The Sacred Stream of Gandhamardan is located at the base of the Gandhamardan Hills in Bargarh Odisha and is a wide, serene pooling of water, where the Sacred Stream collects prior to leaving the area. Rather than being a man-made lake, the Sacred Stream is a natural water basin carved by water erosion into the black rock of the hill; thus, it is a natural body of water. The Sacred Stream is believed to be protected by the mountain’s deity as a means of preserving the forest surrounding it. The locals have said that the sound of the water falls is able to clear one’s mind after 30 minutes of remaining in a sitting position at this sacred location. Each morning, there is fog over the water surface, thus creating the effect of a large dark mirrored surface (i.e., the fog creates an illusion of a mirror). The site provides an understanding that one has entered an ancient, spiritually powerful space.
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ToggleThe historic Nrushinghanath Temple is one of the area’s oldest and most popular landmarks. Located near the Nrushinghanath Forest, its historic origin is an approximate date of the temple’s establishment of 1550 AD per King Baijal Singh Dev’s direction. The temple’s architecture is unique for its design being made like a stone chariot. The temple’s history is believed to be related to the way it was used in the Ramayana with the hills that Hanuman would carry in his journey. The area surrounding the temple is very rugged and mountainous, filled with dense forest and steep cliffs. I had the opportunity to visit on a Tuesday in January. The crispness of cool air mixed with the scent of damp dirt and the burning of incense all surrounding the temple gave a sense of awe as I stood in front of a statue of Lord Nrushingha with his half-lion/half-man form all seeing you and causing your shoulders to feel heavy.
This is not just a place to pray, but also a great picnic spot for the people of Bargarh, who love to hike around and enjoy their surroundings. If you’re looking for visiting places near me that provides peacefulness and a little bit of a hilly walk then this site may be for you because it’s home to the Nrusinghanath temple in Odisha, which was built around 1,500 years ago* and has trees around it that have seen many generations pass through their presence. It has a cultural feel about it and is a good example of the kind of respect that exists here. The villagers take their time walking up the steps and often speak in low voices as they do so, so they don’t mind walking far away from where they live. They recognize that the climb itself is an important part of their prayer. When walking these paths, one can feel connected to those who walked on them 500 years ago. This site is one of the best Bargarh tourist places because the area still has much natural beauty without much modernization from the city.
When climbing the mountain it’s best to go in the months of November to February because of the heat of the summer months. Also, wearing shoes that have a rubber sole would be good, as there are many wet sections along the stairs. If you look at the Bargarh map you should see the location of the temple; however, the Bargarh distance is about 100km depending upon which route you take to get there. Take your own water with you, as the temple does not sell any type of merchandise at the top of the hill. Sit on the rocks along the waterfalls and watch the eagles glide over the tips of the mountains while listening to the sound of the water running down the mountain. This is an area where you can relax and enjoy your time spent.
The Sacred Stream of Gandhamardan is located at the base of the Gandhamardan Hills in Bargarh Odisha and is a wide, serene pooling of water, where the Sacred Stream collects prior to leaving the area. Rather than being a man-made lake, the Sacred Stream is a natural water basin carved by water erosion into the black rock of the hill; thus, it is a natural body of water. The Sacred Stream is believed to be protected by the mountain’s deity as a means of preserving the forest surrounding it. The locals have said that the sound of the water falls is able to clear one’s mind after 30 minutes of remaining in a sitting position at this sacred location. Each morning, there is fog over the water surface, thus creating the effect of a large dark mirrored surface (i.e., the fog creates an illusion of a mirror). The site provides an understanding that one has entered an ancient, spiritually powerful space.
The historic Nrushinghanath Temple is one of the area’s oldest and most popular landmarks. Located near the Nrushinghanath Forest, its historic origin is an approximate date of the temple’s establishment of 1550 AD per King Baijal Singh Dev’s direction. The temple’s architecture is unique for its design being made like a stone chariot. The temple’s history is believed to be related to the way it was used in the Ramayana with the hills that Hanuman would carry in his journey. The area surrounding the temple is very rugged and mountainous, filled with dense forest and steep cliffs. I had the opportunity to visit on a Tuesday in January. The crispness of cool air mixed with the scent of damp dirt and the burning of incense all surrounding the temple gave a sense of awe as I stood in front of a statue of Lord Nrushingha with his half-lion/half-man form all seeing you and causing your shoulders to feel heavy.
This is not just a place to pray, but also a great picnic spot for the people of Bargarh, who love to hike around and enjoy their surroundings. If you’re looking for visiting places near me that provides peacefulness and a little bit of a hilly walk then this site may be for you because it’s home to the Nrusinghanath temple in Odisha, which was built around 1,500 years ago* and has trees around it that have seen many generations pass through their presence. It has a cultural feel about it and is a good example of the kind of respect that exists here. The villagers take their time walking up the steps and often speak in low voices as they do so, so they don’t mind walking far away from where they live. They recognize that the climb itself is an important part of their prayer. When walking these paths, one can feel connected to those who walked on them 500 years ago. This site is one of the best Bargarh tourist places because the area still has much natural beauty without much modernization from the city.
When climbing the mountain it’s best to go in the months of November to February because of the heat of the summer months. Also, wearing shoes that have a rubber sole would be good, as there are many wet sections along the stairs. If you look at the Bargarh map you should see the location of the temple; however, the Bargarh distance is about 100km depending upon which route you take to get there. Take your own water with you, as the temple does not sell any type of merchandise at the top of the hill. Sit on the rocks along the waterfalls and watch the eagles glide over the tips of the mountains while listening to the sound of the water running down the mountain. This is an area where you can relax and enjoy your time spent.
