Sialia village known as a ‘door-less village’, Chualia, a spot known for its natural beauty, and the century-old Kanika Palace are going to be added to the Kendrapada district tourism map, informed District Tourist Officer Bijay Kumar Mohanty.
The Sialia village in Rajkanika is unique in the sense that no house has a door. As many as 38 families are residing in the village but they are not worried about their life and property.
As a result, they do not put any door in their houses. The villagers’ unflinching faith on village deity Maa Kharakhai whom they believe to be standing guards on the village is enough. Fearing the goddess’s wrath, thieves dare not enter any house. The village has its Anganwadi centre and primary school with no locks and doors as well.
“It is a unique village in the State where the villagers stay without doors,” said DTO Mohanty, justifying its merit for addition in the list of tourist spots in the district. Similarly, the Kanika Palace covers an area of some 300 acres. A museum was set up in the two storied palace in 1960s by the royal family members to display hundreds of antiquities, wildlife skeletons, trophies, mirrors, paintings, rare photographs and arms etc.
Meanwhile, all the imperial treasures from the palace were displayed for public in the museum. More than 5,000 beautiful artifacts in 12 odd different spacious sections are up for grabs. The museum is replete with creations in wood, metal, stone, ivory and clay. The museum looks resplendent once more after repair and redecoration recently by the present scion Shivendra Narayan Bhanjadeo. The well-designed palace appears magnificent, solemn and harmonious, representing the long cultural tradition of Rajkanika and its outstanding architectural accomplishments century ago. It is a truly superb masterpiece in every sense, stated Mohanty.
The Chhualai pitha is located on the bank of the Govari river in lokanathpur . The whole place is surrounded by sahada trees .Other trees like Kadamba, Krushnachuda, Panihenduli and Peepal are also found. People throng here to worship Nature. A Shahada tree is worshipped as the presiding deity of the spot.