Banpur Swapneswar Mahadev Temple: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has declared the Prabhu Shri Swapneswar Mahadev Temple of Banpur Bankadgarh as a “protected monument”. Chilika MLA and Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has informed about this. Shri Harichandan has given this information on his social media. Due to which there has been a wave of happiness among the people of the area.
The Law Minister wrote that, “The glory and glory of our brave and historic Banpur land under my constituency is not of today, its history is as old as legend. There are many examples of this in our history. Meanwhile, Bankad Garh, the capital of the Saaliodbhava Dynasty of the 6th and 8th centuries AD, is located in the Niladri Prasad village, an area dominated by forest dwellers, amidst the lush green forests of the present-day Banpur Panchayat Samiti. In order to achieve the peak of the Utkal art of that time, the then kings and maharajas had many temples built throughout the empire full of craftsmanship. One of these is the amazing “Bankadgarh Prabhu Shri Swapneswar Mahadev Temple”.
Sri Harichandan further wrote that, “This historical dreamer I express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Culture Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Union Culture Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy for declaring the temple as a “Protected Monument” by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.”
This announcement is aimed at preserving the Odia heritage and ancient heritage. This temple has awakened spiritual consciousness in the locality and carries the story of our heritage. In 1977-78, when the then Minister of Culture of the State Government, Shri Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, gave the responsibility to the State Archaeological Department. Later, it fell into a neglected site.
After the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji assumed the responsibility of the Prime Minister, the ASI initiated the process of taking over its responsibility. After the formation of the Double Engine Government in Odisha in 2024, the process was accelerated due to the tireless efforts of the Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and the Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and now it has been officially declared a ‘Protected Monument’ by the ASI. This announcement is a matter of pride and joy for all the residents of Banpur and the state.
