Saptasajya in Dhenkanal

Apart from Kapilas Temple in Dhenkanal, another temple is quite famous ---Saptasajya meaning Bhagwan Bishnu's "sej" or bed. After 3 hours drive from Bhubaneswar we reached at this place crossing places like Naraj and Athagarh. Once we reached the Saptasajya Hill, though road is there upto a certain height, we preferred trekking up on the metalled road. On the foot of the hill we came across a small stream flowing down. After trekking up for 20 minutes you come across the temple. Since, we all were hungry ,surprise came when we saw a sole Shop near the Temple selling "Alu Chop ( Batata Wada)". To add on to the surprise there was "Dalma" which the shop owner had prepared for himself. Great. Then we came to know that there is another small Shiv Ling around 400 ft above this temple. Again we trekked up to the place passing through lush green forest and bushes of wild flowers. There was an Ashram on the top where a Babaji was sitting alone amidst dhyan. Going up we reached the place.... so cool...thick forest all around...sound of the same stream that we had come across near the foot of the hill was getting mixed with the chirping sound of Cuckoos. And the most beautiful part ---Stream after flowing down was directly falling on the Shiv Ling. No temple was there..but just a ling….

Mountain Spring directly falling on the Shiv Ling

Same spring flows down to the foothills

Just 10 ft above was the mouth of the stream coming out from below a rock. First time I saw the mouth of a stream. Anecdote is that there are some caves above this place where only the priest of the Saptasajya can go as Shiv Bhagwan himself stays in those caves guarded by Tigers…Another anecdote is that Pandavas of Mahabharat had rested here for some time…

Satpada- Mouth of Chilika

This place Satpada is amazing and makes you a Poet. Around 100 kms form Bhubaneswar ,one can easily reach this place by Car. Best place to visit is in Winters. On the way to Satpada don’t forget to have nice breakfast of “Poori” and “Dalma” served in a Banana Leaf at Chandanpur. A right turn will take you towards Satpada famous for Dolphins. As you cross Bramhagiri, you can feel that sea is nearby. All along the road you can sea Chilka water in the fields where breeding of Tiger Prawn are done. Finally one reaches Satpada and infront lies the Great Chilika Lake. An OTDC Guest House is there and some make shift shops of Sea Stationeries. But more than the Dolphins I was interested in seeing the Mouth of Chilka , which is around 15 kms from Satpada. There are Government Booking agencies that provide Boats to reach this place called as “ Muhan” or the “Mouth of Chilika”. On the way we could see Dolphins coming up the surface and before you could take a good snap..they were in….Proves that my instinct is still poor. From around 5-6 kms you can make out the mouth of the Lake. Line of trees with a Gap---the mouth.

Mouth of Chilika

Just was curious that how it must be to be at that place as I had never imagined a mouth of lake. As we reached the place ….it was one of the amazing sites that I can’t forget ever. Turbulent Bay of Bengal on one side and calm Chilika Lake on the other. Blue sea on one side and pale Green Lake on the other. The mouth was a place like Sea trying to prove to the lake that it is the Creator of the lake. Great Scene.

Don’t forget to have fried fish and cucumbers at the spot . Local villagers come in boats carrying tables and chairs and other items and give you fried fishes for mere 10-15 rupees.

Ghoghar Temple At Kansbahal

It is quite hard to believe that how Tourist places in Orissa are left unexplored. One of these rarely heard places is Ghoghar Temple 25 kms away from Rourkela. Lucky fellow me that I stay at Kansbahal just 2.5 kms away from the temple. This time of the year in the month of “ Sravan” , “ Bol Bam” pilgrims from as far as Chattisgarh and Jharkhand throng this place to pour water on the Shiv Ling of Ghoghar Temple. Near by stream, Badjor flows with full speed in the monsoons to add to the scenic surroundings of the temple. Looking at the small bridge over the stream makes you recall the pictures of English County Villages in short stories books.

Ghoghar Temple

Ghoghar Bridge

Gushing Waters of the Near by Stream

God's own Musicians

Sunset near the Temple