If you were on the banks of the Brahmani River, you would see the water slowly moving past the old stone ghats. This river is the life of the region. However, only a few miles from here, the water flows towards a completely different world. A large water body near the town area is often called the Paschimeshwar Lake. It is situated right behind the ancient temple of Lord Shiva. Why this lake? People say that the water here never dries up because the god is watching over it. It is a tranquil place where the city dust finally settles. It is a simple place, but it reveals how nature and spirit coexist even in a land made of iron and fire.
Talcher Odisha is different from most other towns. It is a place that you can almost feel the weight and power of. The first thing that strikes you when you enter the Talcher city limits is the color of the earth. It is very dark. The reason for this is that Talcher is well known as a thermal coal mine city. The ground under your feet is literally packed with “Black Gold.” This is what Talcher is known for its vast energy. Every day, thousands of tons of coal are extracted from the Talcher coal mine. There will be giant trucks that, in fact, are almost like houses, moving all over the place. The whole scene is quite scary. You understand that the lights in faraway cities are shining because of the labor done here in the heat and the dust.
The geography of Odisha Talcher is marked by tall chimneys and brightly lit wires. A huge structure visible from far away, the Talcher thermal power plant is one of the oldest and most significant plants in the country. Not far from there, you will also find the Angul power plant areas that contribute to running the factories of the nation. Working with Talcher thermal energy is the lifestyle here. I remember having a chat with an old worker named Bijay at a tea stall located near the main gate. He said to me, the continuous operating sound of the machines is like the heartbeat of the town. People here have a quiet pride. They don’t say much. They just get down to the hard work that is necessary.
If you want to check out the place, the vibe is very local. Life revolves almost entirely around the work shifts of the mines. A great time to be there is definitely the winter season. The summer heat in Talcher is very harsh; it might give the air a feel of an oven. If you go for a walk in the areas near the Talcher thermal colonies, it is a good idea to wear a scarf to cover your face from the fine dust. If you are visiting Kings Palace, it is a good place to get some history before the coal took over. What do you think? Go and stand at the open, cast mine viewpoint during sunset. The sky is changing to an odd purple, and the lights of the machines look like stars in the dark ground. It is a place that calls for your courage and demands you to respect the power of nature.
