River Chandrabhaga actually existed!
Q. Which ancient river was found to actually exist?- Published on 08 Nov 16a. Saraswati
b. Chandrabhaga
c. Both of the above
d. Neither of the above
ANSWER: Chandrabhaga
The ancient river is said to have flowed around 2 km from the
Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by King Narasimhadeva 1 of Eastern Ganga Dynasty in 1255 CE.
- The river holds an important position in ancient Indian literature.
- Mythical stories around Konark include pictorial presentations such as palm-leaf drawings, sketches and old photographs indicate its presence close to the temple.
- Other than the mentions, there is no visible trace of the river around the temple.
- Scientists analysed satellite data using images from US satellites Landsat and Terra and from the NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour Radar Technology Mission in 2000.
- Satellite imagery plus images from Google Earth have been used to show a sinusoidal trace characteristic of typical palaeochannel passing north of the Sun temple, extending approximately parallel to the coast.
- The term effectively means remains of an inactive stream/river that has been filled or buried by younger sediment.
- Field analysis shows the palaeochannel is associated with swampy lands covered with water hyacinth plants.
- Surface profiling using ground penetrating radar further confirmed its existence as it shows the existence of the V-shaped subsurface river valley.
- It can be traced till Tikarpada village, near banks of Kadua River.
- A geological map shows heavy alluvium deposits in the area which is characteristic of rivers.
- Numerous patches of water bodies have been seen in various locations along the channel and swampy areas believed to be part of the ancient river.
- These have been reserved by the Odisha government for the holy bath during Magha Saptami.
- Demarcations of pockets of freshwater zones within the dominantly saline water environment and a rise in drinking water concerns across the Odisha coast have been indicated as a result of this finding.
