BHUBANESWAR: Ekamra Walks, the first guided heritage tour of the Temple City has not only provided a gateway to the visitors to know history, archaeology, culture, traditions and our golden past, but has created a nice platform to make lasting friendship among the walkers. Students of Niser participated in the 65th Monks, Caves and Kings as a part of the heritage tours here Saturday.
Prasanjit, a frequent visitor to the Ekamra Walks, observed that even for localities and city residents of Bhubaneswar, the weekly heritage and cultural tours have given a new learning experience to re-discover our glorious past and the essence of the Odia pride. Students from IIT and NISER, Bhubaneswar along with general visitors participated in the walk.
Chaitanya, a B.Tech final year student from IIT Bhubaneswar, said, “I had never been to any place in Odisha as I did not have any company to go and explore places. However, Monks, Caves and Kings under the Ekamra Walks has given a new dimension to my understanding and I will be requesting all my friends from IIT and NISER Bhubaneswar to explore Odisha through initiatives like Ekamra Walks.”
Soumya, a researcher from National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), said, “I have visited Udayagiri-Khandagiri more than 30 times, but today’s experience in the group by Ekamra Walks team was a totally new one and I would now be interested to come to this particular walk and other walks of Ekamra in future as the experience was unique.”
A research associate from NISER said, “I have read somewhere about Emperor Kharavela, but today after seeing the monument and listening to the guide I am really overwhelmed with the stories associated with the Twin Hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri. It was a wonderful experience indeed.”
Rojalin, a researcher from NISER Bhubaneswar, an Odia and native from Bhubaneswar paid her first visit to the Twin Hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri. “I am really surprised to stumble upon such a huge wealth of history, archaeology, culture and tradition at the historic caves. I will come again and again and join other walks under the umbrella of Ekamra Walks.