Kolkata-based Speciality Group of Restaurants, a leading restaurant chain in the country, plans to introduce its restaurant brands like Oh! Calcutta, Sigree and Machaan in Orissa by March 2010.
The group is also exploring the possibility of opening standalone restaurants that would exclusively serve the Oriya delicacies.
Specialiy Group, which is run by more than 2,500 people, has set up the Mainland Institute of Oriental Catering in Kolkata keeping in view the group’s increasing requirement for hospitality professionals to meet its expansion plans.
The group is also keen on setting up an institute in Bhubaneswar. … China restaurant in the city is the 53 rd restaurant opened by the Speciality Group of Restaurants. It is the second restaurant of the group in the city after Haka.
Mainland China is the flagship brand of the Speciality Group with 17 standalone outlets in the country. This restaurant is present in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nashik and Baroda.
The other restaurant brands of the Speciality Group include Sweet Bengal, Just Biriyani and Mostly Kabab.
An Economic Times news report mentions that Mainland China is opening at Hotel Crown. Following are some excerpts.
Speciality Restaurants [SRPL] the country’s largest chain of fine dining eateries of reputed brands on Monday will open Mainland China – the flagship brand of the group with 23 standalone outlets in the country, at the Crown Hotel, here.
Though the Group has already got its footprints here with the opening of Haka – one of it’s ‘casual dining’ brand, the Mainland China is all set to offer exotic Chinese delicacies at an affordable price.
“Bhubaneswar is the much happening state capital in the east. The opening of Mainland China will go a long way to satisfy food connoisseurs looking for vast spread of rare delicacies from the varied regions of China. We have an ambitious plan to open at least half-a-dozen restaurants in the state capital, Puri and other small towns with an investment of about Rs 15 crore”, SRPL founder Anjan Chatterjee on Sunday told “The ET”.
It also plans to invest abut Rs 50 crore for an entertainment and food park near the Infocity here. The company has already acquired one and half acre land from the state government.
… Meanwhile, SRPL has set an ambitious target of investing around Rs 200-250 crore through both the organic and inorganic routes to become a 100-resturant company in the next one year from its present strength of 52 restaurants.
It also has firmed up plans for backward integration in the form of trained manpower and food processing. Aware of shortage of skilled and trained manpower to manage restaurants in the country, Mr Chatterjee is planning to set up a Restaurant Management School here.
“We have a Speciality Catering College at Kolkata for our in-house requirements. I am looking for vertical knowledge based schools which can run one-year course to manage restaurants. Managing hotel and managing restaurants are two different things”, he observed.
… “We will first launch select ready to cook Mainland China poly packs followed by ready to eat food. We have identified Khurda Food Processing Zone, near Bhuabneswar for packaged food items”, Mr Chatterjee reveals saying that the expansion plan will be funded througha mix of debt and equity.
I finally decided to visit the Chandaka-Dampada Sanctuary which is adjacent to Bhubaneswar. We entered the sanctuary through the Godibari gate.
The above sign was visible from the road.
The above is the outer gate to the sanctuary.
The inner gate is beautifully made.
As soon as you enter the gate the above is the view of the forest with a dirt road bisecting it.
Looking back at the gate one can see the moat and the mechanism to prevent the elephants to get out. However, the elephants do get in and out of the sanctuary through other gaps in the boundary moat.
The dirt road has signs to a few destination points; the first one being the Kumar Khunti watch tower.
On the way we pass through an old structure that was part of the fort of the local king.
The above is the view from the top of a watch tower looking towards the dirt road that took us there.
In the other direction there is a lake.
About 100 yards from the watch tower there is a man made salt mound to attract the elephants.
The watch tower is a four story structure with two bed rooms in each of the second and third floors. Guests can stay there overnight. We peeked at the bath room. They looked clean. Near the watch tower there are huts where some staffs stay. The staff bring water to the watch tower rooms and cook food for guests.
The above is a closer view of the salt mound.
Ambilo watchtower and Dampara gate are two other landmarks. Note the distance; 20 kms of forest road to the Ambilo watch tower. The whole sanctuary is 193 sq kms, almost as big as present day Bhubaneswar city limits.
With the dirt road giving us the view of only a very small part of the forest we did not see many animals. Above we saw a few jungle fowls.
We also saw a few jungle peacocks.
This is the lake made due to the Deras dam.
Near the lake there were nicer guest houses. The elephants don’t come here. Hence they are not elephant proof.
The view of the Deras lake is beautiful. But it was getting dark. So I could not take very many pictures.
