Neglect, urban devpt threaten many ancient temples in Old Town
Bhubaneswar: Considered the temple city of India, Bhubaneswar is fast losing its ancient heritage to modern structures. From having over 700 temples at Ekamra Kshetra in Old Town once, the city is now left with 300 monuments, many of which are facing neglect, choked by encroachments and threatened by urban development.
Experts said there is a need for a participatory approach, and awareness needs to be created among the younger generation for conserving our heritage. “People must be conscious of what they have inherited and how they are losing their heritage and legacy. It is the moral responsibility to preserve our past for the future generations. Heritage sites are living classrooms. Once they are gone, they are gone forever,” said Sanjay Acharya, a historian and former professor of Utkal University.
Built in the Kalinga style of architecture, these centuries-old temples are not just religious sites but are storehouses of cultural, spiritual and historical traditions. Moss-covered temple tops, broken boundary walls, overgrowth of vegetation, and illegal constructions leaning against the structures present a grim picture of heritage conservation. Many temples are now hidden behind high-rises, congested lanes and unplanned buildings.
Temples like Chitrakarini, Bakreswar, Sarideuli, Parshurameswar, Ekamreswar, Aishaneswar, Yameswar, Sisireswar, Laxmaneswar, Bharateswar, Satrughneswar and Mohini in Ekamra Kshetra are dying a slow death, sources said.
“We cannot blame the authorities for loss of heritage. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and state archaeology department are doing their bit, but there is a need for a participatory approach to keep the monuments safe,” said Sunil Patnaik, senior archaeologist, Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS). He said there was a proposal to declare Bhubaneswar as a heritage city on the lines of Ahmedabad, which would help in preserving the vanishing monuments.
“We are hardly aware of what we have due to a lack of proper documentation and database. As a result, we don’t know what we are losing. Not only are monuments vanishing and crumbling, but there is a more serious threat of heritage theft. Hundreds of stolen statues, which were recovered by police, have been lying in godowns and police stations, while many valuables are lying unprotected and vulnerable,” said Anil Dhir, convener of Bhubaneswar chapter of Intach.
Sources said only a handful of temples in Bhubaneswar come under the direct protection of ASI or archaeology department. Even then, protection is often limited to a plaque or fencing, with little regular upkeep.
Dibishada B Garnayak, superintending archaeologist of ASI (Puri circle), said the monuments are being protected with a focus on conservation, core conservation and peripheral development. “ASI remains committed to the preservation of protected monuments. We also encourage public awareness and community participation in safeguarding our shared heritage,” he said.
“Hundreds of temples have vanished over the years. The impact of climate change on these historic monuments cannot be ignored. There should be a strong policy and involvement of people for the preservation of monuments,” said Rajkishore Mohapatra, a Lingaraj Temple priest.
Experts said there is a need for a participatory approach, and awareness needs to be created among the younger generation for conserving our heritage. “People must be conscious of what they have inherited and how they are losing their heritage and legacy. It is the moral responsibility to preserve our past for the future generations. Heritage sites are living classrooms. Once they are gone, they are gone forever,” said Sanjay Acharya, a historian and former professor of Utkal University.
Built in the Kalinga style of architecture, these centuries-old temples are not just religious sites but are storehouses of cultural, spiritual and historical traditions. Moss-covered temple tops, broken boundary walls, overgrowth of vegetation, and illegal constructions leaning against the structures present a grim picture of heritage conservation. Many temples are now hidden behind high-rises, congested lanes and unplanned buildings.
Temples like Chitrakarini, Bakreswar, Sarideuli, Parshurameswar, Ekamreswar, Aishaneswar, Yameswar, Sisireswar, Laxmaneswar, Bharateswar, Satrughneswar and Mohini in Ekamra Kshetra are dying a slow death, sources said.
“We cannot blame the authorities for loss of heritage. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and state archaeology department are doing their bit, but there is a need for a participatory approach to keep the monuments safe,” said Sunil Patnaik, senior archaeologist, Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS). He said there was a proposal to declare Bhubaneswar as a heritage city on the lines of Ahmedabad, which would help in preserving the vanishing monuments.
“We are hardly aware of what we have due to a lack of proper documentation and database. As a result, we don’t know what we are losing. Not only are monuments vanishing and crumbling, but there is a more serious threat of heritage theft. Hundreds of stolen statues, which were recovered by police, have been lying in godowns and police stations, while many valuables are lying unprotected and vulnerable,” said Anil Dhir, convener of Bhubaneswar chapter of Intach.
Sources said only a handful of temples in Bhubaneswar come under the direct protection of ASI or archaeology department. Even then, protection is often limited to a plaque or fencing, with little regular upkeep.
Dibishada B Garnayak, superintending archaeologist of ASI (Puri circle), said the monuments are being protected with a focus on conservation, core conservation and peripheral development. “ASI remains committed to the preservation of protected monuments. We also encourage public awareness and community participation in safeguarding our shared heritage,” he said.
“Hundreds of temples have vanished over the years. The impact of climate change on these historic monuments cannot be ignored. There should be a strong policy and involvement of people for the preservation of monuments,” said Rajkishore Mohapatra, a Lingaraj Temple priest.
