A laid back, slow, and sleepy little state with gems hidden beneath its blanket of humility- that’s how I’d describe this beautiful state life brought me to.
I remember the first time I moved to Odisha, I hated it to my guts. If hatred had a Superlative form, that is what I felt about the state. It was more because my body failed to adjust to the sudden harsh summer, and I ended up with all my existing ailments then, getting much worse.
But the only way to live through life, is to face your challenges and move ahead, slowly spreading across its body like water taking the shape of its container. So I did. So I tried. When I did start doing that, Odisha started to love me back too. In its own strange ways.
My first trip to Odisha was back in 2009, when we were not even remotely aware that we might move into this state. We visited the popular, and the mighty Sun Temple of Konark, giggling the entire time looking at those erotic sculptures wondering what the hell were they? I had zero idea, or even interest, in what the temple was about. That was also my first interaction with the Sea, when I allowed the mighty Bay of Bengal to roll over and cover me in all those salty waves. I was so happy. Yet, when after two years, we had to move here, I was scared, sad, and angry. Being a teenager made it no easier. I struggled with questions, and layers of thoughts, but one of my teachers from the school then told me it’s important to move to new places. That was my only 1% spark and hope.
Times changed. I started growing up. I found people who believed in me. I threw myself in the affectionate arms of Bhubaneswar that had its own stories to weave with me. In 2017, when I joined a media house for my first job (internship?), I started writing about Odisha. I started learning about Odisha in a manner I had never before. I had never had that intriguing perspective on any place I’d lived at, or been to. Odisha, however, changed my bend of mind.
I always thought Odisha has harsh summers, and pollution. I was right, and I was wrong. As I started to read its history, its struggle of finding its own independence, and establishing a classical language, and dance, I kept growing fonder. And then began my love story with Odisha.
I started traveling to different corners of Bhubaneswar, and the state itself. I remember my first trip to Koraput in monsoon with lush greenery and clouds hitting my face as we drove up to the Deomali peak. Every little thing about that trip, about the place, about the people, and their diverse culture took me by surprise and completely mesmerized me. My exploration instincts had me wander about Old town, which is in itself a canvas of history and heritage with so many ancient temples, and stories carved on them that it leaves you speechless. My first meeting with the Khandagiri & Udayagiri Jain caves as an explorer, and not a tourist, changed my idea of hillocks, caves, and carvings.
In 2018, when I had to work on an article, I chanced upon an archaeologist Jitu Mishra. I was working on an article for the foundation day of Bhubaneswar and wanted an insight on ‘before-after’ of the city. That meeting with him was a start of many wonderful things in my life, and also a deeper bond with the state. I introduced him to some of my closest people eventually, who together shared a common love for travel, heritage, history, and culture. Four lovely souls, including the present founder Surya Mishra, came together creating their own dent on a map of exploration. That was the birth of Gilehrio.
The first time I went camping was with Gilehrio, long before I joined the team officially, and my heart! That was a fascinating winter morning that brought me closer to the coastal culture of Odisha. One step at a time, and my interest in culture, history, and heritage grew. I joined the team on a trip to remote tribal lands of Kandha, in the deepest interiors of Kandhamal, Gajapati, and Koraput. We spent a languid afternoon with an austro-asiatic tribe, Lanjia Saura, dancing with them their ‘Karaja nacha’, and drinking with them their local ‘salapa’ - all the while overwhelmed with the love from the community there. When locals embrace your city eyes, it’s difficult to contain the thrills and beauty running through your soul.
Later in 2019, I came onboard with Surya as one of the team members and started yet another journey in, with, and of Odisha. There are temples in the state so less explored, and so less known, it’s excruciating seeing their half-broken and ruin-like situation.
Surya and I went on an exploration trip to Sisupalgarh, a 2500 year old fort, that is now covered in vegetation and has barely anything left to see or document. The sad tale of Odisha’ temples propelled us to explore further and create heritage trails so we can bring a taste of heritage to people without making it overwhelming. From temples, we went to beaches, wildlife, and conservation. With each jump, with each walk, with each run - my heart felt denser and warmer in love with Odisha. Gilehrio fulfilled something in me I never knew existed. It was as if I was hungry for something I never knew existed, and yet it felt satisfying, and fulfilling driving through those roads, walking through those temples, and talking to those people.
The state is a storehouse of everything amazing. It's a tapestry of nature, heritage, and culture. People say love just happens. I say, love is a gradual process of accepting, understanding, and embracing all that constitutes a state, a person, or a thing. I fell in love with Odisha, one story at a time, one trip at a time, and one rant a time.
Happy Utkal Dibasa to you guys. And to me.
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