As it was getting dark and we did not have plans to make an overnight stay, we could not visit the Ambilo tower. We got out through the Kantabada gate which is near the Dearas dam.
A new batch of special spots where humans are interacting with the rest of nature in sustainable ways have been named by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The 22 new biosphere reserves include a legend-laced mountain in North Korea and a fairly populous region of towns and surrounding green space in southern Germany — the most urbanized such reserve so far.
Worldwide there are now 533 biosphere reserves in 107 countries. The designation has no force of law, but is aimed at building and promoting a network of places where people are attempting to mesh human activity with biological and scenic assets.
…Nokrek, India, is a biological hotspot in the state of Meghalaya featuring undisturbed natural ecosystems and landscapes. Besides harbouring elephants, tigers, leopards and hollock gibbons, the area is also noted for its wild varieties of citrus fruit which may come to serve as a genepool for commercially produced citrus.
Pachmarhi, India, is located in the heart of India, in Madya Pradesh State, and includes tiger and other wildlife reserves. At the interface of several types of forest – tropical, moist and dry as well as sub-tropical hill forests – the area is considered a botanist’s paradise. Through their social and cultural traditions, local tribes contribute to conservation of the forest while drawing on a variety of resources for nutrition, agriculture and income generation.
Similipal, India, is a tiger reserve in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, which used to be the hunting ground of the Maharajah of Mayurbhanj. This tropical environment abounds with tigers, elephants, panthers, deer and numerous plant species, making it a living laboratory for environmental scientists. The area’s tribal inhabitants depend on agriculture, hunting and collection of forest products for their livelihoods but additional sources of income are badly needed to alleviate their poverty.
The authorities of the Wild Animal Conservation Centre (WACC) popularly known as “Deer Park”, are taking a humane approach to its inmates during this scorching summer.
Deer Park is located inside Sambalpur city in a sprawling area of 35 acres, and is home to nearly 210 animals of 19 different species.
“The utmost care has been taken to supply adequate water and shelter to animals inside this centre to improve their welfare during this hot summer. Of course the green coverage inside adds to their comfort; still we have made extra arrangements for sheds inside the centre,” said Mr DK Swain – the DFO (wildlife) of Sambalpur.
… The centre now houses 94 spotted deer, 10 Chausingha, four barking deer, eight bears, five pythons, one leopard, as well as monkeys, parrots, eagles, grey horn bills and other wild birds in good numbers. And all of them are paid due attention by a well experienced ranger, Mr Amulya Kumar Parida, the DFO said.
Since the WACC is a centre of attraction for the people of Sambalpur and neighbouring districts, a proposal to improve it further has been placed before the central zoo authority, Mr Parida. “We would like to increase the number of animals, and create a beautiful garden inside to attract tourists,” the DFO said, displaying a graph showing an increase in visitors. “Our main aim is to rescue and rehabilitate animals and breed them in captivity. We wish to make this centre one-of-a-kind in the country,” he added.
Kamat Hotels India Ltd (KHIL) is in the process of developing 600 additional rooms under ‘The Orchid’ brand across India. Presently, properties are under development in Nagpur, Coimbatore, Raipur and Konark. Upcoming properties will be set up at greenfield locations and will be entirely managed and operated under the KHIL banner.
“The Orchid brand will continue to grow through tier I and II locations across India. For KHIL’s premium brand, we plan to tap emerging markets for potential locations,” says Vishal Kamat, Director, KHIL to Hospitality Biz. KHIL will develop a 30 room all-suite hotel in Konark, Orissa and a 100 room hotel in Nagpur. The Coimbatore and Raipur properties are expected to come up with about 200 and 120 rooms, respectively. “KHIL has always positioned The Orchid as a business hotel and we are keen that we develop and manage hotels under this brand to maintain its exclusivity in the market. Unlike Concept Hospitality Ltd (CHL), which presently manages a few Orchid hotels in New Delhi, Kollam and Jalandhar, KHIL will not operate simply as a hotel management entity in the market,” clarifies Kamat.
The above Oriya delicacies are being currently offered at the Hotel Kalinga Ashok Bhubaneswar in their family restaurant ‘Phulbani’. Non- vegetarian thali meal is Rs 120 and vegetarian thali meal is Rs 100.
The grandeur of the majestic Konark Sun Temple in Orissa is set to be reflected in the new uniforms of Air India, with both cabin crew and ground staff, readying to don designer Ritu Beri’s fashionable creations.
