The Only Leaning Temple in the world:- Huma

The Leaning Temple of Huma is the only leaning temple in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It is located in Huma, a village situated on the bank of theMahanadi, 23 km south of Sambalpur in the Indian state of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Nobody knows whether this structure is leaning by design or by default. One interesting fact is that while the edifice leans, the pinnacle of the temple is perpendicular to the ground.

The surprising thing is, the main temple is tilted to one direction and other small temples are tilted to some other directions. Within the temple complex i.e. within the boundaries of temple, everything found to be in tilted condition including the boundaries and the angle of inclination is not changed since last 40/50 years as said by the villagers and priests. The reason of the tilt can be due to some geological reason, may be the earth crust is uneven in structure. The angle of inclination is yet to be measured.

The worship of Siva is said to have been initiated by a milkman, who daily crossed the Mahanadi to a place on the bank where the underlying rock cropped out. Here he daily offered his dole of milk, which was at once consumed by the rock, and this miraculous circumstance led to enquiries, which ended in the construction of the present temple.

The first light house on India's East-Coast:- The False Point

False Point is a low headland in the Bay of Bengal. It is located in the Kendrapara district of Orissa, India. The point derives its name from the circumstance that vessels proceeding up the Bay of Bengal frequently mistook it for Point Palmyras, less than a degree farther north. A lighthouse is situated 2 km inland from the point, at a place which screens it from the southern monsoon.

Like most harbours, False Point, too, has a lighthouse but what makes it special is that it is the first lighthouse installed on the eastern coast of India. It is situated in a village named Batighar, on the other bank of the Kharinasi river. Batighar, as the name suggests means a lighthouse. In olden times, it was known as Kaudia Dweep, and used as hunting ground of Kujanga Kings.

Construction of the lighthouse was started in December, 1836, and finished in October, 1837. A plaque at the lighthouse says that the first light was exhibited on March 1, 1838, by Second Lieutenant H. Righly, Executive Engineer. The stones used were transported from Barabati Fort, Cuttack. The height of the structure is 125 feet. To reach the top, one has to climb 138 steps and a 16-step ladder. The speciality of this lighthouse is that it has remained operational from the date of its lighting.

Just next to the boundary wall of the lighthouse is a small cluster of graves. These are the graves of the English superintendents of the lighthouse, their assistants and the families. Inscription on a grave reminds us of Capt. H.A. Harris, the Conservator of Orissa Ports who died by drowning in May 1877.

The capabilities of False Point as an anchorage remained long unknown, and it was only in 1860 that the port was opened. It was rapidly developed, owing to the construction of the Orissa canals. Two navigable channels lead inland across the Mahanadi delta and connect the port with Cuttack city. The trade of False Point was chiefly with other Indian harbours, but a large export trade in rice and oil-seeds sprung up with Mauritius, the French colonies and France. False Point was also a regular port of call for Anglo-Indian coasting steamers. Its capabilities were first appreciated during the Orissa famine of 1866, when it afforded almost the only means by which supplies of rice could be thrown into the province.