IL&FS moves to develop Tara Tarini hill shrine

IL&FS moves to develop Tara Tarini hill shrine

The Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) is eyeing the Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district of the State as its future project for long-term infrastructural development. The Mumbai based, IL&FS which is one of India’s leading infrastructure development and finance companies has recently taken up a project of infrastructure development and environment management at the centuries old Sabarimala Temple in Kerala through its subsidiary Ecosmart India Ltd.

Chetan Javeri, the Project Director of this project of IL&FS made a visit to the Tara Tarini hill shrine on Thursday to make a ground level study of the hill shrine. He also held discussions with the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Satyabrata Sahu, who also happens to be the chairman of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) regarding a long term project for the hill shrine keeping in view its popularity by 2020. S.Mitra, a sociologist from Chicago University attached with Ecosmart also accompanied Mr. Javeri.

TTDB had a special meeting of its members with the IL&FS team on Thursday evening at the hill shrine. According to Publicity In-charge of the TTDB, Ramprasad Tripathy, Mr. Javeri would also meet the chief secretary of Orissa to discuss about the probability of their project at Tara Tarini hill shrine.

Source: The Hindu

A ropeway up to the gods

A ropeway up to the gods

Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district is prepares a simpler way to the top

The first ropeway to a hilltop in Orissa is operational at Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district.
It is part of the efforts of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) to turn this famous hill shrine of south Orissa into a major tourist destination of India.

The carriages of this ropeway would carry devotees from the ground to the 282-metre high hilltop. It would provide a recreational journey to the devotees to the hill shrine who otherwise had to climb 999 steps to the hilltop.

Source: The Hindu

Shrine on fast completion mode

Shrine on fast completion mode

As the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik showing keen interest for the completion of the oldest shrine of the South Orissa, The Taratarini Temple, money is pouring in to the kitty of Taratarini Development Board (TTDB).
People of Ganjam district is contributing hugely and the largest chunk of money amounting Rs.16 lakh have been received only from Hinjili and Rs.8 lakh from Purusottampur block. Till date Rs.1.35 crore has already been spent for erection of the temple.
So Ajit Kumar Tripathy, the Chief Secretary was visibly happy at the fast pace of completion, while he reviewed the progress on 11 April inside the temple premises.
Construction of Sandstone built Rekha Style temple with an elevation of about 55 ft. above the hilltop has made good progress, thanks to the initiative of Satyabrat Sahu.
Mr.Sahu is the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) and the Chairman of the Taratarini Development Board (TTDB).
The most modern temple is being built in accordance to ancient Orissan temple architecture replacing the old temple.
The TTDB has entrusted noted sculptor, Padma Bhusan Raghunath Mohapatra to construct this modern temple in ancient architectural form.
The Sri Jagannath temple of Puri and Sri Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar are examples of this traditional temple architecture of Orissa.
Though the construction of the temple started in 2003, it picked up after Mr.Sahu took over as RDC and Chief of TTDB.
More tha 40 sculptors and artisans led by Mr. Mohapatra are involved in the construction of this temple.
The walls and other portions of the temple bear intricate carving on the stone. The temple is made in such a fashion that itcan be viewed from all places around.
Construction of a Mukteswar style Arch Gate in front of the temple has added luster to the temple. Once the main temple construction is completed than the entire area will be developed along with better facilities for the visiting devotees.

Source: http://www.tathya.in/story.asp?sno=1776

Donation pouring in for temple

Donation pouring in for temple

He may be a poor farmer but his heart is larger than any of the top honchos of the corporate world. Till the other day, Bhagaban Patnaik was a nondescript farmer of Rangeilunda block of Ganjam district. But when he donated Rs.1.11 lakh from his own funds for construction of the Grand Temple of Goddess Tara Tarini, eye brows were raised and entire administration was taken aback. The Goddesses TaraTarini have been regarded as the presiding deity(Ista-Devi)in almost every house in South Orissa. The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) is taking up the construction of massive Sandstone built Rekha Style temple, unique to Orissa. The Shri Jagannath temple of Puri and Shri Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar are examples of this traditional temple architecture of Orissa. The temple is being built on the hilltop approximately 708 feet at a distance of 30 km towards north of Berhampur on the south bank of river Rushikulya at a cost of Rs.2 crore, for which TTDB is collecting donations from general public. Due to paucity of funds TTDB approached the corporate sectors including Tata Steel, Vedanta Alumina, NALCO and NINL. While NALCO and NINL responded, Tata Steel did not bothered to even reply. Taking cue form the common pilgrims, the TTDB started donation campaign to fund the project. And response of the common people is tremendous, said Satyabrat Sahu, Chairman of TTDB. Mr.Sahu is the Revenue Divisional Commissioner of the Southern Division. After Mr.Sahu took over as the RDC, he is taking a lot of interest in erecting the temple as soon as possible, said Pramod Kumar Panda, Secretary of the TTDB. The TTDB decision to run the Tara Tarini Rath for collection of funds has yielded results, said Mr.Panda. While the poor farmer donated such a huge amount, biggest single contribution came from Arun Kumar Sabat, a Bhubaneswar based Chartered Accountant. Mr.Sabat is having roaring practice, has donated Rs.2.25 lakh for the temple. Nila Madhab Mahapatra, a leading Non Resident Oriya (NRO) has donated Rs.1.11 lakh for the temple. On 16 February, collection was to the tune of Rs.1.58 lakh from Hinjili area, revealed Ajit Kumar Misra, Sub Collector. “Since Novemebr,2007, we have received more than Rs.20 lakh”, said Mr.Misra. Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister is also taking much interest in the temple and has provided Rs.35 lakh. Last week during his visit to the area, Mr.Patnaik reviewed the progress of the construction of the temple and asked to complete the construction at the earliest. Expressing satisfaction over the progress, he promised all out funding support for completion of the temple, said sources close to V Karthikeyan Pandian, Collector Ganjam. Noted sculptor, Padmabibhusan Raghunath Mohapatra is constructing this modern temple in ancient architectural form. Mr. Mohapatra is confident to finish the work on the new temple by next June. The picturesque scenery of the temple from the hill top down to the bank of the River Rushikulya gives immense pleasure and a thrilling experience of nature and divinity to each pilgrims, said Mr.Misra.

Source: http://www.tathya.in/story.asp?sno=1634

Taratarini Hill Shrine

Visit the official website of Taratarini Hill Shrine http://taratarini.nic.in/