Jagatsinghpur’s forgotten temples come alive in Heritage Walk

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JAGATSINGHPUR, DECEMBER 8, 2025

The 11th edition of the Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) brought together more than 30 heritage enthusiasts from across Odisha to explore the history, architecture and cultural significance of several lesser-known monuments in Naugaon Block. The walk shed light on Odisha’s rich temple-building traditions while drawing attention to centuries-old shrines lying quietly along the banks of the Devi river, not far from the famed Maa Sarala Temple.

The trail began early Sunday morning at the Kuttamchandi Temple in Devidol village, guided by JHW convenor Srikanta Singh. Believed to have been constructed in the 16th or 17th century, soon after the Gajapati era, the temple features a stone-built pidha-style Vimana and Jagamohana, along with a rectangular, flat-roofed Nata Mandap in the same architectural form.

Located about 15 km from Jagatsinghpur town, Devidol sits gracefully on the banks of the Devi river and is home to the sacred Shakti Peetha of Maa Kuttamchandi. The presiding deity, an eight-armed Mahishasuramardini Durga, is an ancient idol believed—based on iconographic study — to date back to the 8th century.

The current temple structure, carved from a single rock standing nearly 25 feet tall, houses several remarkable ancient sculptures. A small idol of Maa Bimala is also found beside the main deity. Retired teacher and sevayat Basant Kumar Padhi narrated the folklore and legends associated with the shrine, enriching the visitors’ understanding of its spiritual legacy. However, the heritage walkers noted with concern that the temple’s only stone inscription — which could offer crucial historical insights — remains obscured under layers of plaster and artificial coatings.

The group also visited nearby Tumbeswar Mahadev Temple, Ishaneswar Temple and Nrusingha Temple, all situated along the Devi riverbank. At the Ishaneswar Temple, participants were struck by the sight of a magnificent 12th-century Kartikeswar idol lying neglected in a corner. The discovery reinforced the long-established role of rivers in shaping Odisha’s temple landscape. While rivers like Brahmani, Mahanadi and Baitarani are often highlighted for their temple corridors, the Devi river clearly carries a heritage trail of its own — one that urgently deserves documentation and conservation.

With this edition, Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks continues its mission to document, celebrate and popularise the district’s lesser-known architectural treasures. Organisers expressed hope that these hidden gems will soon find their rightful place on both the Jagatsinghpur and Odisha tourism maps, fostering community pride and strengthening heritage tourism beyond the iconic Maa Sarala Temple.

Those who joined the walk included Utkal Mohanty, Debi Prasad Padhi, Odisha Heritage Walks member Biswaranjan Dehury and photographer Hrudananda Behera. Organisers were particularly encouraged to see young army personnel from Jagatsinghpur — home on leave — enthusiastically participating in the heritage exploration.