By D N Singh
Silt destroys the fabric of water bodies is known yet it produce wonders also in the sea that one can see only to believe.
Silt from the sea can create such a rendezvous can only be believed if seen what is in Hukitola island. In course of time the Island transformed into a splendor of nature.
Couched in a thick cluster of foliage and a row of mangrove stretches bordering it, serving as the boundary, soon it blossomed into a paradise on earth.
Taking advantage of the silt-born island, way back in 1866 the Britishers then stumbled upon it and envisioned something novel, and planned to construct a building on 7000 sq ft area.
Not as a tourism spot but as a place to store rice imported from Burma and it was aimed to fight as a replenishment spot during the ‘Naanka’famine(one of the worst droughts that killed lakhs and pulverished lives of millions) serving as a store house. It played shaver role.
Huge rocks were ferried in boats to construct this majestic building which is a testimony to architectural advancement.
With underground rainwater harvesting system and a uniqueness lies in the design of the roof slope helping the rainwater flow down into four pots which served as the drinking water for people manning the spot and marine merchants anchoring there ships at Hukitola, now a rendezvous for as a tourist spot.
In 1924 it had lost its importance and got lost in the thick of neglect and however, later INTACH played the role and have renovated and restored the structure without compromising with any of its characteristics.
Today Hukitola is an eco-tourism site of and a wonder spot where silence reigns and the feel of loneliness it produces is nothing than any bliss on earth.
A stroll to the fringes lead one to have a lovely tryst with the nature. Walking through the thick canopy of casuarinas and and acacia accost to the border where the tides serenade to the nature with its tides splashing with the stone-laid boundaries.
Here and there, one can stumble upon red crabs in large numbers and under the lukewarm mornings they come out of their proverbial hibernation lacing the semi-golden expanse of the beaches.
Hukitola is situated on Jambu island in the Bay of Bengal of Mahakalapara Block in Kendrapara District. The building having plinth area more than 7000 sq ft , on the island was constructed by the Britishers in 1866/67 .
It bears testimony to advancement made in construction technology in the 19th century. A virtual monument , the majestic building with underground rainwater harvesting system is symbol of the state’s glorious past in maritime.
The place attracts students, scholars and history lovers throughout the year for its scenic location and historical significance. 1924 when the Britishers established a port at false point.
The uniqueness of the palace, however,lies in its roof slope in design. What a foresinght was that. It was so made that it helps rain water to flow down to four big water pots. The collected water was used for drinking purposes by the merchants throughout the year.
