Incredible Prachi Valley

Ambika of Kenduli

Prasant kumar pradhan

U.N.(Auto.)College of Sc. &Tech.Adaspur,Cuttack,Odisha

Index

1. Incredible Prachi Valley2. Travel planning and climate3. Attractionsa) Monumentsb) Sculpturec) Folk Artsd) Social tourisme) Handicrafts

4. Last but not the Least

Incredible Prachi Valley

Prachi Valley is not only a place of interest

for the religious minded Indians but also an important

attraction for the tourists who come to this picturesque area

where their quest to get various experiences are satisfied

because of the availability of both natural as well as man-

made wonders congregated in a single piece of land. The valley

is created by the holiest river of Odisha, the Prachi. It is

now a dead river having a catchment area of nearly 600 square

kilometres. But it has a wonderful tradition of creativity.

One of the oldest civilisations of the world could have been

originated in the valley in the very remote times.

The Prachi river valley came under the rules of several

important dynasties of Odisha i.e. the Chedi, the Murunda, the

Mana, the Vigraha, the Bhaumakara, the Somavamsi, the Ganga

and the Suryavamsis. This valley through the ages seems to

have carved out a unique position with regard to religion, art

and architecture.

Prachi is considered as the main stream of

Mahanadi which became dry when it changed its course. But the

coastline of the river still possess wonderful monuments,

attractive rural sceneries, folk arts, music, handicrafts,

coastlines, images, cuisines,ancient ports etc.For this Prachi

valley is called as the incredible tourist attraction in

Odisha. The birthplace of the famous Sanskrit poet of the 12th

century Kaviraj Jayadev is situated at Kenduli Deuli of the

present Khurdha district. The references to Prachi river in

Markandeya Purana, Kapilasamhita, the Prachi Mahatmya, the Odia

Mahabharat, the Suryasamhita, the Gyanakosha, the Sambapurana, the

Hatigumpha inscription, the Bramhapurana, the Skandapurana etc. and local

legends provide interesting clues. The local legends and the

Prachi Mahatmya as cited to uphold the view that the word Prachi

is derived from "Prachina" meaning ‘ancient’.

Travel Planning

The river Prachi presently flows from Phulnakhara of Cuttackdistrict on the National HighWay-5, flowing about a distance

of 60 kms. It meets the Bay of Bengal through several mouthsbetween Kalikanagara in north to Ramchandi in Puri district.

HOW TO REACH 

Prachi Valley can be reached from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Bhubaneswar is connectedby air, rail, and road. Cuttack is connected by rail and road.

WHERE TO STAY 

The important places of the valley are Phulnakhara, Sundargram, Kantapada, Adaspur,Niali, Kakatpur, Astaranga, Konark and Ramachandi. Though there is no hotel to stayin Niali. Adaspur, Kakatpur or Astaranga, yet one can always seek permission to stay in the inspection bungalows of the government, PWD, etc. Besides, one can go to nearby Konark where tourists can stay in hotels. The whole area is very near to Cuttack, Konark, Bhubaneswar, and Puri.So one can stay at any of the mentioned cities and go for the valley.

Tourism-of-India.com provides complete information about tourism in Prachi Valley. Tourism-of-India.com offers various tour packages to make you visit comfortable. You can pick the one that suits you most. 

MonumentsThere are very beautiful temples dedicated to different godsand goddesses in Prachi valley. They are very attractive inconcepts, compositions and constructions. There are twelveMadhav and Shiva temples in the coast line of the river. Thetemples of Varahi at Chaurasi, Sovaneswar temple at Niali,

Madhav temple at Madhab village, Mangala temple at Kakatpuretc. are architecturally attractive and important so far associal and religious life of the people. Grameswar temple ofSauma, Angeswar temple of Pitapada, Chamunda of Kakatapuraetc. which belongs to late 12th or 13th century A.D. Varahi ofChaurasi, Garudipanchana Bhagalpur has always drawn theattention of devotees.

SovaneswarTemple,Niali

Madhav Temple,Madhab.

Angeswar Brick temple, Pitapada

Barahi temple,Chaurasi,Puri. J

Jaha

Jahania Pira,Astaranga

JJj

Images

In the Prachi River valley innumerable big size images

of Jaina Tirthankaras have been found, of which most are

enshrined as principal shrine deities. Many of these shrines

are in dilapidated condition. An important Jaina center of

this village is Adaspur in the Cuttack-Niali road. One

beautiful image of Risabhanatha artistically chiselled out of

black chlorite stone is found in the Swapneswara temple.

Risabhanatha is depicted as Mulanayaka being surrounded by

twenty-three Tirthankaras. Prachi valley also preserves

various. Brahmanical female deities like Durga,

Parvati,.Camunda, Varahi, Mangala, Manasi etc.Durgaimages are

found at Bhiligrama, Astaranga, Bayalisbati, Kudapatana,

Ambapada and Citraetc.A good number of Parvati images are

found in the Bhavanatha temple at Bhavanathapur,Siddhesvara

temple at Vishnupur.

Classical and Folk ArtsPrachi valley is also famous for its various classical folkarts and dances. It has been a great centre of Odishi danceand music. Various folk arts and dances are also very piouslypreserved and practised by the people in villages. Jogi Gita,Gopala Ogala, Samkirtana, Bhajan, Ghodanacha, Daskathia, Pala, Nata, Jatra,

Dhuduki Nacha etc. are extremely popular. These are veryattractive to observe.

Pala

Daskathia

Ghodanacha

Jogigita

Social Tourism

Prachi valley is also famous for anotherimportant aspect i.e. social tourism. The area has been thecradle land of ancient Kalingas where numerous social as wellas political experimentations were going on. It has been oneof the attractive ethnic museums of the country where hundredsof castes, creeds and classes live. Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, Islam, and Christianity –allhave flourished in the land. The syncretisation of all thecreeds have taken place to produce a pan-Indian society oftolerance, coexistence and brotherhood. The land is alsoagriculturally rich. So many traditional festivals, fairs andcelebrations are organised throughout the year. Dola,Dusherah, Raja, Rathayatra, Dipavali, Laxmipuja and otherfestivals are observed.

Dola

Durgapuja Raja festival

Handicrafts

The valley of the river Prachi is also very famous for itsvarious handicrafts. Weaving, sculpture, painting, dyeing,leather works, brass utensils, works of bamboo, cane, roots,etc. are found here. The valley is famous for markets, andpatanas.It has been the center of Odisha maritime activitiesthrough the ages. Balakati and Banamalipur are famous forbrass work. Appliqué works are produced from various villageswhere numerous waving castes are living.

Brass work of Balakati

bangles

Applique at Pipili

Kaviraj JayadevThe valley is also immortalised for the world famous poet ofSanskrit Kaviraj Jayadev. He was born in the 12 th centuryA.D. at Kanduli-Deuli on the bank of the river. He was a greatdevotee of Lord Jagannath. He wrote his famous lyrical epicGitagovinda in a very lucid and devotional way.

Poet jayadev

Padmavati Pond,Kenduli.

Last but not the LeastPrachi valley always attracts people from both the near andfar off places. Come any day. You will see the wonder of thesoil.