Raghurajpur - A unique Village in the Tourist World
Raghurajpur - A unique Village in the Tourist World
Raghurajpur is a unique village in the Puri district of Orissa. It’ idylic setting on the southern bank of rifer Bhargavi surrounded by coconut, palm, mango, jack fruit groves and other tropical trees gives it the identity of a real Indian Village. A number of betel-leave gardens dot the nearby paddy fields.
The Villages runs from east to west with houses arranged in two neat rows facing each other. In the centre runs a line of small temples and the long Bhagabat to Bhusani (the village Gooddes of Grama Devati), Radha Mohan, Gopinath, Dasabhuja, Raghunath, Laxminaryan and Gourang.
To reach Raghurajpur one has to get down at Chandanpur Bus Stop, which is abut 10km. from Puri and 50 km from Bhubaneswar on N.H. No. 203 connecting Puri with Bhubaneswar, the two important tourist destinations of the country to reach this village. One may also hire taxis either from puri or Bhubaneswar to reach straight in the village.
The coconut palm shaded village is quite different from other villages of the state. It has its own identity. What is unusual is the number of outsiders including foreingers visiting the village round the year. Thee people don’t come here to see a typical Orissan village from close quarters but to see and enjoy the rich traditions of Orissna art and craft at one place. The village has a community of artisans who produce different verities of handicraft items like pata paintings, palm leaf engravings, stone cargins, wooden toys and mask, wood carving, wooden toys, cow-dung toys, tusser paintings, etc. Perhaps no where in India one finds such a huge congregation of so many arts at one place like Raghurajpur. This is also the only village in India where each family is engaged in the profession of preparing some craft items. As a multi-caste village, Raghurajpur has 103 house hold s having 311 Artists averaging 3 artists in one family. Some of them are National Award Winners. This village that one come across can find the best tradition of Orissan paintings and some of the finest pieces of work.
Besides crafts, this village has a living tradition performing art known as Gotipua, the earlier from of Odissi. A worthy son of Orissa, Padmabiohbhusana Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra, and exponent of Odiddi Dance was born in this village and had his early training in Gotipua tradition here. Now a Gotipua Gurukul, nakely Maa Dasabhuja Goitpua Odissi Dance School has been established here under the guidance of Guru Maguni Charan Das. The trainees of the said school are presenting their performance in different cultural events of the country and abroad.
INTACH selected this village to revive the ancient wall painting of Orissa. The work has already been completed and now the village looks like a living museum of paintings. To give this village it rightful place both the in the Cultural and Tourist Maps of the country, Orissa Tourism and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India have identified this village for development of Rural Tourism. Shri Jagmohan. Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism and Culture paid a visit to this village on 27th June ‘02 and after seeing this village he declare that this village will be developed as a role model for rural tourism in India. INTACH is preparing the Project Report for the said village which will be implemented here within a short period. Basic touristic facilities like Road, Drinking Water, Sanitation, Interpretation Centre, Rest House, etc. will come up here very soon. Government of Orissa is taking initiatives to develop the road from Chandanur and Kathapola to Raghurajpur and urging upon UNICEF to provide clean water to the village. To achieve this task, various Departments of Government of Orissa are converging their resources. Once the Rural Tourism Projects is completed, Raghurajpur will come in the National Travel circuit of the Government of Orissa.