"There is an endless wealth of decoration from minute patterns to boldly modelled free standing sculptures in the Sun Temple, which marks the foundation for the uniforms including saris and ties for men," says Beri who has been awarded the task to design the new uniforms.
"The wheels and arches of the temple are reflected in the print created. The saris depict the sun with rays going in all directions, inspired by the wheels of the Sun god’s chariot," Beri told PTI in an interview.
… "The endeavour was to combine our rich Indian colours and motifs from the temple with the powerful and more modern combination of black and white in the borders and the ‘pallu’ of the saris," says Beri.
Located in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
The Sixty Four Yoginis temple at Hirapur is a circular enclosure with a narrow doorway to the eastern side. The diameter of the enclosure is 7.62 meters or 25 feet and height of the wall on the paved floor inside is 1.87 metres or 6 feet 2 inches. Yogini was considered sacred, hence this temple was created. Inside the temple there are 60 niches and in every niche there is a figure of a Yogini. All the Yogini images stand and are carved on black chlorite stone.
Nandan Kanan National Park
Located in Chandaka Forests, 20km from Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.
The park is spread in about 4 sq.km. of area, while the wildlife
sanctuary is spread in around 5 sq. km. The park is home to more than 75 species of mammals and reptiles.The Nandan Kanan National park houses the very first captive gharial breeding centre of the country. Nandan Kanan justifies its literal meaning i.e. "Garden of Pleasure".
Lingaraja Bhubaneshwar Temple
Located in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
The Lingaraja temple is located in a spacious courtyard covering
over 250000 sq feet and is bounded by fortified walls. Its tower rises up to 180 feet and is elaborately carved. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Lingam here is unique which is a harihara lingam -half Shiva and half Vishnu.
Built by Yayati Kesari in the 7th century. This temple is dedicated to Tribhubaneshwar or the Lord of Three Worlds. The Lingaraja temple is about 1000 years old.
Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves
The caves are located atop the twin hills known as Udayagiri
(meaning the hill of the sunrise) and Khandagiri (meaning the
broken hill) which rise abruptly from the coastal plain, about 6km
West of Bhubaneswar, separated by a highway. Udaygiri caves are approximately 135 ft high and Khandagiri caves are 118 ft high.
The main attraction of these caves consists of its stupendous carvings. Of all the caves in Udaygiri, the largest one is the Rani Gumpha or the Queens Cave. The origin of the rock cut caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri dates back to the 2nd century BC.
The caves are reminiscent of influence of Buddhism and Jainism in Orissa. The inscription and carvings on the walls show that they once served as Jain Monasteries.
Raghurajpur Craftsman Village
Located 14 kms from Puri in Orissa. The village is inhabited by artisans producing sheer poetry on pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaf or paper. 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. The village has a community of artisans who produce different verities of handicraft items like pata paintings, palm leaf
engravings, stone carvings, wooden toys and mask, wood carving, wooden toys, cow-dung toys, tusser paintings, etc.
Puri Beach
Located on Shores of Bay of Bengal, at a mere distance of 35 kms from the Sun Temple and 65 kms from Bhubaneshwar. Pilgrims from all over India visit Puri to take a dip in the holy water of the rolling waves which is considered religious. It is renowned for the sand sculptures created particularly by the internationally famed Sudarshan Patnaik. Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath and considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage destinations. The beach is a festive place where people come to relax and be entertained. It serves as the venue of the Puri Beach Festival.
Sun Temple, Konark
Situated at a distance from the famous religious and tourist centre of Puri (35 Km.) and the capital city of Bhubaneswar (65 Km). The entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twenty four wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. The Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy and the rhythm of
life all it`s wondrous variety. It was built by King Raja Narasinghs Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty in the thirteenth century. It is a temple to Surya, the sun God.
Chilika Lake
Chilika Lake (also called Chilka lake) is a brackish water coastal lake in India`s Orissa state, south of the mouth of the Mantei River.
The area of the lake varies from 1165 km sq. in the monsoon season to 906 km sq. in the dry season, and is studded with numerous small islands. The lake is an important habitat and breeding ground for both
resident and migratory and aquatic birds, most notably flamingoes.
The lake was formed due to the silting action of the Mantei River
which drains into the northern end of the lake, and the northerly
currents in the Bay of Bengal, which have formed a sandbar along the eastern shore leading to the formation of a shallow lagoon.
The main attractions inside the lake are Kalijai Island, Honeymoon Island, Breakfast Island, Birds Island, Nalabana (Island of Reeds) and Parikud Island.
