The Essence of Bhubaneswar, in the heart of Old Town
Ekamra Heritage Walks of Bhubaneswar is the celebration of the city’s rich architectural treasures, its traditions, rituals and customs.
It is the retelling of the stories that make up the area we now call Old Town, whose origin is shrouded in myth and mystery that talk about a place called Ekamra Kshetra, referring to an area that was once covered with a single mango tree that was as big as a forest.
Guided walk through this landscape, streets and temples will reconnect visitors with the city’s ancient and glorious past. This free walk covers Mukteswar, Lingaraj, Parasurameswar, Ananta Vasudev, Kotitirtheswar, Gouri Shankar, Sari Deula, Chitrakarini, Vaitala Deula and other temples in the vicinity.
Along the walk, one experiences not only the largest clusters of magnificent temples, constituting virtually a complete record of the evolution of Kalingan architecture, but also witness the living traditions of existing settlements around the temple, its rituals, festivals and other observances believed to be centuries old.
Old traditional structures like the Doodhwawala Dharamshala on the banks of holy Bindusagar Lake, which for nearly a century has been playing host to the budget religious travellers from across the country, is also part of the heritage tour.
The walk starts at 6:30 am on every Sunday morning from the premises of Mukteswar temple and ends at Ekamra Van, the medicinal plant garden on the western bank of Bindusagar, covering nearly 2 km. The weekend heritage tour has become a hit with many domestic and foreign visitors arriving in the city for the first time by providing a platform to explore the city and its monumental past.
| What you can expect? | Guided walkthrough to discover and connect with Bhubaneswar’s rich heritage and history |
|---|---|
| What to bring | Camera and comfortable walking shoes |
| Fitness Requirement | Moderate level of fitness is required as the walk is an easy paced one and not too demanding. |
| Entry Fee | There is no entry fee involved. For more details, please log on to www.ekamrawalks.com and www.facebook.com/ekamrawalk |
| Timings | The walk starts at 6:30 am on every Sunday morning from the premises of Mukteswar temple |
