Mahendragiri Hills: Odisha

Mahendragiri Hills: Mahendragiri Hills are the second highest peak in Odisha with a height of 1,501 meters. This mountain is home to a diverse range of Flora and Fauna. This range is part of Eastern Ghats and is the second Biodiversity Heritage site in Odisha.

Apart from its diverse flora, fauna, and touristic landscapes, it has its connection to the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharat. Let us learn more about it!

Mahendragiri Hills- Overview

Location	In Odisha, India, part of the Eastern Ghats.
Population	Few people live here, mostly tribal groups like the Soura tribe.
Culture	Rich traditions and sacred Hindu myths.
Occupation	Farming and forest-based work.
Biodiversity	Full of different plants, birds, and animals.
Geography	High, rugged hills with lots of rain and greenery.
Conservation	Important to protect the area’s nature and local ways of life.

History of Mahendragiri Hills

In the Gajapati district of Odisha, the Mahendragiri Hills have a rich history entwined with religious beliefs and possible archaeological value. In ancient Hindu Literature, this hill is named as Mahendra Parvata, as per epics like Ramayana, Puranas and Bhagavata Puranas, Lord Parshurama (A Cheerangivi) has been meditating there for all eternity.

Height of Mahendragiri Hills

Mahendragiri Hills, located in the Eastern Ghats in the state of Odisha, India, have a peak that rises to an elevation of approximately 1,501 meters (4,925 feet) above sea level.

Peak of Mahendragiri Hills

The peak of Mahendragiri Hills is Mahendragiri itself, reaching an elevation of approximately 1,501 meters (4,925 feet) above sea level. It is located in the Eastern Ghats in the state of Odisha, India.

Geography of Mahendragiri Hills

In the heart of Eastern Ghats, 175 km away from Berhampur in the Gajapati district lies Mahendragiri Hills. Although the majority of this hill range is now in Andhra Pradesh, the district of Gajapati is home to the 4,943-foot peak Mahendragiri. The slopes are open to the sea wind. Once an important historic harbour, Barua is where the river Mahendratanaya enters the Bay of Bengal after flowing through Mandasa and down the mountain in the east. In these hill woods, the Saoras are the predominant tribe, yet they are classified as a vulnerable tribal group.

Flora and Fauna of Mahendragiri Hills

Mahendragiri Hills houses peacocks, flying squirrels, elephants, spotted deer, leopards and even talking maynahs. The granite hill range to the north-west and south continues along like enormous waves, and the shifting clouds between the peaks create a constantly shifting panorama. Mahendragiri is a trekker’s paradise because of the pristine waters of the revered Mahendratanaya, the far blue sea, and the towering mountain.

Mahendragiri is rich in biodiversity; it is home to species from the Nilgiris in south India, the Western Ghats, and the Himalayas. The biodiversity of the hill is incredibly rich and diverse, with 642 kinds of flowering plants—of which 37 are orchids—58 types of flowerless plants, and 5 species of lichens. The lichens found here are significant from an ecological and medicinal standpoint, as they are not present in the Eastern Ghats. There are at least 300 different types of medicinal plants in the Mahendragiri habitat.

Temples on Mahendragiri hills

At the summit of the mountain are three temples. The Pandava brothers and their mother Kunti, who travelled to Mahendragiri during their banishment, are honoured in these temples.

1. Kunti Temple: Located at one end of the mountain’s level summit, the Kunti temple is thirty feet tall. The temple is littered with a few statues and dressed stone slabs.

2. Yudhisthira Temple:  Across the flat summit of the mountain lies the temple dedicated to Yudhisthira, which rises sharply from the earth. All four of the Chaitya arches are the only sculptures on the outside walls.

3. Bhima Temple: Scholars believe that the Bhima temple was constructed just after the Gupta era, making it the oldest of these temples. There isn’t any noteworthy sculptured ornamentation. Many people refer to this temple as the “Gokarnesvara Temple” in the area.

Tourism in Mahendragiri Hills

In addition to being a site of worship, it is a well-known tourist destination in eastern Odisha. Numerous tourists hike up the hill when they arrive. To see the three Pandava temples, travellers go to the top of the mountain. The hikers claim that Mahendragiri Hill is quite challenging to ascend.
Tourists are drawn to the hill where the Mahendratanaya River runs. Shivratri is the primary holiday observed in this area. Visitors are drawn to this location by the lush forest and surrounding natural splendour. Tourists are drawn to the stunning waterfall at the base of Mahendragiri Hills. In the Gajapati district, the Mahendragiri peaks and hills are well-liked tourist destinations.

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

A second biosphere reserve in Mahendragiri, in the southern portion of the state, has been suggested by the Odisha government. It is a mountain located in the state’s Gajapati district. It is 1,501 metres above the ground. The second-highest mountain in the state is Mahendragiri.

Mahendragiri Hills- Important Facts

• ·Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve, the state’s proposed second biosphere reserve, has an area of around 470,955 hectares.
• ·The Biosphere Reserve Committee’s feasibility report for the planned project states that the hill environment serves as a transitional zone between the Himalayan and southern Indian flora and fauna. As a result, the area becomes a genetically diverse biological estuary.
• ·The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change will now review the feasibility study that was presented to the government.
  Environmentalists recently asked the state government to submit a proposal to the centre for designating Mahendragiri a biosphere reserve during a workshop titled Integrated Development of Mahendragiri Hill Complex.
• ·Declaring Mahendragiri as a biosphere reserve is simple because the site’s protected archaeological remnants were at one point included in the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites.
  The people that live at Mahendragiri are Soura people. The Kandha tribe and the Soura tribe are two highly vulnerable tribal groups.
• ·Mahendragiri features diversified vegetation, according to the assessment of the proposed Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve. With over 1,358 different plant species, the diverse flora of Mahendragiri accounts for 40% of all known flora in Odisha.
  Additionally, 29 of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s list of 41 vulnerable medicinal plant species in Odisha are located in the biosphere reserve region.
  388 animal species make up the faunal richness of the hills, including 165 bird species, 27 mammal species, 23 snake species, three turtle species, 15 amphibian species, and 19 lizard species.

Conclusion

The Mahendragiri Hills are a distinctive combination of natural beauty, cultural value, and possible historical depth that rise above Odisha. Rising to be the second-highest mountain in the state, Mahendragiri is recognised as a Biodiversity Heritage Site because of its remarkable natural variety. The hills are associated with myths from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and the existence of old temples suggests a mysterious history. Mahendragiri, which provides a window into the state’s religious customs and an alluring terrain for exploration, is a monument to Odisha’s rich cultural past.

Related Links

1. Eastern Ghats
2. Highest Mountain Peaks in India
3. 7 Major Mountain Ranges in India

Mahendragiri Hills- FAQ’S

Attending to the religious significance of Mahendragiri Hills, which epic mentions it?

The religious significance of Mahendragiri Hills is mentioned in Ramayana

What is the highest peak in Eastern Ghats?

Mahendragiri Hills is the highest peak in Eastern Ghats

Which was Odisha’s first biosphere reserve?

Similipal Biosphere Reserve was Odisha’s first biosphere reserve.

What is the major type of plant found in Mahendragiri hills?

Medicinal plants are the major type of plant found in Mahendragiri Hills

Where is the Mahendragiri hill exactly located?

Mahendragiri Hills are located exactly 175 km from Berhmanpur in the Gajapati district