OTDC comes out with package tour to Tara Tarini hill shrine

The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has come up with a package tour to promote the famous Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district. This tour would be taken up around five times in a month to enable devotees and tourists from other parts of the State to have a comfortable luxurious trip to this famous hill shrine. As Bhubaneswar would be starting pint of this tour it would enable tourists coming to visit golden triangle, Puri-Bhubaneswar-Konark, to opt for a visit to another chunk of Odisha.

The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), Berhampur has decided to provide all possible assistance for this project of OTDC, said secretary of TTDB, Pramod Panda. According to him this package tour would be on Tuesdays along with the day of Sankranti. These are most preferred days for devotees to visit this hill shrine. Mr. Panda said this package tour for Tara Tarini was being provided at affordable price of around Rs 640 per passenger. Tourists would start from Bhubaneswar in air-conditioned luxury buses and reach Tara Tarini hill shrine just before noon.

The TTDB authorities would welcome the passengers and provide them all possible hospitality. These tourists would be provided ‘Prasad' of the temple as lunch which is part of the package. Along with accompanying guide the troupe of tourists would get a chance to move around scenic spots around the hill shrine during their stay there. Ropeway between the hill top and the foot hill was also part of the tour package, Mr. Panda said. According to him this project of OTDC would help in promotion of this hill shrine as a major tourist destination.

Mr. Panda said the second hill top road to the shrine was almost completed and it would be ready for use by public by the end of the year. This new road starts from Keshpur junction. Work was also under way for construction of a ring road around the Tara Tarini hill. The ghat road to the hill top is being widened further for easy driving. In some places gradient of steep slopes have been reduced.

To beautify adjoining areas embankment of Rushikulya River that flows around the Tara Tarini hill is being beautified. “We are planning to increase parking space on the hill top by cutting down and leveling some more portions on the hill top,” Mr. Panda added. During past few years the TTDB has made a complete face lift of this hill shrine that includes erection of a complete new temple in place of the old temple. This new temple is based on ancient Rekha style temple architecture of Odisha. Source: The Hindu

OTDC announces special bus service from State capital to Tara Tarini Hill Shrine

In a bid to attract more tourists to the famous religious destination of the state the OTDC has launched special weekly bus services to Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Ganjam district, Odisha, OTDC Marketing Manager Alok Mishra said. Every Tuesday, a bus would leave Bhubaneswar at 8 a.m. for the famous Tara Tarini Hill Shrine and the trip (to and fro) costs Rs.660 per person. The bus would start its journey from the Panth Nivas, Bhubaneswar and would pick up tourists at Kalpana Square, railway station, Vani Vihar, and Rasulgarh Square in the Capital en route Tara Tarini. However, pilgrims can also avail themselves of one-way service on payment of Rs.300 per person, Mr. Mishra said.

For further information, OTDC officials can be contacted on mobile phone number 99383-74772. Source: The Hindu

Tara Tarini Development Board takes great pleasure in wishing you happiness and prosperity on the divine occasion of Dusshera,

the festival that symbolizes the Triumph of Good over Evil.

May the divine blessings of

Maa Tara Tarini be with you always!

Foundation laying ceremony for second phase work held at Tara Tarini hill shrine



Tara Tarini hill shrine, Berhampur, Ganjam, Orissa



Foundation laying ceremony for the Parswa mandiras and the second phase work on the Taratarini hill shrine was held on June 03. The Chairman TTDB and RDC southern division, Odisha Shri Lakshmi Narayan Nayak presided over the ceremony. With it, the second phase work of Taratarini hill shrine complex commenced.

After the ceremony, the Chairman reviewed the progress of various other developmental works of Taratarini hill shrine. The Pratistha Utsav of the newly built main temple complex of Taratarini hill shrine will be held in 2012. So, the Chairman instructed the officials to quickly complete the ongoing works like widen Ghat road to the hill shrine, ring road around the hill shrine, construction of facilities for the devotees on the hill shrine and instructed the forest department to plant more than 2 lakh trees of different varieties in and around the Hill shrine. On this occasion all the office bearers of the TTDB, the executive officer of Taratarini hill shrine, chief of technical committee TTDB and members of TTDB were present.

Naveen Patnaik offers special Puja at Tara Tarini Shrine; Inaugurates administrative building on the hill top

Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik visited the Adi Sakti peeth of Maa Tara Tarini on April 26, 2011. Tara Tarini, an ancient Shakti shrine is located on the banks of the mythologically famous Rushikulya River, 30 km from Berhampur city and is believed to be the Sthana Peeth (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti with its history dating back to antiquity. The Shrine is one of the ancient most places of Shakti worship and among the four major Shakti centers in India.

