Bhubaneswar: A blissful and sultry morning welcomed around 25 walkers of the 74th Monks Caves and Kings trail at Khandagiri-Udayagiri Twin Hills complex. Today’s walkers were an enthusiastic and diverse crowd which included interior design students from a city-based design school, an Odia family settled in Switzerland, architects, entrepreneurs and students.
Most of the guests found out about the heritage walks being conducted by Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and curated by Detour Odisha on the social media and found it captivating.
The walk was a journey into the glorious past of Odisha through the sculptures and caves of the Twin Hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri. Everyone was engrossed in the tales of the monks and the kings and their lives back in the day. One of the interior design students was truly impressed by the rich cultural legacy we have and was unaware of it even though he has lived in the city for many years.
Many of the guests loved the way the walk was conducted with a detailed and scientific explanation for the way the caves and other structures around them were built.
Another walker Swayam Nayak said she loved the idea of the heritage walk and would love it if more and more people participate in it and get to know about the history of Odisha and Bhubaneswar. She came with her interior designing students from Trytoon Academy.
A student from Trytoon Academy Aditya Lakra had decided to spend his weekend morning by participating in the walk which was very peaceful and serene and he thoroughly enjoyed it. “I came long ago when I was in Class VII. After a long gap I have come, but the experience was fantastic,’’ he added.
Anindya Das and his family with son Kabir and daughter joined the trail today. Anindya, now settled in Switzerland, said “though I belonged to this city today’s experience at Khandagiri and Udayagiri was special especially for my kids. We enjoyed the historical description by the guide.’’
The first guided heritage trails under the umbrella of Ekamra Walks have drawn the attention of people from across the globe. With the Jain heritage trail at the Twin-Hills on Saturday and two walks in Old Town and Museum of Art and Craft at Kala Bhoomi on Sunday, Ekamra Walks have created a niche of its own among a particular segment of travellers with love for the art, architecture, artefacts, fabrics and tribal art objects across the State.
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