Bhubaneswar: With Ekamra Walks, the only guided heritage walk in Odisha capital, gaining popularity among tourists, city dwellers and foreign guests, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is planning to introduce three more walks and two cycle trails across the city with innovative themes and ideas.
Currently three walks, Ekamra Walks Old Town (Lingaraj) Circuit, Jain Circuit (Monks, Caves and Kings) and Museum Walk at Crafts Museum Kala Bhoomi, are on in the state capital.
The three proposed walks, which would start by the end of this month, would cater to all age groups and people with different tastes, BDA sources said.
Science Walk
This walk will specially target school kids and science enthusiasts. The trail will involve the Regional Museum of Natural History, Pathani Samanta Planetarium and Regional Science Centre.
Schools will be roped in for this walk as it would be educative, entertaining and knowledge gathering as events like quizzes, sessions for question answer, painting and sketching would be part of the walk.
Nature Walk
The nature trail will be an excellent outing and refreshing opportunity for nature lovers to experience the wild at the State Botanical Garden, Nandankanan, Bharatput Reserve Forest or Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary. The nature lovers would go to the sites and take the walk there. For example, the Chandaka nature walk will be organised near the entry-point to the sanctuary Godibari, which is a nice place with options like medicinal plant garden, adventure sports and trails into the beautiful forest, which is known for its elephants.
Streets of Ekamra
The walk will showcase the intangible cultural tradition, including food of Ekamra Kshetra, daily and seasonal rituals, festivities, temples and other religious places. Festivities like Ashokastami, Chandanyatra, Sitalasasthi, Mahalaya rituals, streets with different activities, favourite food like ‘kora khai’ and ‘khaja’ and local ‘lassi’ and other food items would be included in it.
The cycle trails will include Dhauli and Heritage Temple circuit.
Dhauli-Buddhist Circuit (Cycle Trail)
After the Lingaraj (Old Town Circuit) and Jain Circuit (Monks, Caves and Kings), the Dhauli circuit will include all three major religious sites/destinations across the city. The Dhauli Buddhist Circuit on cycle will be an exciting experience as the event will start near the foothills and touching the ‘ghats’ near Daya river, the participants will reach the hilltop. The proposed evening cycle tour is likely to end at a time when the participants can also get a chance to see the Light and Sound Show near the pagoda.
Heritage Temple Circuit (Cycle Trail)
This proposed cycle trail is likely to cover temples along Ravi Talkies-Tankapani Road, 64 Yogini temple at Hirapur and Sisupalgarh, making a loop. However, the temples under the Old Town Circuit might also be included in future for a change.
While the three walks are almost freezed, the cycle trails would start once the cycles under the Public Bicycle Sharing project arrives, the sources added.