 The Chief Minister landed at around 9.30am by a special copter near the hill shrine and directly went inside the holy temple and offered puja for around one hour. He visited the newly constructed temple complex and enquired about its progress. RDC of Southern Division, Orissa and Tara Tarini Development Board Chairman Shri Laxmi Narayan Nayak and TTDB secretary Shri Pramod Panda informed him about the progress of all ongoing developmental works on both the hilltop and on the foothill region. They also informed the CM about the future infrastructural requirements keeping in view the consistently growing number of visitors and devotees to the shrine. 

Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the new administrative building constructed by Purushottampur block at a cost of 25 lacs on the hilltop and appreciated the ongoing works. He reviewed the widening work of the ghat road, which is constructed by the PWD department, government of Odisha at a cost of Rs 5 crores.   On the foot hill of the shrine the CM laid the foundation stone for the Tara Tarini bathing Ghat on the banks of holy river Rushikulya at a cost of 10 lacs.

TTDB secretary Shri Pramod Panda conveyed the CM that this holy shrine is fast emerging as a popular religious tourism destination. Last month during the Chaitra festivals around two million devotees visited the holy shrine from the cross section of the country and mainly from Orissa and other neighboring states. Shri Panda informed that bearing the growing number of devotees in mind the TTDB has decided to construct a lavatory complex, big rest shed and view-tower on the hilltop.

After knowing the facts the Chief Minister immediately directed the officials to expedite the ongoing developmental works for the benefit of the devotes and assured all possible help from the state government for creating required infrastructure facilities. Among others, Law and Rural Development Minister, Government of Odisha Shri Bikram Keshari Arukh, RDC and TTDB Chairman Shri Laxmi Narayan Nayak, Berhampur MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Pattnaik, Gopalpur MLA Dr. Pradeep Panigrahi, MLAs of Khallikate and Polosara, District Collector Shri V. Kartikeyan Pandian, SP Ganjam, SP Berhampur, all the office bearers of TTDB, Executive Officer of Tara Tarini temple and other officials of government of Orissa were present on the occasion.       

Lakhs pay visit to Taratarini hill shrine

The Taratarini hill shrine, 32km from Berhampur city are bustling with devotees who have gathered here on the occasion of third Chaitra Mangalbar (Tuesday). More than three lakh devotees visited the hill shrine named after twin goddesses — Tara and Tarini from various states and abroad.

The four Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra (March/April) are believed to be holy for Shakti Puja (power worshipping) in this shrine of Mata Sati (consort of Lord Shiva). “The hill shrine, one among the four major ancient Shakti pithas (centres) in India, is a major religious centre. It is gradually emerging as a popular tourist destination”. Devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam and other states pay a visit to the shrine on these four Tuesdays in the month of Chaitra.

Ganjam district administration created the TTDB under chairmanship of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), southern Orissa, in 2002-03. Since then, the TTDB has been involved in development of the shrine and its nearby areas by providing drinking water facility on the hilltop and running a ropeway service. The board has provided eight water tankers for the visitors with 24-hour water supply. The police, deployed there, are distributing pana (a drink) at the temple entrance. Several special buses are ferrying the devotees to the hilltop for Rs 50 per head. The ropeway charge has been fixed at Rs 30 for each devotee. However, most of the devotees preferred to visit the shrine by trekking the 999 holy steps.

The board undertook construction of a new temple. The construction of a road to the hilltop is also in progress. About 50 per cent work for another ring road to the shrine is over. “We have been worshipping the goddesses since ages. We are here to pay our respect to the deities. Many perform special prayers or give special offerings to the goddesses,” said devotees. “Commuting has become easier on these hills with the introduction of ropeway. Moreover, facilities of rest rooms and drinking water have also been introduced,” they said.

Source: The Telegraph

Four Lakh devotees throng Taratarini hill shrine on 2nd Tuesday of Chaitra

Around four lakh devotees from various parts of Orissa and from neighbouring states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh thronged the Tara Tarini hill shrine on the auspicious Second Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. Tara Tarini, an ancient Shakti shrine located on the banks of the mythologically famous river of Rushikulya, 30 km from Berhampur city, is believed to be the Sthana Pitha (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti. The Shrine is one of the ancient most places of Shakti worship and among the four major Shakti centers in India. It bears a history of not less then 5000 years.

It may be noted that all the Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra are days of festivity at this hill shrine and this month long fest in honour of the twin goddess is the biggest fair of India held at any religious shrine.



Tara Tarini Hill (Kumari/Purnagiri/Ratnagiri/Tarakashya Hill) Image Source: Google Earth 



As per the report available, on the second Tuesday of Chaitra festival around 10,000 babies offered their hairs to the goddess and the number this year surpassed the number registered in the corresponding Tuesday of the previous years.

