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Hanuman Vatika Rourkela Orissa
Rourkela, the capital city of Orissa, is synonymous with the production of steel and the name brings to the mind the country’s only steel plant that indulges in the production of straight steel sheets and other products. Nestled in the steel city of Rourkela is the pilgrim site of Veda Vyas where the two rivers Sankha and Khoel flow and merge into one. The region also has an old style Gurukul school in this place apart from the many temples and the huge Hanuman statue that is located here. The city is well known as a religious spot and continues to receive a good flow of tourists all through the year.
Origin
The Hanuman Vatika which can be translated as the garden of Hanuman was built in 1994. Late veteran leader Biju Patnaik, who was serving as the Chief Minister of the state of Orissa was the one who inaugurated this garden for the benefit of the tourists. The garden sprawls over thirteen acres and houses many temples in addition to the mammoth statue of Lord Hanuman. The statue is 75 feet tall and stands towering above the commoners in a posture that he is blessing them. There are tourists who come to visit the statue all through the day and the devotees believe that Lord Hanuman is a God who grants the boon of his devotees.
Major Attractions
Statue of Lord Hanuman
This is one of the tallest Hanuman statues in the entire country and stands at 75 feet. Every year in February, this temple sees grand celebrations on account of the foundation day. The other festivals celebrated in the temple include Maha Shivaratri, Ram Navami and Ratha Yatra. Lord Hanuman is standing in a posture where he is blessing his devotees abundantly and granting them their boons. He stands on a pedestal majestically with one hand in the blessing pose and the other on his weapon the gadha – which rests at his foot. The statue is surrounded by many temples in the vicinity and these temples add to the value of the Vatika even more. Though the first of the efforts to build the statue came from Mr. Dillip Roy, the Hanuman Vatika trust has helped develop the gardens into attractive tourist spot. Earlier Laxman Swamy from Hyderabad has been the key person behind the construction of the idol.
Temples in the Hanuman Vatika
The Ram temple that has the idols of Shri Ram, Laxman and Sita, a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman himself, a temple in the name of the Lord Jagannath can all be seen at the front end of the garden. The next is the temple dedicated to Mahalaxmi, who is considered to be the goddess of wealth, followed by temples dedicated to Mother Vimala and Sarala. The other temples that dot the garden include the one dedicated to Radha Krishna, the most adorable and lovable form of Lord Krishna with his consort Radha and the temples dedicated to Mother Parvati and Santoshi Maa also attract a long queue of pilgrims. The other important temple inside the Hanuman Vatika is the Jyotirlinga shrine which has all the twelve Shiv linga from across the country under one roof. This is also a major attraction for the tourists who come to visit this place.
Where to Eat
As this is a popular tourist spot, tourists can find eateries that offer anything from the western pizzas to the more oriental foods. There are dhabas on the sidewalks offering mouthwatering yet affordable food for the tourists. There is good quality vegetarian food that is offered by many mid-range eateries in and around the temple.
Where to Stay
There are some very good hotels in the city which the tourists can choose to stay. There are good grade hotels very close to the railway station offering A/C and non A/C standard as well as deluxe rooms which helps tourists to reduce the commute from and to the station in case they are travelling on railways. These hotels also offer good food, and the tourists can decide on their choice of the hotel after looking at the amenities and the corresponding prices.
Temple Timings
Though the statue can be seen any time of the day, the temples that are situated in the garden where the statue stands are open from morning until evening. They are closed during the afternoons as is the procedure in most temples across India.
How to Reach
Road
The Hanuman Vatika is very close to the General Hospital in Rourkela and there are a lot of buses that ply there. This is on the National Highway just after the place called Panposh.
Rail
Rourkela is the nearest railhead and there are rail services from north, west, east and south cities of the country to Rourkela.
Airport
Mumbai is the closest airport to Rourkela and is about a thousand and three hundred kilometers away. Mumbai has good domestic as well as international connections making it easy for the tourists.
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