Kankanashikhari island, nestled amid the blue waters of Chilika Lake, preserves one of the most poignant chapters of Odishan history. In the 18th century, amidst devastating political invasions upon the Srimandira at Puri, the servitors and guardians of Lord Jagannatha safely transferred the divine idols across waterways to this secluded island sanctuary.
From Obscurity to Living Sanctuary
When Dr. Susant Kumar Sahoo commenced field investigations in 2014, the island lay largely forgotten, its ancient stone shrines choked by overgrown wilderness and collapsed masonry. Through a dedicated decade-long effort involving archival documentation, stone masonry restoration, and community mobilization, Kankanashikhari has been restored to living glory.
“Heritage does not merely belong to history books; it lives when communities restore and revere their sacred spaces.”
Today, the site hosts a stone Smaraki monument and serves as the destination for the grand annual Jala Ratha Yatra.
