Bhubaneswar: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Odisha Chapter has urged the Odisha government for proper conservation and restoration of Gohiratikiri battlefield, lying in neglect.
The historical site within Dhamnagar Panchayat Samiti on the west bank of the Genguti River in Bhadrak district also finds mention in mythology, legends and folklore.
This was the site where the last independent king of Odisha, Gajapati Mukunda Dev, was martyred in the battlefield during the war with Muslim rulers of Bengal in 1568. According to history, threatened by attack from the Muslim rulers of Bengal, Gajapati Mukunda Dev came with his forces to Gohiratikri and set up his camp in a dense forest to the west of Genguti. On his direction, an encampment was made with fortifications, watchtowers, barracks and ponds.
The ponds, made for the water requirements of the troops, were named after the head of the camps and many of existing ponds like Nauri Gadia, Gobind Gadia, Rani Gadia and Bela Gadia are still there. The Kshatriyas of the Udra clan, who claim to be the descendants of the ancient king, still reside in villages in and around Gohiratikri. A large tank named Senapati Pokhari is lying abandoned to the north-east of the site. Similar is the state of another pond named Alamchand Pokahri, which lies to the north-west of Gohiratikri. A major portion of the tank is now buried under muck and soil while a Radha-Krishna temple lies in the middle of the pond.
An Intach team, led by Dr Biswajit Mohanty, State Convener had visited the site and observed that the original battlefield has shrunk in size over the years and is now surrounded by farmland. “This last bastion of Independent Odisha is fading into oblivion, as neither the administration nor the tourism department has done anything to restore its glory. Despite its historical importance, the state government is yet to take up efforts to declare Gohiratikri as a place of Odisha’s heritage,” Mohanty said.
Intach has put forth a request to initiate measures to make a suitable memorial and site museum with facilities to restore the lost glory of Odisha and has expressed its willingness to offer all its expertise for any efforts that will be taken up.
According to historian Anil Dhir, battlefields are more than just sites of conflict; they are sacred grounds that encapsulate the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs of our past.” Indian history is richly marked by numerous decisive battles that shaped its political, social, and cultural landscape. From early tribal wars and dynastic rivalries to colonial invasions and the fight for independence, these conflicts defined empires, altered territorial boundaries, and influenced Odisha’s destiny. Gohiratikri is no less important than the other battlefields like Panipat, Plassey, Haldighati, Talikota and Khanwa,” he noted.
He further stated the battle of Gohiratikri not only shaped the political landscape of medieval Odisha, but also influenced the cultural narratives that followed. “The preservation of the site is vital for understanding the complex legacies it carries, both the triumphs and tragedies of history,” he added.
In 2016, Gohiratikri was designated as a tourist site but it continued to lack basic amenities and a proper road. The Mohan Majhi government recently sanctioned Rs 10 crore for developing the site.