Khiching Odisha

Comes under the district of Mayurbhanj, Khiching is a historical village that was once the capital of Bhanja rules. The star attraction of this beautiful place is a Maa Kichakeswari Temple which dates back to the 7th or 8th century. Kichakeswari Temple is made up of chlorite slabs and boasts an impressive Kalinga architectural design. However, the temple is believed to be the first temple of Odisha and because of this Khiching is known as the town with a rich heritage history. But, the architectural ruins recovered from this place said that the temple traces its history from the 8th to 12th century. It is also said that, once the town was a house of eight Shiva temples out of which seven can still be traced. At present, there are just three ancient temples left that worship Chandrasekhar, Kutaitundi, and Kichakeswari. In order to lure more tourists to the village, a museum has been also installed that boasts life-size images of numerous deities like Ganesha, Durga, Tara, Parvati, Parsvanatha, Vaishnavi, Avalokitesvara, Kartikeya, Dhyani Buddha, Uma-Maheswara, Nandi, and more. On display, there are also sculpted parts of various ancient temples to promote the heritage tourism in the region.

Best Time to Visit

The secluded land of Khiching can be visited anything during the year. However, the best time to visit Khiching is from the month of October to March, i.e., the winter season.

How to Reach?

Jamshedpur Airport in Ranchi is the nearest airhead from Khiching which is located at a distance of 147 km from Khiching. Whereas, the nearest railway station from Khiching is Badampahar at a distance of 43 km. Besides, tourists travelling from nearby villages and towns can also prefer the imposing network of roads and highways to reach Khiching.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

• Sanaghagara Waterfall: Located at a distance of 51 km from Khiching, Sanaghagara is a 100 ft high waterfall in Keonjhar district. Engirdled by serene nature and scenic beauty, this waterfall is surely a worth visiting place while exploring Khiching.
• Baladevjew Temple: Another place of tourist interest in Keonjhar district is Baladevjew Temple. A historical Hindu shrine which is known for its unique culture and highly religious significance.
• Khiching Museum: The museum of Khiching is one of the perfect places to sharpen your knowledge about the local culture and heritage. The museum boasts a great assortment which includes relics of ancient temples, artefacts, copper plate inscriptions, ancient coins, idols, and more.
• Kichakeswari Temple: The star attraction of Khichling town, Kichakeswari Temple dates back from 7th or 8th century. Inside the present temple, one can see the large ten-armed skeletal idol of Chamunda with wearing a skull garland.