The Tara Tarini temple today has been transformed into a religious monument that has its roots deep inside the ancient history and culture of Ganjam and Odisha. The magnificent new temple boasts of architecture that gives it a sense of holiness and is strongly connected with the traditions. Destined for the eternity, the temple has become a modern day masterpiece only because of the tireless efforts by the Odisha Government, the people of Ganjam, administration and TTDB. The quaint landscape adoring the Kumari hills/ #Purnagiri on the banks of river Rushikulya is a breathtaking experience for the devotees of Goddess Taratarini. Newsroomodisha.com brings for its readers some mesmerizing images of the Taratarini temple that speak for themselves. Link: https://newsroomodisha.com/depicted-in-pictures-the-chronicles-of-the-majestic-taratarini-temple/
The temple of Maa Taratarini, the presiding deity of Ganjam district and a famous Shakti Peethas.before the transformationThe Jugala murtis of Lord Siva and ParvatiImage of Taratarini Temple before the beautification works
Cutting of huge stones being lifted to the hilltop-shrine for construction works
Scenes from the beginning of the renovation of the temple.Construction works at the templeThe lion gate entrance designed like the famous Mukteshwar structure.The temple built with creative stone worksThe then RDCs – Arun Kumar Panda and Satyabrata Sahu and the then Ganjam Collecor and now Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian holding discussions regarding the development of Maa Taratarini temple
In front of the main temple before the beautification worksFormer RDC Arun Kumar Panda in talks with locals on development of the shrineThe blueprint for temple development was discussed in the presence of former RDC Satyabrata Sahu and other senior administrative officials.The ropeway movement was started in the presence of former RDC Satyabrata Sahu.Ropeway facility – from the foothill, the devotees can take the ropeway to reach the temple comfortably.Special vehicle to collect donations from the devotees and the general public for the development work of Taratarini templeThe then Ganjam Collector VK Pandian at Bhoomi Pujan programme for the renovation of Taratarini templeThe post-construction scene of the main temple.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the transformation plan of Taratarini temple in February 2020.New and attractive entrance to the templeA view of Rishikulya river, the lifeline of Ganjam district, from hilltop5T Secretary VK Pandian reviewing the beautification worksChief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra reviewing the construction works with Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, PD DRDA Shinde Dattatraya Bhausaheb and other officialsTaratarini Temple decorated for Chaitra Festival
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited Taratari Temple in December 2021 to offer his obeisance to the deity
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Temple Complex in 2021
A view of new temple of Maa TaratariniNew look templeMain entrance of renovated Maa Taratarini TempleThe magnifisant elephant at the entrance of the TemplePremises of Maa Taratarini temple
An aerial view of Maa Taratarini temple at the present form
A breathtaking night view of the Taratarini Temple complexChief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian and Special Secretary to CM R. Vineel Krishna in Taratarini Temple on May 17, a day before the Chief Minister’s scheduled visit to the historic shrine.
On my way to Berhampur from Taptapani in Orissa, my car whizzed past a signpost —“Better late than never” — warning drivers of the consequences of reckless manoeuvring on hilly terrain. It suddenly dawned on me that I was hooked on to speed even on a leisure trip. The habit of being in the rat race just refused to go.
Put up by the state irrigation department, the sign had a picture of a large water body painted on it. Guided by sixth sense, I turned right, leaving the main road.
What lay ahead was more beautiful than I had expected. A winding narrow road through a canopy of trees took me to Ghodahada. It was a discovery of delight!
Nestled among the hills and forests of the Ramgarh range, Ghodahada gets its name from the river on which the irrigation department has built a dam . Gushing out of the hills at a height of 3,000 metres, the river suddenly becomes wide before flowing downhill. It is at this spot that the dam was built.
The waves lapping on the banks, the quiet murmur of the current and the occasional gurgling streams through the dam gates accentuate the serene and tranquil atmosphere.
The happy togetherness of flora and fauna, hills and the woods makes Ghodahada a nature lover’s favourite. The cosy accommodation in the bungalow on top of the hill puts the final touches to this idyllic retreat.
The primary activity here is to chill out in the lap of nature. If you are of the adventurous kind, you could even go for a jungle safari. Birdwatchers can spend the day along the riverside or walk into the woods. You can visit an old Shiva temple in the area, locally popular as the Ujjaleswar temple. Villagers from Jayanarda, Gobarbaraha, Seripur, Gurubadha and Khamari Gaon in Orissa’s Ganjam district come here to worship.
Gopalpur-on-sea, Rambha and the ancient hill temple Tara Tarini are some of the popular tourist spots nearby.
Godhahada has a charm that makes you want to come back. It helps you connect with yourself, something we hardly get a chance to do in our hectic lives in the cities. By the end of my stay, I was happy that I slowed down and took the right turn.
Going
Take a train from Howrah to Berhampur city in Orissa. You could also take NH-5 to Berhampur and proceed from there. Air connectivity to Berhampur is also available from Bhubaneswar. Air service between Kolkata and Berhampur will commence soon.
Staying
There are many hotels in Berhampur and Gopalpur-on-Sea. You can book the irrigation bungalow by writing to the sub-divisional engineer, Godhahada, Digapahandi.
Rushikulya is one of the biggest mating grounds of Olive Ridleys in the world
Measures have been initiated to protect these mating Olive Ridleys
At present small number of mating pairs are visible which is expected to increase
Fishing has been banned in the area where these turtles are congregating
BERHAMPUR: Rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtles have started to arrive for mating near Rushikulya rookery (about 30km from Berhampur and 30km from the famous Tara Tarini hill Shrine) in Ganjam district is considered as one of the biggest mating grounds of Olive Ridleys in the world. According to officials of the forest department they are now gathering up at a distance of seven kilometres from the coast line. At present small number of mating pairs are visible. But a large number of turtles can be seen. Mating of Olive Ridleys picks up in this area in the last week of December and January. This year these endangered marine turtles have arrived in time.
The Olive Ridleys usually start their mating in the sea near their preferred nesting coast. According to experts these rare turtles have a single mating season in a year. After the end of the mating season most male turtles usually return back leaving behind the female turtles to lay their eggs. The nesting of Olive Ridleys starts from the end of January in sporadic manner which picks up in February.
Measures have been initiated to protect these mating Olive Ridleys in the sea. Fishing has been banned in the area where these turtles are congregating. This involves the stretch of sea up to a distance of ten kilometres from the coast line of Rushikulya rookery. Extension of fishing ban area extends to ten kilometres towards the north and ten kilometres towards south of the rookery.
Illegal entry of fishing trawlers to this region is being checked through regular patrolling at sea said Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer. A team of forest officials is also monitoring the Rushikulya rookery coast line where the turtles would lay eggs after two months. They are also documenting the carcasses of turtles found on this coast to assess the number and cause of deaths of Olive Ridleys out here. DFO said this year deposition was quite good at Rushikulya river coast, which means the turtles would have a good stretch of beach to lay their eggs.
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