Bhubaneswar, Mar 6 (UNI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to declare Debrigarh-Bhim Mandal-Hirakud as a tourism circuit.
This, he said, will promote Odisha’s tourism sector and strengthen India’s position as a hub for heritage tourism.
Additionally, the Union Minister has requested the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take responsibility for protecting and preserving the historical site of Bhim Mandal.
Pradhan in a letter to Shekhawat, highlighted the immense potential of Bhim Mandal, Debrigarh, and Hirakud in terms of history, culture, and tourism.
He stated that Bhimmandal, located just 100 km from the Hirakud Dam, is a significant tourist destination in the region.
Bhim Mandal features rock paintings and inscriptions dating back thousands of years. As Odisha’s oldest rock art region, it contains large rocks adorned with drawings of deer, elephants, animal footprints, and bees.
These artifacts indicate early human habitation in the area. The site is believed to be named after Bhima due to its association with the Pandavas from the Mahabharata.
Bhimmandal’s historical significance, natural beauty, and mythological connections have attracted historians, nature enthusiasts, devotees, tourists, and adventure seekers.
However, due to a lack of maintenance and conservation efforts, Bhimmandal’s ancient rock art site has deteriorated.
Most of the rock art has now faded or disappeared, Pradhan noted, adding that historians, heritage conservationists, and local communities have been demanding that ASI declare Bhim Mandal a protected monument to ensure its proper preservation.
The Union Minister further stated that for the proper protection and conservation of the Bhimmandal heritage site, ASI’s professional expertise and necessary resources are required.
Preserving this ancient historical treasure will be of great importance for future generations, he emphasized.
Similarly, he pointed out that Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, home to diverse wildlife, is located between the Hirakud Dam and its adjacent reservoir.
The site holds archaeological significance, as tools and artifacts from ancient times have been discovered there, indicating early human settlement.
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, which has immense tourism potential, has already been included in the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism.
Pradhan also noted that the construction style of the Hirakud Dam, the world’s largest dam built on the Mahanadi River, attracts tourists with its vast reservoir and surrounding green hills.
This location is well-suited for sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, he said, urging Shekhawat’s intervention to declare Debrigarh-Bhimmandal-Hirakud as a tourism circuit.
Pradhan visited the historical Bhim Mandal site near the Champali River in Naktideul block of Sambalpur district on February 25.
During his visit, he discussed the site’s origin, heritage, history, and authentic data on human civilization with ASI officials.
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