History of Mahendragiri Hill Mahendragiri is foremost of the seven "Kulagiris" or principal mountains of India. It is associated with mythological stories from the Ramayana as Mahendra Parvata. It is also known as the Southern Amarnath of Odisha. It is a ‘Kula Parvata’ along with Malaya, Sahyadri, Parijatra, Shuktiman, Vindhya and Malyavaan. In the Puranas and Mahabharata that Parashuram practiced penance for a long time on the Mahendra Mountain. Archaeological remains at Mahendragiri make an interesting study for the scholars. Shiva Ratri is the main festival here which draws a large crowd. This testifies the fact that it was once a centre of Saivite culture. The place is visited by about 1,600 tourists annually. Flora and Fauna of Mahendragiri Hill The surrounding forests abound in peacocks, flying squirrels, elephants, spotted deer and even leopards and talking mynahs. The view of the surrounding area from the top of the hill is enchanting. The range of granite hills on the north-west and south succeed one another like huge waves and the passage of clouds from peak to peak produces an ever-changing scene. The clear waters of the sacred Mahendratanaya, the blue sea at a distance and the mountain with its majestic beauty make Mahendragiri a trekker's dream come true. Mahendragiri is full with biodiversity, species from the Himalayas, Western Ghats and the Nilgiris of south India being found here. 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 5 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. At least 300 medicinal plants are available in the Mahendragiri ecosystem. Temples on Mahendragiri Hill There are 3 temples on the top of the mountain. These temples are named after the Pandava brothers and their mother Kunti who visited Mahendragiri during the period of their exile. Shiv Ratri Celebration at Mahendragiri Hill Shiv Ratri is celebrated with pomp, devotion and merriment in Gajapati. The administration had made several arrangements for a safe and smooth celebration of Shiv Ratri on the Mahendragiri Hills. Thousand of devotees from around the world travels here and trek onto the peak to worship Lord Shiva on that day and enjoys the tranquil and striking expressions of nature. Early in the morning the ‘Surya Uday’ (sunrise) was the major attraction for the devotees. Tourism in Mahendragiri Hill It is not only a religious place, also a famous tourist place in eastern Odisha. Large number of tourist visits the hill and goes for trekking. The tourists trek on the peak to visit the three temples dedicated to the Pandavas. According to the trekkers, Mahendragiri Hill is quite difficult to climb. |
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