About 27.7 km south west from Balasore and 36 km from Chandipur in the state of Odisha, Panchalingeswar is located amidst the dense green vegetation and under the Devgiri Range, which is a part of the Nilgiri Hills. The entire surroundings of the place contribute to its tranquil and secluded environment.
Legend of Panchalingeswar
The place of Panchalingeswar is famous for its temple of Lord Shiva. According to legends, it is said that in 1849 AD, Krishna Chandra Mardaraj Harichandan"s wife Annapurna Devi had a dream in which Lord Shiva ordered her to worship his 5 Lingam symbols engraved in a grove in a pit of flowing stream of water in east of the valley. As per the instructions in the dream, the place was found and seeing the 5 Lingams, the name Panchalingeswar was given. Other legends suggest that these lingams were installed in this beautiful abode by King Banasura himself, because of the serenity and beauty of its surrounding environs.
Tourist Attractions of Panchalingeswar
Tourists are primarily attracted to the village of Panchalingeswar to visit the Panchalingeswar Temple, which is the shrine of Lord Shiva and from which the region derives its name. The temple is located on a hilltop near the Nilgiri Hills and is renowned for housing 5 Shiva Lingams, immersed in a small flow of water.
Ascending the 263 stairs to reach the temple and walking 3 km from the temple site through a tribal village guarantees the savouring of the spectacular sight of the Khumkut Dam. One can even locate a watchtower at the site. Panchalingeswar in actuality is a part of the Kuldiha forest that is mainly an Elephant Sanctuary. Many animals, including elephants, bison, bears, deer, and panthers are found in this forest in abundance.
Then there is the local Banadevi temple located atop the hill of the Panchalingeswar Temple. There is a small lake in front of the temple premise, which is not connected to any external water flow but efficiently self oozing. On the top of the hill, there are many small waterfalls which are mesmerizing for the visitors.
One can also visit Sajanagarh, the place of Budarachandi, which is a popular archaeological site. Tourists visiting Panchalingeswar generally arrange for some interesting trips to the nearby destinations. Chandaneswara is a prime attraction of the tourists, renowned for its pristine beach and the shrine of Lord Chandaneswara. Tourists even visit the serene beach at Chandipur or take a tour to Remuna, the site famous for nurturing the Vaishnavite culture. The place also houses a well-decorated Khirachora Gopinath Temple. Another interesting place is Khiching, popular for housing the age-old Chamunda temple and Kichakeswari temple.
Visiting Information on Panchalingeswar
With regular transportation facilities between Balasore and Panchalingeswar, the nearest accessible airports are the Bhubaneshwar Airport at a distance of 200 km and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at a distance of 250 km.
