Bhubaneswar: Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Monday said the survey of Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath Temple will bring clarity on whether there is any secret chamber or tunnel in the treasury.
After repair and renovation of the Ratna Bhandar, inventory of valuables will be conducted and the list will be tallied with the exercise conducted in 1978, he said.
“Survey to be conducted by experts under the supervision of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will give us a clear picture of what exactly is inside the Ratna Bhandar. If there are any secret chambers or tunnels, we will find out. This will help in better management and security of the temple’s treasures,” said Harichandan. The Ratna Bhandar houses the Jagannath Temple’s precious jewels and ornaments. The chamber has been a subject of mystery and speculation for many years, with rumours about the presence of hidden treasures and secret passages. Harichandan emphasised the importance of conducting a thorough survey of the Ratna Bhandar to put an end to these speculations. “This process will involve a detailed cataloguing of all the jewels, ornaments and other valuable items present in the chambers. By tallying the old and new inventory lists, the temple authorities can ensure that all the treasures are accounted for and that there has been no theft or mismanagement. I am very hopeful the old inventory list will match with the fresh inventory. But it will be too early to comment on the matter,” he said. Valuables of inner and outer chambers of the Ratna Bhandar were shifted to a temporary strongroom in two phases last month.

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