The Other Five sites in Orissa:
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles
Found in the Indian Ocean along the Bay of Bengal is Orissa. Average weight of the turtles is just over 100 lb (up to 50 kgs). They have a high-domed shell, with a carapace length of only 30 inches (70 cms). Olive Ridleys are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, shrimp, rock lobsters, sea grasses, snails, fish, sessile, pelagic tunocates and small invertebrates. The Orissa coast is one of the three sites worldwide where mass nesting of the olive ridley turtle occurs. This sea turtle is especially known for its mass nesting when several thousand turtles migrate to the breeding ground to mate and nest simultaneously. Hindu mythology worships sea turtles as an incarnation of one their gods. Over the past five years, sea turtles have suffered mass mortality along the Orissa coast due to death by drowning as incidental catch in trawl- fishing nets. About 5000 to 10,000 dead turtles have been washed ashore each year, a total of over 100,000 in the last ten years.
Sitabinji Caves
Situated on River Sita, 30 km from Keonjhar. The structure is like a half opened umbrella. It depicts a royal procession.
It has gained prominence for the ancient fresco painting on a rock shelter called “Ravan Chhaya”.
Khandadhar Waterfall is located amidst the forest of Sundergarh (specific location is Nandapani). The Khandadhar Falls is categorized as a horsetail waterfall. The falls appear to be located on a smaller watercourse, though are said to be perennial.
During the monsoon months the water from the Koprani Nala, a rivulet, overflows and it drops down as a fall from a height of 800 feet.
This waterfall because of its height is visible from a distance of about 5 kilometres.
Located 15 km from Sambalpur, Orissa. The Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. The dam regulates the flow of the Mahanadi River and produces hydroelectricity through several hydroelectric plants. Hirakund dam is about 4.8 km long, bordered by earthen dykes on its left as well as right. Built in 1956, the dam is the world`s largest earthen dam. The dam helps control floods in the Mahanadi delta and irrigates 7,500,000 hectares of land. Hirakud dam was the first post- independence river valley project in India.
Sleeping Vishnu Temple
The sleeping statue of Lord Vishnu is situated in Bhimkund, at a distance of about 28 kilometres from Talcher. The sleeping image of Vishnu at Bhimkund is second only to Gomateswar (Karnataka) in size. It has the honour of being the largest sleeping image in India.
In spite of its magnanimity, image contains a natural softness. The period of its creation is believed to be 8th-9th century AD.
… In India, just five natural sites have been accorded the WHS status. Manas, Kaziranga, Keoladeo, Sundarbans and Valley of Flowers – all national parks – have made it to the list between 1985 and 1988. No natural site has made into the list after that.
Currently, the Sun Temple at Konark is the only site in Orissa to have been accorded the elite WHS status. The Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri was proposed but in vain.
This time around, the Government of India has chosen seven natural sites to be projected before Unesco. Deserts have made it to the list this year.
It is Bhitarkanika’s unique eco-system that has worked in its favour. After Sunderbans, it is home to the second largest mangrove forest in India.
The wetland, one of India’s finest coastal ecosystems, is home to the country’s biggest salt water crocodiles. The latest crocodile census has put their number at over 1,500. Besides, it possesses Gahirmatha, largest nesting ground for Olive Ridley turtles in the world.
However, much depends on the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, which is entrusted with the responsibility of presenting the case of the natural sites before Unesco. In fact, role of IUCN too would come to play during selection in case of natural sites.
In view of its exquisite flora and fauna, the State Government had notified it as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975. The sanctuary spreads over 672 sq km. In 1998, the core area of Bhitarkanika consisting of 145 sq. km was declared a national park.
The area was accorded the status of Ramsar site of International Importance in 2002 in view of its unique and fragile biodiversity. A proposal to notify it as a biosphere is underway.
Widely acclaimed for its biodiversity in flora and fauna, it is the second largest compact mangrove ecosystem in India. It is also a Sanctuary and National Park. Extending over more than six hundred square kilometres, it is one of the very few evergreen repository of most luxuriant mangrove vegetation in the world. More than sixty varieties of mangrove plants are found here which provide home to a variety of rare and endangered species. The pneumatophores, better known as breathing roots, stand like sentries of the land.
Bounded by rivers on the three sides and the sea on the fourth, Bhitarkanika is criss crossed by numerous creeks and canals which finally meet the sea and make the estuarine delta, the playground of the Bay of Bengal. When the tide enters, the forest floats and the water kisses the foliage. As it recedes, the multi layer mud flats on the banks of the creeks expose their bosom with fiddler crabs, mud skipper fish, little reptiles and the like. it’s a sight to watch.
