Bhubaneswar: It is the second trip to the second heritage circuit under Ekamra Walks, the only guided heritage tour of the city, by Prusty family with their little daughter. Baby stepping into understanding heritage of the lovely city dotted with more than 300 monuments, their daughter has learnt so many stories behind the caves of the Twin Hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri.
“Not only the little daughter, but we also came to know about so many things on this well-known Jain heritage site though we are staying right near the Twin Hills. Just like the adage nearer to the church but farther from God, we are living so close to this place, but never had an idea that there are so many interesting tales behind the historic stones, caves and the inscriptions. We are really lucky to explore this through Monks, caves and Kings,’’ said SK Prusty.
I also took my daughter to Ekamra Walks Old Town Circuit in the past on Father’s day and we enjoyed a lot learning many things from our temples and the cultural practices of the Old City. Today’s experience of the family was different and another learning process.
Satyanarayan Tripathy, a geologist from ONGC was happy to learn that the city has done something unique to promote its heritage treasure in the form of heritage walk. “I will definitely tell my friends to explore the three heritage walks now under the city authorities which cover the Old Town, Twin Hills and Crafts Museum at Kala Bhoomi. I hope more will be added in coming days for greater tourism potential during the coming World Cup Hockey-2018.’’
Alok, another visitor at the heritage walk today termed the experience as “extraordinary’’. He also added that though being a local guy he had come to the Twin Hills a hundreds of times in the past, never he got an opportunity to listen to such interesting stories about the site. “I would also be happy to become a part of the storey-telling journey if given a change,’’ he said with a smile.
Satyanarayan’s friend Paresh, an engineering student said the trip to Khandagiri-Udayagiri was a very different experience and was really educative one.
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