Bhubaneswar: Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday requested the Centre to include Konark Sun Temple and Puri Jagannath Temple in the list of places for development under Iconic Tourist Sites Project.
In a letter to Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, he said, “Odisha is home to several wonderful cultural and natural heritage sites amongst which Sun Temple in Konark and Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri are the holiest pilgrimages and attractive tourist destinations due to their religious, cultural and architectural importance.”
He highlighted the historical, cultural and religious importance of Sun Temple and Jagannath Temple for the people of Odisha and sought Patel’s personal intervention in the matter.
Describing the Puri temple as a unifying beacon of Odisha’s quintessential Jagannath cult, Dharmendra said that it is one of the four holiest Dhams for Hindus and hosts the iconic annual Rath Yatra.
“The Konark Sun Temple, the 13th-century marvel is acknowledged as the zenith of Odishan architecture and recognized globally as UNESCO world heritage site,” he added.
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