The festivities started at this shrine from Monday midnight itself and throughout the night there were cultural programmes to entertain the devotees. After the traditional ceremonial works, the sanctum of Maa Tara Tarini opened at around 1 a.m in the morning and darshan started after that.

Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division, Odisha, Shri Laxmi Narayan Nayak, Secretary Fisheries Government of Odisha Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Ganjam District Collector Shri VK Pandian, Superintendent of Police Berhampur and Ganjam and many other senior state and central government officials, apart from the executive officer and all other office bearers of Tara Tarini Development Board, were present on the occasion.

Last year on the third Tuesday of Chaitra, more than 6 lakh people visited the hill shrine. Therefore, sensing that, the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) is making elaborate arrangements for the smooth darshan of devotees on the upcoming 3rd and 4th Tuesdays.

Famous Chaitra fest begins at Tara Tarini Breast Shrine

BERHAMPUR: Traditional Chaitra festival began at Tara Tarini hill shrine near Berhampur city, Ganjam district on Tuesday. Four Tuesdays of Hindu month of Chaitra are celebrated as a festival called ‘Tara Tarini Chaitra Jatra' at this hill shrine. Over a lakh devotees thronged to this hill shrine on the first Tuesday of Chaitra.

A new ghat road to the hill top was also opened for devotees. Apart from the road communication there is also a ropeway to the hilltop. But most of the devotees who visited the hill shrine on Tuesday preferred to trek to the hill top rather than opting for easier modes of travel. As per Pramod Panda, secretary of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), special buses have been arranged to transport devotees to the hill top, yet devotees including the aged, women and children preferred to climb 999 holy steep steps to reach the hill shrine. Around 95 per cent of the devotees preferred to climb to the hilltop. Flow of devotees continued from 4 a.m. when the gates of the temple were opened. It continued till evening. The TTDB authorities arranged medical facilities. A village fair also came up at the foot hill. Devotional cultural programmes continued at the hilltop and downhill. 

This year, the almost complete new temple of this hill shrine attracted the visitors. According to TTDB authorities, the date for the ritualistic inauguration ceremony of the new temple would be decided a meeting to be held Thursday. Twelve senior Vedic pundits from all the nine traditional taluks of Ganjam district will attend the meeting. 

Source: The Hindu

New chairman of Tara Tarini Development Board takes charge

Tara Tarini Hill Shrine, Berhampur, Odisha 

The new Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern Division, Odisha, Shri Laxmi Narayan Nayak has taken over the charge of new chairmanship of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB), on March 16. The Board is considered as one of the prominent temple administrative bodies of Odisha after the Jagannath Temple administration, Puri.

The prehistoric Tara Tarini hill shrine is believed to be the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Adi Shakti and as one amongst the four major ancient Shakti shrines in India. TTDB was formed in the year 2003 for the development of the hill shrine. After the formation of TTDB the shrine got the much needed attention along with infrastructure. As per the convention of the Board, Shri Nayak who has recently joined as the new RDC, Southern Division has taken over charges from the outgoing RDC and the Chairman of TTDB Shri Chandra Sekhar Kumar. On this occasion the TTDB office bearers, members and the temple administration while congratulating Shri Nayak expressed the hope that the Hill Shrine will become a great center of religious and tourist importance like Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu & Kashmir and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh under his chairmanship.

After taking over the charge Shri Nayak visited the holy shrine and discussed the status of the 2nd phase of work, which is going on in full pace. Board secretary, Executive officer TTDB and other Board Members tabled the draft of the 2nd phase of work. It was agreed that the Board would ensure the completion of the ongoing projects like the widening of Ghat road and unfinished first phase work of the main temple complex before the commencement of the forthcoming Chaitra Mela, which was visited by more than 20 lakh devotees last year during the month of Chaitra.

It is worth mentioning that the second phase work of the temple which is presently underway includes the following projects;

•Construction of, four side-temples, boundary wall and outer protection wall / river side retaining wall to check land sliding and soil erosion at the hilltop.

•Construction of administrative office, Mundan shade and Bhog Bazaar on the hilltop.

•Construction of a big public utilities complex.

•Construction of waiting hall for the Rope-way on the hilltop.

•Further development of Arial Rope-way.

•Construction of huge parking space at the hilltop.

•Flood lighting arrangements at the hilltop and inside the temple premises. Lighting arrangement on the 999 holy stone steps and road   leading to the Hilltop from Tara Tarini junction.

•Further widening of stone steps and ghat road leading to the hill top.

•Maintenance of eco-system in and around the sacred hill by huge plantation in its nearby areas.