This deltaic region comprises a couple of tiny islands formed by the meandering creeks. With Dangmal at the centre stage (the others being Ekakula, Habalikhati etc), Bhitarakanika is a natural habitat of a lot of wild creatures like Crocodiles, King Cobra, Pythons, Wild Pigs, Rhesus Monkey, Sambars, Spotted Deer etc. There. is a Crocodile Breeding Farm at Dangmal. The pride possession of this Farm is the White Crocodile Sankhua, a rare species in the World.
Over 170 species of resident and migratory birds of different hue enhance the beauty of the wild. Prominent among them are King Fisher, Open billed Storks, Sea Eagles, Kites, Sand Pipers, Darters, Whistling Teals, Sea Gulls, etc. The chirping of birds nesting at Baga Gahana is sure to leave an indelible impression in any body’s mind. Watching the wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising through the creeks is a thrilling experience. A trek on the laid out routes will also be equally rewarding.
Another amazing phenomenon of nature here is the visit of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles to Gahirmatha in lakhs twice every year between January and March to lay eggs en masse.
An unexpected additional attraction is the remains of tw 9th century monument – a temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and the other, a Shakti Shrine at Dangmal.
Away from the blinding lights and deafening sound, Bhitarakanika is a different world altogether, a real retreat in the lap of nature. Once in here, the world outside will virtually disappear. Back in work place, the memory will haunt like a fairy tale.
Entry Points :
Permission to visit Bhitarakanika can be obtained from Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar, PIN : 754225, Ph: (06729) 72460 or Assistant Conservator of Forests, Chandbali, Pin . 756133, Ph: (06786) 20372 on payment of prescribed fees.
Best season to visit – October to June.
Approach : Bhitarakanika can be approached only through water ways. Most convenient entry points being –
* Chandbali (60 km from Bhadrak and 190 km from Bhubaneswar)
* Rajnagar (30 km from Kendrapara and 130 km from Bhubaneswar)
* Gupti (25 km from Rajnagar)
Motor boats are available on hire
Rajnagar to Dangmal – 3 hrs
Chandbali to Dangmal – 3 hrs
Gupti to Dangmal – 1.5 hrs
Regular bus service are available to Chandbali and Rajnagar.
Nearest Rail head –
* Bhadrak (60 km from Chandbali)
* Balasore (110 km from Chandbali)
* Cuttack (110 km from Rajnagar)
* Bhubaneswar (190 km from Chandbali and 130 km from Rajnagar)
Update2: Following is from a Pioneer report about Medicinal Plant’s garden in Patrapada.
At the Patrapada Medicinal Plants’ Garden, presently consisting of 50 species of bamboo trees, another 100 species of bamboos from across the globe will be planted.
CM Naveen Patnaik planted a Budha Belly bamboo sapling at the garden on Tuesday. He advised the high authorities of the Forest Department to develop the garden so that it can attract even international visitors.
It may be mentioned here that the garden is constructed over a land of 150 acres.
INDIRA GANDHI PARK(The old parade ground in front of the Secretariat and assembly)
Indira Gandhi Park was developed over an area of 10.60 acres of land. It is centrally located infront of Orissa Secretariat and State Assembly. Indira Gandhi Park was previously the parade ground of Bhubaneswar city, and is the place where Late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi delivered her last public speech on 30th October, 1984. The park was dedicated to the public with a statue of Smt. Indira Gandhi designed and sculptured by Russian sculptor Mr. Dimitry Ryebachev and Alexander Ryebachev.
BIJU PATTNAIK PARK (Earlier called Forest Park)
Biju Pattnaik park is located in front of Capital Hospital , Unit – 6. Biju Pattnaik park has a lot of forest species, ornamental trees, flowering and foliage shrubs with a view to provide a forest in the centre of the city. A statue of one of the greatest leaders of Orissa and former Chief Minister Late Biju Pattnaik was unveiled in the park on 5th March, 2002 by Sri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa and the then Union Minister Steel & Mines Sj. Ram Vilas Paswan on theauspicious occasion of Biju Pattnaik Jayanti. The park covers an area of 22.00 Ac. Of land. Multiple jogging track, colourful fountain, children play corners, rosarium, rockeries etc are the main attractions of the park.
