If you want to journey to the border of Balangir and Bargarh, you will be greeted by a giant deep green wall facing the naked plains. That is the Gandhamardan parvat, a range that looks like a fragment from the heavens. Near the bottom of the southern slope, you happen upon a lovely water body named the Harishankar waterfall and the stream around it. This water does more than just run; it is the very life of the valley. How so? It is said that the stream is born from the roots of the medicinal plants up on the mountain.
Locals swear that a dip in the stream will rid you of skin troubles and make your mind feel light and happy. Usually, the water here is so pure in winter that it mirrors the ancient trees which have been their silent witnesses for hundreds of years.
An epic journey is the history of the Gandhamardan hills. During the war in the Ramayana, the divine monkey god was sent to carry the Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas, when Lakshman was badly wounded. Gandhamardan hills lore says that when he couldn’t find the correct herb, he took the whole mountain with him. On his way over Odisha, a big chunk of that mountain dropped on the ground. That chunk is the Gandhamardhan hills that you can see today. It is even internally believed that the mountain is still full of those miraculous herbs from the Himalayas. The heart knows what the signs are not telling that this hill is a living bridge between the north and the south, keeping the secret of life that is thousands of years old.
The Gandhamardan hills rise steeply and quite rugged in nature, stretching as far as the clouds at around 3, 250 feet. It is an “Ayurvedic hub” for its having the home of over 1, 000 plant species. Traditionally, the locals have been using rare herbs from a wide range of local medicinal plants for generations. The local folks feel a deep sense of protection. In the 1980s, the village people fought for a long time to prevent the mining of this hill. They didn’t use guns; they only used prayers and human chains. They are like the guardians of a sacred garden. Whether you go to the Harishankar temple in Balangir or the Nrusinghanath temple in Bargarh, you will see people planting their hands on the stones with a deep, silent love.
If it is the hills of Gandhamardhan you are interested in, then you should know that the best time would be from October to March. It is cool outside and the forest is at its greenest during these days. If you are a brave person, there is one 16 kilometer trek that links the two temples along the mountain top. What do I think? Put on very sturdy shoes and bring along a bamboo stick. The trail is stony and if you happen to be alone, it could get scary. A local guide, someone who can take you to the “Bisalyakarani” and other medicinal leaves, is what you should get. Also don’t hasten your walk. Sitting by the stream, listening to the chirping of the hill birds, and letting the mountain heal you are the things that you can do.
