The Painted Pavilion

A popular spot for tourists and locals alike in Anandapur is the Painted Pavilion. This cultural center is especially well-trafficked by guided tours and school groups and is a place where one might often find storytellers, poets, dancers or musicians. While it's fairly unassuming on the outside, the interior walls and ceiling of the pavilion are spectacular, with every inch covered in ornate painted murals and colorful carvings.

The murals of the Painted Pavilion retell a handful of the Jataka Tales, a collection of Indian fables and morality tales dating back thousands of years. The tales chosen to be represented here, of course, relate specifically to messages of conservation and man's relationship to the animal world.

High in the ceiling are the tales of "The Hare's Sacrifice" (The compassionate hare offers himself so a beggar can eat) and "The Tortoise and the Geese" (The tortoise must close his mouth for the geese to carry him).

In the story of "The Jackal and the Iguana," the iguana teases the jackal, for only the foolish pretend to be kings. "The Monkey King" then tells of a ruler who desires the fruit from the monkey's tree.

In the story of "The Banyan Deer," one deer is offered each day to stop the slaughter of the hunt. The king of the deer sacrifices himself, and his compassion teaches the human king to care for all living things.

"The Swan with the Golden Feathers" tells of a father who returns as a swan that gives the gift of one golden feather each day.

"The Fearless Lion and the Brave Elephant" is the story of a lion and elephant who hear the frightened cries of a group of merchants. They bravely go to the aid of the merchants, killing the great beasts that threaten them. The merchants vow to honor their compassion forever.