Bhubaneswar: Udaygiri caves were bustling with 100 enthusiastic freshers from IIT-Bhubaneswar Saturday morning. They came down to explore the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri famous for their Jain heritage.
It was their first exposure trip to the City and its heritage. The sleepy monsoon morning couldn’t dampen their spirit to explore the ancient sites. They were overwhelmed by the legends of Emperor Kharavela and highly intrigued with the ancient stone etchings replete with valuable information about the past.
It was a new experience for them to see something that has been standing strong for centuries in the age of digital media. They loved the charming heritage spaces and the stories behind them.
The highlight of the 77th Monks, Caves and Kings Heritage Tour was one student Tanmay Khobe who inverted his umbrella and started collecting the trash lying around. His act inspired his fellow batch mates and they joined him to make the place litter free.
The students explored the caves and collected the trash simultaneously in Udaygiri and Khandagiri. Through their act, the students have set an example as responsible citizens and travellers and inspired others to play their part in protecting the age old legacy, no matter from which part of the globe one hails.
The Monks, Caves and Kings tour is organised Saturday morning and the Temple Walk in the Old Town area Sunday morning. Both the days the walk starts at 6.30 am. Sunday’s afternoon walk at the Crafts Museum, Kala Bhoomi near Gandamunda starts at 3.30 pm.