MAHATMA GANDHI PARK (Just north of Swosti Plaza hotel)
Mahatma Gandhi park has been developed by Bhubaneswar Development Authority on a part of 27.00 Ac of Janta Maidan. The park has landscape lawn, rockeries, fountain & stream jogging track, lighting system etc. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi sitting in the prayer position is very attractive and a number of visitors coming to Bhubaneswar pay their homage to the Father of the Nation.
After Kalinga War Buddhisim in Orissa took a new dimension in propagating various aspects of Buddhism for human development. In view of this Bhubaneswar occupies a special position in the history of Buddhism in entire Asia . To up-keep this great history of Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar Development Authority has developed Buddha Jayanti Park at Chandra Sekhar Pur over an area of 44.00 Ac. The park is located at a high elevation & one side of the park is the boundary of Chandaka natural Forest . A part of the park is developed with lake, plantation, Buddha Stupa, pathways, host of trees & shrubs etc. The park was inaugurated by Shri Naveen Pattnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa on 5th May, 2001 with a vision to make the park a tourist place.
Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Park (Where NH5 crosses the Railway line near Vanivihar)
Nehru Park (Near the station)
Other Parks and park like nature areas:
Nandan Kanan zoo and botanical garden – has entrance fees
Regional Plant Resource Center – has entrance fees
City center park (formerly BDA-NICCO park) – has entrance fees
Khandagiri – Udaygiri
Spice garden around Bindusagar lake – no entrance fees
Sikharchandi hill – no entrance fees
Chandaka – Dampada elephant sanctuary – has entrance fees
FUTURE PARKS
DhauliPeace Park
The Government of Orissa has taken a decision to develop a park around Dhauli Peace Pagoda to spread the message of peace & tranquility to mankind. The Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has entrusted the work to BDA for which funds have already been sanctioned. The “Heritage Wall” that is proposed to be constructed around the Peace Pagoda will showcase the rich art & craft of Orissa apart from imparting beauty to the structure and preventing trespassing. A number of medicinal plants, flowering trees, shrubs including saplings of foliage will be planted around the park. An amphitheatre will run programmes to attract tourists and visitors. Provision for parking of vehicles, rest rooms, cafeteria etc. will be provided for the convenience of visitors.
Guru Kelucharan Park
It will be developed at Gadakana over an area of 21.00 Ac (approx). Conceptual drawing and other preliminary ground work have been completed for the project.
Horticulture Wing in Bhubaneswar Development Authority has started functioning from April, 1987. The Wing has developed and maintaining 51 nos. of parks & open spaces in and around Bhubaneswar City , Khurda & Jatni. The major parks are:
Indira Gandhi park
Bijupattnaik park
Dr. Shyamprasad Mukharjee park
Jawaharlal Neheru park
Jayaprakash Narayan park
Mahatma Gandhi park
Buddha Jayanti park
Kharvela park
Netaji Subash Bose park and
Panchasakha parks at M.L.A Colony
In addition to these there are colony parks like:
N-1 park, Nayapalli
N-2 park (Raju Bhaya park), Nayapalli,
N-3 park, Nayapalli
Pallashpalli park
Kapilprasad park
BJB Nagara parks
Sahid Nagar parks
Bhoinagar park and
Baramunda H.B Colony park are also developed by BDA
The parks provided with garden lighting system are open to public in the evening, they are:
Dr. Shyamprasad Mukharjee park,
Buddha Jayanti park
Bijupattnaik park
Panchasakha Park
Indira Gandhi park
N-1 park, Nayapalli
N-2 park(Raju Bhaya park), Nayapalli
N-3 park,Nayapalli
Indradhanu Market park
Netaji park and
Mahatma Gandhi park
All these parks are opened to public from 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM & 5.00 AM to 8.00 AM. These parks are provided with pathways, jogging track, benches etc. to facilitate morning & evening visitors, Bijupattnaik park, N-2 park, Nayapalli and Kudiary park at Jatni are also provided with children play equipiments. All these parks are beautifully created parks with landscape lawn, shrubbery, flower beds, trees, rosarium, hedges, water bodies, sprinkler system and two parks have Sulabha Souchalaya & public convenience. At Indira Gandhi park & Bijupattnaik park visitors can park their vehicle by paying usual parking fee.
Horticulture Wing also give permission for commercial shooting at different parks @ Rs. 2000/- per day. BDA has also developed a large public meeting place at Janta Maidan in front of NALCO Head Office at Chandrasekharpur over an area of about 22.00 Ac. The ground rent for booking of Janta Maidan to hold any public meetings/ conference, exhibition is Rs. 15,000/- (Rupees fifteen thousand) only per day for the entire field. Organisations can also book Maidan big patch @ Rs10,000/- per day & small patch @ Rs. 5,000/- per day.
