When you stand at the foot of the hill that is in the city’s center, a temple looking like a crown made of stone will catch your eye. This is the Saila srikhetra temple. Just before you go up the hill, you come across a small and quiet water body near the entry. This is the temple pond. It’s a modest place but very significant. Why this water? People say that the water is kept pure to be used by the gods on the hill. Locals claim that the temple’s reflection in the water at sunset is the most beautiful and peaceful view in the whole district. It’s a place where you can forget the hustle of the cars and just listen to the wind through the trees.
The Saila srikhetra temple is the most prominent Angul Jagannath temple. It stands on a hilltop, and hence it is called “Saila, ” which means mountain. The history of this place is not very old, but the faith is as deep as the ocean. It was constructed to provide the people of central Odisha with a location where they could feel the presence of Lord Jagannath without making a long journey to Puri. An internal belief exists that the Lord himself decided to sit on this hill to keep an eye on the industrial heart of our state. The heart understands what the signs don’t say. when the city becomes too hot and the coal dust gets too thick, the Lord is there with a cool breeze for everyone who comes up these steps.
The local terrain is really quite lovely. The temple is no doubt a great spot with green gardens and stone paths all around. Whereas quite a number of people visit either the Talcher Jagannath Temple or the modern Jindal Jagannath temple, this place has that something which is very traditional. The Angul Jagannath Mandir is just one copy of the Puri temple in its rules and rituals. In the valley, you can even catch the faint melodic sounds of the “Ghanta” and the “Sankha”. The entire ambiance is filled with a deep, quiet discipline. People do not push or make noise. They line up orderly and their eyes are only on the high “Neela Chakra” on the top of the spire. If you are searching for Angul places that can give you that feeling of being small but safe, this is it.
If you are seeking a picnic spot in Angul that is in the proximity of gods, the garden space at the foot of the hill would be a great option. After the prayer, families generally bring some dry snacks and sit in the shadow of the huge banyan trees. It is a place where kids can play on the grass while the elders can sit and recall the old times. I was there on Ratha Yatra day, the heat was heavy, but no one noticed. The crowd’s energy to the point of physically pulling the chariot uphill was so powerful that it was like the hill itself was moving. Seeing that many people at once can be somewhat scary, but then you realize that everyone is there for the same thing, to give a simple thank you.
Go to the Saila srikhetra temple early in the morning or at the time of the evening “Aarti” to have the best experience. Stone steps are not too hot for barefoot in the winter, which is the ideal time for the months. Dress simply and store your leather items in car. What I would suggest is that you don’t just dash into the main hall. Stroll around the temple walls slowly. Observe the lions, dancers, and other designs in the carvings. If you are free, make a trip to the Jindal Jagannath temple close by to see how the new and old styles of constructing are combined beautifully.
