Purunagarh

Puranagarh or Purunagoda or Purunagarh is the eastern most part of Jeypore which is a major town of Orissa, India. Translated into English, Purunagoda means Old Fort, which it was during the rule of the kings. The moat has now been made into a canal, which divides Purunagoda from the rest of the town. Being placed at the foot hills, in the warm embrace of "Nakti Dongar", one can have a beautiful view of the entire town from Purunagoda, particularly in the evenings.

Purunagoda boasts of its ancient, beautiful and serene temples, and can be called the Temple-street of Jeypore.Some of the temples at Purunagoda are: Neelakantheswara, Ganesh, Radha Krushna, Jagannath, Ayyappa, Kali, Ganga Maa, Bhairabi and Dangar Devi.

One of the unique features of Purunagoda is the annual Rath Yatra, which is held one day in advance to the one held in the main town temple.

People

Different kinds of people live in Purunagoda and most of them have been staying there since decades. Tribals (Parajas) form an integral part of this part of the town and were known for their hunting skills, clean houses, unique traditions and hard work. With exposure to the urban way of life their dependence on the forests has been declining and has eroded their culture and heritage.

The Temples of Purunagoda

Dongar Devi

("Dongar" - Hill; "Devi" - Goddess): Dedicated to the local goddess (said to be an incarnation of Maa Durga), this temple attracts people far and wide for the belief that wishes come true here. This temple belongs to the tribals (of the Paraja Tribe) and the priest(the most famous being Jaani) himself is a tribal. But people of all beliefs come to seek answers and blessings of "Maa Dongar Devi". Saddled on a small hillock belonging to the famous "Nakti Dongar", the temple was once surrounded by the very famous and rarely found "Hathijhula" ( "Hathi" - Elephant; "Jhula" - swing) trees. The branches - like very thick strong ropes - of these trees were huge and long, intertwined so densely that their origins and endings could not be identified easily. Folklore says that these branches could even support huge loads equaling the weight of an elephant without snapping. Now only a few of these trees remain to be seen.

This temple, like many other temples dedicated to Goddesses, is witness to regular animal sacrifice, mostly hens. This owes to the belief that if one needs something very badly, one must be prepared to give something too. Some tribals even come to this temple to find a cure to their diseases, for better agricultural yields, rains, money, etc. Many affluent families of the undivided Koraput district also come regularly to sort out their problems and seek the blessings of Mother Dongar Devi.

Neelakantheswara Temple

The NKT road owes its name to this temple, which has become synonymous with Purunagoda. The temple also has a Jagannath templeand a very rare Radha-Krushna temple too within the premises.