THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
PURI/BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 18, 2026
“Raghurajpur is the
heart of Odisha’s art and culture,” Odisha's Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister
Pravati Parida said on Tuesday as she laid the foundation stone for an
ambitious ₹23-crore integrated tourism development project aimed at transforming the heritage
village into a world-class cultural and heritage tourism destination.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Parida
said, “Raghurajpur is the heart of Odisha’s art and culture. This project will
mark the beginning of a new chapter in the tourism development of Raghurajpur.
Our aim is to take the village’s renowned Pattachitra, Gotipua dance and rich
artistic traditions to the global stage and develop Raghurajpur as a premier
world-class heritage and cultural tourism destination.”
The integrated development project, to be implemented by the
Department of Tourism, envisages a comprehensive upgrade of the village’s
infrastructure, better facilities for artisans and enhanced amenities for
tourists. The initiative seeks to blend preservation of Raghurajpur’s
distinctive artistic heritage with modern tourism infrastructure, giving
visitors from across the country and abroad a richer and more immersive
experience.
The project will place special emphasis on promoting
Raghurajpur’s celebrated Pattachitra tradition, Gotipua dance, wood carving and
terracotta crafts, while strengthening support systems and creating better
opportunities for local artists and artisans.
The government’s intervention is expected to give a significant fillip to Raghurajpur’s cultural economy and help establish the village as a major destination on Odisha’s heritage tourism map. By investing in infrastructure alongside its traditional art forms, the project aims to ensure that the village’s living cultural traditions gain wider national and international recognition.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony was attended by Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnaik, Puri District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, Additional Secretary of the Department of Tourism Saroj Kumar Pradhan, departmental officials, local representatives, artists and other dignitaries.
