Silpi Guru Dinabandhu Mohapatra Raghurajpur Heritage Village

Silpi Guru Dinabandhu Mohapatra Raghurajpur is a heritage village in Odisha where over 160 homes function both as residences and art workshops, with more than 1,000 artisans living and creating within them. Houses feature painted walls displaying traditional designs and colorful murals, while narrow streets connect the various working spaces where visitors can observe artists practicing their crafts daily.

The village has existed since the 12th century and became a center for Pattachitra painting, an art form with roots over 2,000 years old that originally served religious purposes in the Jagannath Temple in Puri. In 2000, the government designated Raghurajpur as a heritage village, recognizing its importance in preserving traditional craft techniques that ancestors first practiced generations earlier.

The village carries a strong artistic identity shaped by centuries of craft-making traditions passed through families. Visitors can observe how painting and carving are woven into everyday life, with artists working in their homes and people treating their crafts as a source of cultural pride and livelihood.

It is best to visit on weekdays when fewer tourists are present, allowing for quieter exploration and better conversations with artisans. Arrange a vehicle in advance since the village is not directly connected by public transport, and ask permission before entering homes or taking photographs to respect local customs.

Beyond painted cloth, the village is notable for intricate palm leaf engravings where artists carve fine lines and create layered images with small windows revealing different scenes underneath. This older craft form is maintained by only a few artisans and remains largely overlooked by visitors focused on the more visible Pattachitra paintings.