MYRIAD COLOURS OF LIFE

  O disha crafts museum also known as Kalabhoomi is a museum located in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. I was fortunate to visit this museum during my stay in Bhubaneswar and be a part of Ekamra Walks. The museum is the perfect exhibit of the beauty of Odisha starting from clothes worn by the people of the state to different handicrafts,ornaments, etc. The best thing I enjoyed during my visit to the museum is the Ganjapa cards which refer to the traditional playing cards from the state. The best part that captivates visitors is the intricate artworks made on these cards which are Pattachitra paintings. Ganjapa cards 

  G ently flows the Manas with the shimmering rays of the moonbeam touching every part of it. Takes me to another world where I dance among mermaids and sing with fairies. Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Assam. The park derives its name from the Manas river which is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra and flows through the heart of the National Park. It is home to numerous avifauna and different species of plants. When as part of our field visit we were instructed by our teachers to visit this national park my father was a bit hesitant at first. The reason being the cold wintry days of December but he finally agreed to my request as last. Packing my bags I prepared myself for my three day trip to this beautiful destination. We started our journey from North Lakhimpur College early in the morning at about 4 a.m.We had to travel all the way to this Wildlife Sanctuary located in the foothills of the Himalayas. We were a group of young enthusiasts zoolog...

T he perfect place for bird watching Mangalajodi is a village in Odisha located on the northern banks of Chilika Lake. The perfect nesting ground for birds this place is best for bird lovers and all those people who find out some ways to escape from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. It is referred to as 'Birds Paradise'.Some of the birds seen in the marshy waters of Mangalajodi are Lesser Whistling Duck, White Throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, etc. These are just to name a few. This village comes under Tangi which is a town and block in Khordha district, Odisha. I was lucky to visit this beautiful place during one of my visits to Tangi. I first heard about Mangalajodi from one of my friends from Bengal. She visited Tangi on a certain occasion for her research work. She mentioned this bird paradise on her journey back to Bhubaneswar. I dreamt of visiting this spot and enjoyed regaling in her thoughts. That was one year back. And then when finally I got this opportunity to ...

 O ne of the largest in the country the Borra Caves or the Borra Guhalu is located in the Ananthagiri hills of the splendid Araku Valley. Like other incredible travel destinations in India, this is a must-visit for all those who plan a visit to Vishakhapatnam and has Araku in their bucket list. These limestone caves are believed to a million years old. There are several legends associated with these caves. I visited these caves when I was in Araku for two days. There is a temple inside the cave. The best part I feel is exploring the inside of the cave. It was a different kind of experience climbing all the stairs to pray in the temple located at a height. There was complete darkness when I reached the top of the temple except for the earthen lamp lit before the deity. As I climbed down I tried to be a bit careful. It took quite a long time to explore the inside of the cave. There were several other visitors we met with whom we clicked pictures. It was nice when we came out. The amb...

  I n India, sacred tanks are associated with different legends. A beautiful water tank one of the largest in Bhubaneswar has a  story associated with it. The local tradition maintains that the water of this holy lake has been sanctified by all the holy rivers which ultimately took the shape of a huge water body...Bindu that's how the reference has been made. Local tradition also has reference to the association of the lake to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva and Parvati after their marriage came to the holy land of Varanasi. With the passage of time as the city got more and more populated, the Lord asked Devi Parvati to find another place that is peaceful. Parvati came to Ekamrashetra as the holy land of Kalinga was known back then. When Parvati found out the holy land the place was already ruled by two demons Kirti and Vasa. When the demons saw Parvati both of them fall in love with her. The Goddesses then asked both of them to help her have a tour of t...

  A heritage walk that takes you back in time through winding roads making you delve deep, giving the weary soul a sublime feel transcending your emotions is how I define Ekamra Walks. I was lucky to be a part of this heritage walk during my stay in Odisha. The heritage walk is organized during the weekends in the city of Bhubaneswar. If you are someone who is interested in Indian temple architecture, temple food, culture, classical dances, making new friends then join this heritage walk when you are on a visit to Bhubaneswar. The walk helps the visitors to explore the heritage sites of Odisha whether it be sitting to listen to a story on the banks of Bindusagar lake or visiting the Ananta Vasudeva temple. The walks make you part of the city . Follow the trails of the walk and walk around the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves and also be a part of the crafts museum Kalabhoomi. Old Town Bhubaneswar is also known as Ekamrashetra. It is best known as the site of Kalingan temple architect...

The well-maintained lawn in my institute Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar is very close to my heart. The tamarind tree which had lost half of its branches in the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani that ravaged many parts of Odisha in the year 2019, has been my company ever since I joined the institute. Early in the morning, I would walk all the way to sit on the bench under the tamarind tree. Often do I see the suspicious eyes of the gardener following my trails. Little did he know how much I love flowers. Sometimes I enjoy the butterflies fluttering amidst the sunflowers. At other two Graphium Agamenon would dance in the breeze. Sometimes I get to hear the buzzing sound of the honey bees humming around. At other a little one would run all the way from Demonstration Multipurpose School to meet me. Ruskin Bond my favorite writer from the Hills writes                                    ...