in the middle of the dense forest and the huge Patora dam in its vicinity, is still considered a huge draw among visitors. Spiritual ambience coupled with night stay facilities for visitors lures many to the place at least to spend a night here. Besides, small picnic spots with basic amenities have been developed along the dam by local clubs to attract vacationers.
This apart, a few other shrines including a Ram temple and idols of 34-ft Hanuman and 14-ft Ganesha have also been constructed on the temple premises. However, a temple dedicated to Goddess Gouri is seen lying half-constructed due to funds crunch. Though the place has not lost its luster completely, the approach road to the site is in a shambles, locals said.
Earlier, tourists used to enjoy boat ride in the Patora dam. However, the place, these days, wears a deserted look after the administration put a ban on boating inside the reservoir.
Similarly, the Rajiv Udyan, a park having several valuable and medicinal plants, doesn’t attract tourists like before since no efforts are being made for its beautification, locals said.
“While the staff of Rajiv Udyan have not received their salaries for eight months, the withdrawal of boating facilities has affected my livelihood,” a boatman Rajesh Kumar Majhi said.
Priest Baladeb Goswami said earlier thousands of devotees used to throng the temple which is not the case now.
Similarly, Dibakar Ujir, the manager of Yogeswar temple, said he is somehow managing the affairs with donations of visitors. The tourism department had stopped its grant about 15 years ago, he added. PNN
