Khiching

When I visited khiching two decades ago, I never thought of coming across an area of so much sublime beauty inhabited by tribals mostly in the banks of Khairabandha river and Kantakhair rivers towards the north and the south respectively.

Notwithstanding all the architectural and natural beauty the place has along with a number of temples noted for their monumental, architectural and aesthetic beauty, one temple with the Goddess Kichakeswari stands out as the single most important attraction the place has to offer. The temple is as old as seventh century.

Khiching is the ancient capital of the Bhanja rulers and the Goddess Kichakeswari is their family Goddess. Even after the kingship and kingdom gone and privy purse abolished, the kings of Mayurbhanj have been spending for the maintenance of the temple.

Also, we can see a small museum here with sulptoral works of yore. The gigantic image of Lokeswar, the Lord Budha in meditation, adores the museum alongside many Hindu gods and goddesses and age-old usable and utensils of the ancient rulers and inhabitants.

The ruins of Kichakagarh fort bear testimony to the life-styles of Bhanja rulers who resided here centuries ago.

The 10th century Chamunda temple should also be seen as the second biggest attraction of the area.

Khiching is in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa of India and the district headquarters is Baripada which is 150 kilometres away from the place. An express train runs from Bhubaneswar to Baripada from where buses to Khiching are available.