After a long break following Cyclone Fani, the heritage tour of the city, Ekamra Walks, once again started its journey with the ‘72nd Monks, Caves and Kings’ at the historic Udayagiri and Khandagiri monuments on Saturday.
A total of 26 persons participated in the walks. A special musical performance and storytelling on emperors, rulers, monks and the people of the ancient Kalinga were special attactions. Asit Mohapatra, a visually challenged boy, was also an attraction as he played flute wonderfully with the jugalbandi of tabla and the vocal artist.
Urja, a participant from the city, who completed her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Miranda House in Delhi University, said, “Religion having an overwhelming influence over the beautiful architecture has become the hallmark at the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves and I really enjoyed the heritage trail.”
Dora Heng, from Singapore, who works as an Intern with the IMAGE institute of Odisha University of Agriculture Technology termed the experience as “wonderful.’’
Laxmidhar Parida, another walker, originally from Cuttack, said, “The Ekamra Walks has given a wonderful platform for the city to showcase its historic and monumental best to the world through the week-end tours. A journalist in Chhattisgarh, Laxmidhar also added that more and more locals should join the Ekamra Walks.