•Construction of a hospital, a residential school and training centre for the physically challenged etc.

In the mean time the traditional ritualistic inaugural ceremony of the new temple of Tara Tarini hill shrine which was scheduled to be held on March 03 -09, has been deferred. The new chairman of TTDB in consultation with the Vedic pundits will decide the new date for this ceremony on 24th March. Decision to defer the inauguration ceremony was taken at a meeting of Vedic pundits. Twelve senior Vedic pundits from all the nine traditional taluks of Ganjam district have been invited to the March 24th meeting convened by the TTDB. Among others, TTDB Vice President and Ganjam Collector, office bearers, members of the technical committee, members of TTDB and senior officials of government of Odisha and district administration will participate. In this meeting the new Chairman will also review the progress of on-going works, including the dedicated bus service to the hill shrine from Berhampur city and other towns of the district, construction of a bus Stand on the foot hill, permanent accommodation facility for the visitors on the foot hill and about the decision of the Ministry of Law govt. of Orissa to recover all the donated cultivated and uncultivated land (Around 600 acres of land in various parts of the state) on the lines of Jagannath Temple, Puri.

New Tara Tarini temple opening deferred

Maa Tara Tarini Temple Main Gate

BERHAMPUR: Traditional ritualistic inaugural ceremony of the new temple of Tara Tarini hill shrine which was scheduled to be held on March 03 -09, has been deferred.

As per the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) new date for this ceremony would be decided on March 24. Decision to defer the inauguration ceremony was taken at a meeting of Vedic pundits from different parts of Ganjam district. Twelve senior Vedic pundits from all the nine traditional taluks of Ganjam district were invited to this meeting convened by the TTDB which was also attended by the chairman of the board, Chandrasekhar Kumar, who also happens to be the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division and Vice President of TTDB and Ganjam Collector V.K.Pandian.

Source: The Hindu Photo Source: Trekearth.com

Pratistha Utsav of Grand temple at Tara Tarini to be held in March

Tara Tarini temple, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha 

Traditional ritualistic inaugural ceremony of the grand netemple dedicated to Adi Shakti Maa Tara Tarini will be held from March 03-09, 2011. This was decided at a general body meeting of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) held at Tara Tarini Hill shrine. The Law and Rural Development Minister, Government of Odisha Shri Bikram Keshari Arukh presided over the meeting. Ganjam District Collector andw Vice President of TTDB, Shri V. Kartikeyan Pandian, Secretary TTDB Shri Pramod Panda and other office bearers of TTDB, members of the Technical committee TTDB and senior officials of Government of Odisha were present on the occasion.

It is believed that Taratarini Sthana Pitha (Breast Shrine) is one of the ancient most and among the four major Shakti centers in India. It bears a history of not less then 5000 years. After the formation of the Tara Tarini Development Board the oldest Shakti Shrine got the much needed attention and owing to that in the last 7 years the number of pilgrims visiting to the shrine has gone up significantly. Last year more than 20 lakh devotees and tourists visited the hill shrine during the famous Chaitra Yatra in the month of Chaitra. The new temple on the hilltop replacing the old temple of 18th Century, built by one of the historic and iconic figures in the religious history of Odisha Shri Basu Praharaj, is being built as part of the measures initiated to transform the hill shrine into a major religious- tourist destination of the Country. It is important to mention that during its more than 5000 years old history the temple has come up again and again.The new temple is unique as it is a modern temple completely built adhering to the tenets of ancient Odishan temple architecture. Construction of the temple started in 2003.

It is a ‘Rekha' style temple and bears intricate carvings. Sculptor Padmavibhusan Raghunath Mohapatra was the master architect of this modern temple built up in ancient form. Its major building material was sandstone which was abundantly used in the ancient temples of Orissa. Like the traditional temples, large black granite slabs were used as lintels for the new temple. These black granite slabs were procured from Buguda region of Ganjam district. The finishing work of the construction is on and within next one-and-half months total construction work of the main temple will be completed.

The new Rekha style temple at the hill shrine has an elevation of about 68 ft. above the hilltop. The sandstone slabs used for the construction of the temple were procured from Ganjam and Nayagarh districts. To cater to the needs of lakhs of visitors and to improve the communication facility on the lines of Tirupati and Vaishno Devi Hill Shrines the work on the new ghat road to the hill top is also under way.

The new road will be less steep and wider than the existing old road. The road is being laid at a cost of Rs. 5 crores by the Rural Development Department of government of Odisha. Another ring road is also being laid around the Tara Tarini hill Shrine. These new on going projects are also scheduled to be completed by the end of February, 2011 much before the commencement of the famous Chaitra Festival.