Khandapara: Gokulananda Jew Peetha is one of the popular tourist spots in Nayagarh. The state government accorded a tourist tag to the place 12 years back, but on the development front, the place has not achieved much. Every year, thousands of people throng the place for picnicking. After the Covid restrictions were eased, the flow of tourists has started again. Locals alleged that despite this, Gokulananda Jew Peetha’s development has been given a short shrift.
Moreover, the safety and security of the place too are neglected. There is no safety measure for tourists taking a dip in the Mahanadi river. On many instances, tourists had been washed away while bathing in the river here.
In 2009, the peetha was accorded the tourist tag by the state Culture and the Tourism department.
The shrine is located atop Madhukarnika hill on the banks of Mahanadi in Sidhamula panchayat bordering Cuttack district.
The picturesque spot is an ideal place for tourists. In 2010, the Tourism department executed the Bipula Mahanadi tourism project here at a cost of Rs 53 lakh.
Two cottages and other buildings have been built near the hill for the night halt of tourists.
However, many other facilities are to be provided to attract more tourists. Locals observed that the treasure trove of natural beauty of the place should be fully utilised, but it has not been developed as it ought to have been. Lack of willpower of the administration is taking a toll on this spot. Educationist Gangadhar Sarangi said that the main problem at the shrine is lack of drinking water.
Central Ground Water Board has dug a bore-well in the area at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. “But no water is available at the shrine, which is just at 100 metres away from the bore-well, he lamented.
ZP member Rameswar Satpathy observed that a tourist place like this needs to be developed further to draw more people, but this has not happened. The administration and the tourism department should tap the tourism potential of the place.
Social activist Maheswar Rana said that Gokulananda Peetha can be developed like Haridwar and Rishikesh, but nothing is being done to tap its huge tourism potential.
Gania-Khandapada ranger Sonali Sio said that the Forest department has already completed the Sidhamula eco-tourism project in the area.