Mahendragiri – The Hills

Mahendragiri – The Hills

Mahendragiri Hills is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 metres (4,925 ft). Though the major part of this hill range now comes under Andhra Pradesh, the 4,925 ft feet high peak Mahendragiri is actually located within the district of Gajapati, Odisha. The river Mahendratanaya flows down the mountain in the east through Mandasa and joins the Bay of Bengal at Barua, an important port of ancient Kalinga. Mahendragiri is foremost of the seven Kulagiris or principal mountains of India. The Mahendragiri is a place of great scenic beauty.

Mahendragiri is surrounded by hills on three sides and the hills are abounded with thick growth of wild trees. Mahendragiri is replete with biodiversity, species from the Himalayas, Western Ghats and the Nilgiris of south India being found here. The surrounding forests are home to peacocks, flying squirrels, giant squirrels, elephants, spotted deer, leopards, wild boar, mouse deer, golden geckos, pied horn bills, grey horn bills and talking mynahs. The hill has a very rich and varied biodiversity, including 642 species of flowering plants, of which 37 species are orchids, 58 species of flowerless plants and five species of lichens among various other species.

The kind of lichens found here are not found in the Eastern Ghats and are important from both ecological and medicinal points of view. The view of the surrounding area and bay of Bengal from the top of the hill is enchanting. There are three temples on the top of the mountain. These temples are named after the Pandava brothers and their mother Kunti.

Bhima Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/bhima-temple-mahendragiri-odisha.html

Kunti Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/kunti-temple-mahendragiri-odisha.html

Yudhistra Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/yudhistra-temple-mahendragiri-odisha.html

Daru Brahma:

Daru Brahma is the topmost point in Mahendragiri Hills. It is believed that the wood for making of Puri Jagannatha was from this place.

Arjuna Cave:

Arjuna Cave is the place where Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, is believed to have performed penance. There is a structure of Shiva Linga with a serpent hood above the Linga can be found near Arjuna Cave.