Igornqa at 23:52, 28 March 2026

2026-03-28T23:52:10Z

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{{Short description|Bridge in Puri town, Odisha (India)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Atharanala
| native_name = ଅଠରନଳା
| native_name_lang = Oriya
| image = Puri,_Atharanala_bridge_2015-11-21.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = Atharanala bridge viewed from [[National Highway 316 (India)|NH-316]]
| coordinates = {{coord|19.819810|85.831710|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference =
| carries = light vehicles, pedestrians
| crosses = Madhupur<ref name="ASI N-OR-64">{{cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_orissa.asp|title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Orissa|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|accessdate=26 November 2016}}</ref> or Musa<ref name="IGNC1">{{cite web|title= Atharanala bridge, documentation form |url=http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orpuri103.pdf|publisher=[[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]]|accessdate=26 November 2016|date=}}</ref> stream
| locale = [[Puri]] town, Odisha, India
| official_name = Athara Nala (ଅଠରନଳା)
| named_for = Athara means 18 in Odia language, Nala Means Passage. There are 18 Passages under the bridge so the Name is AtharaNala (in Odia ଅଠର ନଳା)
| owner =
| maint =
| heritage = [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]] N-OR-64<ref name="ASI N-OR-64"/>
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| preceded =
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| design = medieval architectural scheme of pillars and arches; ashlar masonry
| material = laterite stone
| material1 = lime mortar
| material2 =
| length = 85,5 m
| width = 12 m
| height = 6,3 m
| depth =
| traversable = no
| towpath =
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| number_spans = 18
| piers_in_water = 19
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| begin = second half of the 18th century AD
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'''Atharanala''' ({{langx|or|ଅଠରନଳା}}) - a historic laterite stone bridge over the Madhupur<ref name="ASI N-OR-64">{{cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_orissa.asp|title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Orissa|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|accessdate=26 November 2016}}</ref> or Musa<ref name="IGNC1"/> stream at the entrance to the city of [[Puri]], Odisha (India) on Puri - Bhubaneswar road, locally known as Atharnala bridge; a [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]] N-OR-64<ref name="ASI N-OR-64"/> officially recognized by [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. Due to safety reasons the bridge is excluded from heavy vehicle traffic.

==History==
According to the report of the [[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]] the structure was assigned to the second half of the 18th century AD (Maratha rule) based on architectural ground and building materials.<ref name="IGNC1"/>
The present bridge has been placed directly on top of the structure<ref name="Bansal2008">{{cite book|author=Sunita Pant Bansal|title=Hindu Pilgrimage|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8122309976|year=2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal |page=19}}</ref> which had been started as early as 13th century AD<ref name="BritLib">{{cite web|title= The British Library photo collection: Atharanala bridge|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/a/019pho000001003u00324000.html|accessdate=29 November 2016}}</ref> by Bhanu Deva I (1266–1278) of the [[Eastern Ganga Dynasty]] and continued by Narasimha Deva II (1279–1306).<ref name="Starza1993">{{cite book|author=O. M. Starza|title=The Jagannatha Temple at Puri: Its Architecture, Art, and Cult|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4bV3beb0n8C&pg=PA8|accessdate=30 November 2016|year=1993|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-09673-6|page=8}}</ref> He reconstructed the Atharanala bridge for proper discharge of surplus water of that time Saradhar rivulet with an additional culvert thus increasing its total number to nineteen (290 ft long).<ref name=" Mishra2007">{{cite book|author=Narayan Mishra|title=Annals and Antiquities of the Temple of Jagannātha |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8176257478|year=2007|publisher=SARUP & SONS|page=16}}</ref>

==Legends==
The bridge was built by Maharaja [[Indradyumna]]. The construction process was unsuccessful until, by the order of the [[Jagannath|Lord Jagannath]], he offered the heads of his eighteen sons into the water of the river.<ref name="iskon">{{cite web|title=Atharanala bridge|url=http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/page/atharanala-1|publisher= www.iskcondesiretree.com|accessdate=26 November 2016|date=}}</ref> If a non-Hindu is caught trespassing inside the [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Temple in Puri]] the entire [[Prasad (food offering)|Prasad]] must be thrown away from Atharanala bridge.

==Architecture==
Atharanala bridge is made of [[laterite]] and [[lime mortar]] with [[Ashlar|ashlar masonry]] building technique, in medieval architectural scheme of pillars and arches. It is oriented north to south.<ref name="IGNC1"/>
The bridge spreads over a length of 85 meter (280 feet) and breadth of 11 meter (36 feet) and encompasses eighteen arches ("athara" means eighteen, "nala" canals or passages) ranging from seven to sixteen feet across. The bridge offers a spectacular long distance view of the [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Temple]].<ref name="shreekshetra">{{cite web|title= Atharanala bridge|url=http://www.shreekhetra.com/atharnala.html|publisher=www.shreekhetra.com|accessdate=26 November 2016}}</ref>
The façade is decorated with reliefs of deities, people, [[Ashta Nayika|nayikas]], genre scenes and floral decorations: Brusaarudha Siva, [[Ekapada]] - [[Bhairava]], [[Ardhanarisvara]], Parvati, Gajabhisekha Laxmi, Durga Mahisasuramardini, bharabahaka, people playing musical instruments, sakha mouldings, Kartika, Navagraha panel, lotus medallions, elephant figures and boar hunting scenes.<ref name="IGNC2">{{cite web|title=Digital Images of Archaeological Sites: Puri Town|url=http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=orjjp0050001|publisher=[[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]]|accessdate=26 November 2016|date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129083453/http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=orjjp0050001|archive-date=29 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Maintenance==
[[File:A close view of Athara Nala Bridge.JPG|left|thumb|Atharanala Bridge in 2012]]
Renovated and repaired by Archaeological Survey of India the bridge was found in good condition. However, high siltation and growth of vegetation was gradually closing the openings of the bridge. The urban pressure was another risk identified.<ref name="IGNC1"/>
It was decided by the Odisha state government in 2014 (before [[Nabakalebara 2015]]) to start beautification of the bridge by removing the moss and mud heaped near the bridge and facilitate boating to attract tourists to the spot.<ref name="Beautify">{{cite news|title=Odisha govt draws up plan to beautify Atharanala bridge in Puri|url=http://odishasuntimes.com/2014/08/04/odisha-govt-draws-plan-beautify-atharanala-bridge-puri/|accessdate=26 November 2016|work=www.odishasuntimes.com|agency=Odisha Sun Times|date=4 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129082944/http://odishasuntimes.com/2014/08/04/odisha-govt-draws-plan-beautify-atharanala-bridge-puri/|archive-date=29 November 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==See also==
[[Puri#Geography|Geography of Puri]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161129083453/http://ignca.nic.in/asp/showbig.asp?projid=orjjp0050001 ''Digital Images of Archaeological Sites: Puri Town''] by [[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]]
*{{commons category inline|Atharanala}}

[[Category:Bridges in Odisha]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Odisha]]
[[Category:Transport in Puri]]
[[Category:Road bridges in India]]

Atharanala - Revision history

Igornqa at 23:52, 28 March 2026