BDA Horticulture Wing has also developed a nursery at Laxmisagar, Bhubaneswar where a number of seasonal plants, sapplings are propagated. The annual production capacity of nursery is about 50,000 sapplings of different trees, shrubs, forest species etc. Seasonal saplings are produced more than two lakhs per annunm. Sapplings are sold to the public at very reasonable price. During monsoon, sapplings are also provided to NGOs, Residential Welfare Associations, Municipalities, public and private institutions, Schools and Colleges etc. at free of cost with prior approval of authority.
Spencer’s Retail Limited launched its first store in the State, in the capital city on Friday. Company’s vice-president (Operation) and business head (East) Mohit Kampani opened the store at Pal Heights.
The outlet would offer a wide range of merchandise in food and grocery, fruits, vegetables, electrical and electronics, home and office essentials, garments and fashion accessories, toys and personal care items, imported food products and a speciality section and international cuisine like Thai, Chinese and Italian organic foods counter and fish and meat counter.
Spencer’s Retail Limited also plans to open another store in Bhubaneswar by the end of March.
The State Government today decided to develop Puri as a mega tourism circuit with an investment of Rs 50 crore.
An outlay of Rs 30 crore will be made in the next budget for the project that includes improvement of Badadanda (grand road), beautification of Puri town and sea beach, dynamic lighting system of Jagannath temple and Gundicha temple, development of parks and parking lots and construction of a tourist complex.
The high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also decided to give a facelift to the peripheral areas of Puri, a major tourist attraction.
At Satapada, a sunset viewpoint and a park will be developed. There will be tourist jetty at Sipaguda and Rajahansa, official sources said. Plans are afoot to paint the buildings lined up on both sides of the Badadanda with a unique colour to give an added attraction to the Puri town. This will be done in consultation with various stakeholders.
While additional parking places for vehicles will be created in various parts of the city, arrangements will be made to ease out traffic during festivals like Rath Yatra. There will be three interchanging nodes within the town to evacuate traffic. It has been proposed to set up a multi-media museum called Srikhetra Sankrutika Sangrahalay. Vending zones will be set up on the sea beach to keep it clean and free from pollution.
Special board and lodging arrangements will be made for tourists. A few tourist complexes will be developed in various locations.
It has been estimated that about 34 lakh out of 52 lakh tourists coming to the State every year visit Puri.
The Kolkata-based Shyam Group has joined hands with another local company Century Plyboards India Ltd and floated Puri Ports Ltd to launch a port at Baliharchandi, about 40 km from Puri (Orissa), the Business Line reported.
About 3,500 acres of land has been identified for the proposed port project and a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa Government is to be signed shortly.
The Ministry of Tourism’s clearance would be required because, as it was pointed out, a cruise terminal would be an important component of the proposed port.
The first phase of the proposed port, to be complete with four berths including the cruise terminal and an industrial park.
The Kolkata-based Shyam Group is planning to set up an integrated minor port in Orissa for which IIT Chennai has been engaged to prepare the detailed project report, Deepakk Goyal, Executive Director of Shyam Steel, said.
The diversified Shyam Group which has interests in cement, power and steel is hopeful of signing a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa Government by January 2009, according to company sources. After signing the MoU, the company will approach the Coastal Regulatory Zone for its approval.
In the first phase, the project will entail an investment of between Rs. 1,800 crore and Rs. 2,000 crore and a capacity of 12 million tonnes annually which includes a four-berth port, two dedicated cruise terminals and a wood-based industrial park. The ultimate capacity will be between 30 million tonnes and 40 million tonnes and the implementation may have to be done in three phases.
The site that has been identified for the project is Baliharchandi, which is south of Puri and north of Chilika Lake. Around 3,500 acres has been set apart for the project. The land is proposed to be acquired through the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Company and the project is to be completed within 24 months of land acquisition.
Shyam Steel, which is the third-largest stakeholder in Century Plywood, has already formed an equal joint venture with Century. The company is called Puri Port Ltd. The cargo will be clean cargo like wood and export-cargo of steel and import-cargo of raw materials.
The monastery, being built since December 2003, is all set to push the “little Tibet” —where 3,000-odd immigrants have made their home for the past five decades — on the international tourism map.
After living together for years and growing vegetables, maize, rice and pulses, the Tibetan refugees roped in about 200 artisans from Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet to build the beautiful complex with plated statues, elaborate frescoes and expensive silk hangings in the hill in Gajapati district, about 300km from Bhubaneswar.
