Re-Discovering Cuttack Through Heritage Trails

Cuttack: The old charm of Cuttack is often being translated into its modern avatar with dotting multi-storied structures and modern architectural additions to the traditional skyline. Still, the Millennium City is a perfect site now to be explored through its heritage corridors, tales from past glories and the reference of “Bauna bazaara tepana gali’’ in old literature, hinting at the densely populated business centre, which always had an edge over others as it continues to be important in our state’s socio-political arena. `Kataka’s glories are now talked about once again, thanks to the noble initiative of Cuttack Heritage Walks (CHW).

Epicentre of renaissance in higher education, administrative and business capital of Odisha for centuries, Millennium City Cuttack’s rich and historic stories are now mostly framed in its beautiful heritage structures – those that were jostling with activity in their hey days and others, that are still operating from majestic colonial structures. So, CHW has come as a perfect tribute to explore, photograph, discuss, narrate, document and become nostalgic about the city’s past through a happening heritage encounter.  

CHW is only a six-edition old heritage tour initiative by a group of enthusiasts of the Twin Cities. It is a tribute to Cuttack’s everlasting love for the serene waters of River Mahanadi meandering along the beautiful city, the historic buildings, colonial architecture, educational institutions, which once shaped the brightest minds of Odisha and living traditions like Bali Jatra showcasing Odia maritime glory (which recently received the State Festival status), other major festivities full of age-old traditions and rituals and also cycle rickshaws and the mouth-watering delicious “dahibara-aloodum” with their green initiative and  delightful local food tradition running through generations. The CHW has a strong fan following and participants are being exposed to the heritage elements of the Millennium City’s history… walk after walk.

CHW, as a regular walker has described, “is an initiative to make a person fall in love once again with the city and feel like at home. The homecoming experience through the walk is to see and explore Cuttack with the new perspective of an enthusiast to know the anatomy of the city, traversing through the pages of history, which has seen rulers from the local Kalingan dynasties, foreign rulers and representatives from the Emperors of Delhi, Marathas from West and the British after positioning themselves firmly in the Indian sub-continent. This walk is aimed at exploring the city through its every nook and corner so that anything interesting about the Millennium City will be explored and curated.’’

Heritage lovers of the Millennium City, Dipak Samantarai, Hitesh Seth, Jivananda Misra, Deepak Kumar Nayak, Bikash Das and Satyabrat Ratho started the initiative and now many enthusiasts from the Twin Cities are joining the event in large numbers. Historian and researcher Anil Dhir from the Temple City has also joined as a regular walker. 

While the usual path of the heritage walk takes the route with the ruins of the historic Barabati Fort, Gada Chandi, Sahi Quila Mosque, Judicial Museum, Anand Bhawan, it also takes up specific sites as special inclusions.

During Durga Puja this year, two Silver Filigree Special Walks under CHW were organised to throw light on the origin of Durga Puja in Cuttack and later a tour in October with a theme on Christ Collegiate School/Mission School. Usually, the walk starts at 6.30 am from near JN Indoor Stadium and ends at 8.30 am. However, with special walks taking more time, the path also changes a bit. There may be a special CHW during Bali Jatra as the event is celebrated to remember the lost maritime glory of Kalinga.

Cuttack’s heritage does not limit to a specific route, tradition or locality as the Binode Bihari area is dotted with several heritage publishing houses known all over the state for their Odia books, a mere walk or ride along Mahanadi or Kathajodi, a down memory lane journey to Ravenshaw University, Sailabala Women’s College or Christ College for an alumni is like a living heritage. A visit to the beautiful museums of Cuttack also is an interesting option for visitors. 

A trip to Gopabandhu Bhawan, an evening-scape overlooking at the setting sun from Jobra Bridge, a stroll in the afternoon at Barabati Grounds, a journey to Akshaya Mohanty’s home “Bichitra Barna” in Seikh Bazaar and looking at the majestic colonial architecture of the High Court Building, always creates some special feelings in our hearts. The historic city lives in every living cell of an individual, who has visited the “Bada Medical” or the “Sishu Bhavan” hospital during his/her childhood or boyhood days for medical treatment. 

Cuttack, being a business city of our glorious past, holds ample opportunities to be explored commercially to have heritage walks. Ekamra Walks in Bhubaneswar has come up with regular intervals every week and has attracted citizens from 33 nations  and a footfall of more than 11,000.

“We see and expect tremendous potential in CHW as well. We are sure that Cuttack Heritage Walk will definitely inspire walkers to join the event and re-discover Cuttack with a different perspective,’’ said Hitesh Seth, businessman, art and heritage connoisseur and a CHW founding member.’