Odagaon


Odagaon is a town and Notified area council in the Nayagarh district of the Indian state of Odisha. It is the location of the Lord Raghunath Temple. The Shriram Navami festival of Odagaon is one of the renowned festival in Odisha. It is the third largest block in the district consisting of 32 Panchayats and more than 200 villages. One of the main attractions of the place is the Raghunath Temple. The place is referred to as the "Second Shrikshetra" due to the presence of this temple. New Jagannath Sadak connects Odagaon with holy city Puri.

History

The history of this town is two folded. One assumption is that long back it was only a land of forests and there were no human civilization, until it became the connecting path to Puri, the land of lord Jagannath. After that when the king of Nayagarh established his farm house in these forests, he also kept few people as permanent residents of this place to take care of his land when the king is absent and to entertain him when he comes. Later these people started farming and other ways of earning their livelihood. This way a small civilization grew up there which with time took the modern face.
According to another popular story, which is widely believed, the history of Odagaon is based on the Raghunath Temple. Before the permanent residence began in this place it was only the connecting way to Puri. One day some pilgrims discovered pictures of Lord Rama, Laxman and Devi Sita on three Neem trees while marching towards Puri. Within very few days this message traveled to all the nearest places and people started to come here. Then these people built a small temple for them and shaped those trees into the idols of Lord Rama, Laxman and Devi Sita. After this, people going to Puri were taking rest here and few priests stayed in the Temple as the servant of God. Then people started to visit this place as a religious place, so this initiated a small village around the temple. Today this area is known as the town of Odagaon. Later with the help of the Nayagarh King the present temple structure was built and also one Dharmashala was built near this temple for temporary stay of the pilgrims.

Places of interest

Raghunath Jeu Temple">Odogaon Raghunath Temple">Raghunath Jeu Temple

Odagaon is known for the Temple of Lord Raghunath Jeu, which is second to Sri Kshetra. The annual festival Ramanavami Yatra is held at the temple and lasts for nine days. Festival attractions include Yatra and Ravan Podi.

Dutikeswar Temple

There is a Siva Temple about 35 km from Nayargh town on the Nayagarh-Bahadajhola, via Odagaon road. The temple is very old temple in this area, before 1980 there is a small temple.

Budhabudhiani Dam

The Budhabudhiani Dam, 20 km from Nayargh district, provides nearby villages with clean water and is also used for fish farming.

Sagar Park

A park has been built near the Sagar pond for recreation purpose.