The refugees — for whom arrangements were made by the government during the Chinese aggression in 1959 — have renamed Chandragiri as “Phuntsokling” meaning “land of happiness and plenty”.
“This place already attracts a good number of foreign tourists, especially Buddhist pilgrims. With the monastery being completed, we expect over 10 times the present inflow,” said said Khenpo Pema, in-charge of the monastery. “We have been trying to convince the government to facilitate in promoting this place in a bigger way,” he added.
The Rs 7-crore structure is spread over15 acres and will not just serve religious purposes but also double as an educational institution on Buddhist philosophy. “Our ancestors had been planning a monastery for long but arranging funds were difficult then,” said Pema. Facilities for accommodation have been arranged with a 10-suite guesthouse at the monastery where a shopping complex would also be opened.
“Tibetan refugees are highly religious. We will soon be recognised as an ace religious institution too,” said Pema, adding that classes for around 200 wannabe lamas from Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had already started.
The complex is spread across mediation hall, administrative quarters, assembly hall of lamas, chapels, shrines and a vast library of Buddhist scriptures. The architecture of the monastery represents the Tibetan style designed with frescoes out of Buddhist scriptures. The huge golden statue of Buddha presides in the monastery with statues of Lord Padmasambhaba and Lord Avalokiteswara on either side. “We have ensured that it has all the flavours of Tibetan architecture,” said Jaampa, the chief architecture.
Oxford Bookstore opened its first outlet in Bhubaneswar here on Friday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled the bookstore located at Pal Heights.
He signed books penned by his sister Gita Mehta and interacted with the children. Naveen also said he would return to browse the books at the store soon.The premium bookstore chain’s first outlet in State Capital is located over 1500 sqft and would share space with Cha Bar which offers select brews from all significant tea growing regions of the world.Priti Paul, Director Apeejay Surrendra Group of which Oxford is a retail arm said the store will offer a vast range of books for all ages and interests including a large selection from Orissa and Oriya writers. An entire section will be dedicated to books connected to Orissa and the best in India as well as international publishing. Among others, Law Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan was also present.
TheGovernment has approved the take over of eight new forest areas under its flagship programmeProject Tiger in the country. An allocation of Rs. 32.00 crores has been estimated for tiger conservation in new Tiger Reserve areas during the XIth Five Year Plan period. Udanti and SitaNadiWildlife Sanctuary in Chattisgarh will be the largest among new reserves with 1580sq.km. area.Anamalai -Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuaries covers area of 1410 sq km area spread over two states, Tamilnadu and Kerala.
Annexure
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED NEW TIGER RESERVES
Sl. No.
Name of the proposed new Tiger Reserve
State
Area
(in sq. km.)
1.
Anamalai -Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuaries
Tamil Nadu & Kerala
1410
2.
Udanti and SitaNadi Wildlife Sanctuaries
Chattisgarh
1580
3.
Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary
Orissa
988.30
4.
KazirangaNational Park
Assam
916.67
5.
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chattisgarh
963.274
6.
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and AnshiNational Park
Karnataka
875.84
7.
SanjayNational Park and Sanjay Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary
A major initiative to support and mobilise Orissa’s filigree artisans is on the cards.
The initiative, involving both the central and the state governments, would be launched under the Union government’s circuit development scheme. The project would be linked with the tourism sector in the state as plans are afoot to set up a “Silver Filigree Centre” at Mundasahi on the banks of Mahanadi river near here under the aegis of the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).
Official sources said the project was conceived to identify the filigree potential in Cuttack and to ensure that artisans were not quitting their profession. An official survey had revealed that most of the silver filigree artisans wanted to sustain their skills provided it offers them benefit.
“The idea of setting up the Silver Filigree Centre at Mundasahi has been planned to link Tarkashi or silver filigree and tourism. The filigree centre will allow the tourists to go to a place showcasing the artisans’ work,” Cuttack collector Kishore Kumar Mohanty told The Telegraph.
“Funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore from the Union government under its Circuit Development Scheme will be used to make the project a reality,” the Cuttack collector said, adding that the district administration had demarcated a three acre plot for the project. “The allotment of the land for it is under process,” he said.
Sources in OTDC said the initiative to give a fillip to the Cuttack Tarkashi art form involves identification of traditional artisans, bringing them under one roof and setting up infrastructure for live demonstration of the intricate method involved in the silver filigree work with a product sale facility. The proposed centre also envisages food, recreational facility and amusement park for children.
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