Recent excavations near the mouth of the Rushikulya River have brought to light the ruins of a 12th-century maritime shrine built by the Gajapati Kings. The most striking feature of the temple is its Kurma-Prishta (turtle-back) foundation, an architectural choice designed to stabilize the structure against the coastal erosion and high-energy tidal activity prevalent in the Bay of Bengal region.
The shrine is dedicated to Lord Varaha and features friezes depicting ancient naval expeditions and trade relations with Southeast Asian kingdoms. Archaeologists believe this temple served as a vital nautical landmark for sailors, with its peak once fitted with a reflective metal disk used for signaling ships during the daylight hours.