This heritage village in Odisha is home to a 3,000-year-old art form

Raghurajpur is a quaint village nestled near the banks of the Bhargavi River in Odisha's Puri district. Located only 15 kilometers from the renowned temple town of Puri, this village has become a thriving center of Odisha's rich artistic heritage, earning its place as one of the region's most culturally important destinations.

The village of Raghurajpur is most famous for the Pattachitra painting, an art form whose history goes back approximately 3000 years back. This art form is characterised by intricate details, mythological narratives, and vibrant colours. The word 'Pattachitra' comes from 'Patta' (canvas) and 'Chitra' (painting), meaning paintings done on cloth or dried palm leaves. These paintings typically depict themes from Hindu mythology, especially stories of Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, and episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.


While Pattachitra is the most well-known craft, the village is also home to other traditional art forms like Tussar painting, palm leaf engraving, and wooden, stone, and papier-mâché toys. Craftsmen here have also mastered the art of creating Gotipua masks, which are used in the Gotipua dance, a precursor to the classical Odissi dance form. The intricate Talapatra Chitra, or palm leaf engraving, is another specialised art practised in Raghurajpur.


Apart from being a thriving centre for arts and crafts, Raghurajpur has also produced renowned performing artists, particularly in Gotipua, a traditional dance performed by young boys dressed as girls. Gotipua is a folk dance that eventually evolved into the more structured Odissi dance.

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In 2000, Raghurajpur was declared a Heritage Village by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). As visitors walk through the village, they can see houses adorned with murals and paintings, with artists working on their creations in open courtyards.

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Raghurajpur has become a prominent destination for cultural tourism in Odisha. Art enthusiasts, researchers, and tourists from around the world come to witness firsthand the traditional techniques used by the village artisans. It is part of Odisha’s Rural Tourism program, which promotes the village as an artistic retreat, offering homestays where tourists can live among the artists, observe their craft, and even learn the techniques.