Gandhamardan Hills, also known as Gandhamardan Parbat, is a hill in Odisha, India, located between the districts of Balangir and Bargarh. This hill is famous for its medicinal plants. The Gandhamardan mountain ranges are a rich source of medicinal plant diversity. According to the Botanical Survey of India, there are 220 plant species with medicinal value. Locals, on the other hand, claim that there are over 500 species of medicinal plants in this area. The buffer zone’s flora is the most vulnerable. Many once-abundant medicinal plant species, such as Clerodendron Indicum, Rauvolfia serpentina, and Plumbago zeylanica, have become scarce. A study found 2,700 angiosperms and 125 species of important medicinal plants out of a total of 220 medicinal, quasi-medicinal, and economically important plants.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Hanuman hauled this hill from the Himalayas on his shoulders to save Lakshman’s life. Sushena (the experienced physician in the Vanara Sena that followed Ram) had advised Vir Hanuman to bring Bisalyakarani ere dawn in the Treta Yug, so that Laxman may be resurrected. It was in the midst of Lord Ram’s battle with Ravan. Hanuman was unable to recognize the herb and was carrying a massive Himalayan bulk on his shoulders. A portion fell to the ground while flying above and toward Lanka (the kingdom of Ravan). Gandhamardan only refers to that portion. The Nrusinghanath Temple is located on the northern slope of this hill, while the famous Harishankar Temple is located on the southern slope of this hill.
On both sides of Gandhamardan, there are two Ayurveda colleges and hospitals, one in the Bargarh district and the other in Balangir. The hill was previously known for its Buddhist culture, and some Buddhist ruins can still be found there. The entire valley contains bubbling streams and gorgeous environs, making trekking in Gandhamardan Hill a genuinely enriching experience. Because it is surrounded by lush forests and attractive herbal plants and flowers, the visual splendor of the location are worth praising. It’s time to trek in the Gandhamardan Hills to experience the pure delight of nature and bring back memories that will last a lifetime.
Talasari Beach
Talasari beach is one of Odisha’s most beautiful and clean beaches. This beach is located in the Baleswar district of Odisha. which is located on India’s north-eastern coast. In Odia, the word ‘Talasari’ means a row of palm leaves. The word Tala also means rhythm, which is reflected in the lapping of the sea waves against the shore. The rows of palm trees that line the Talasari beach enhance the beauty of the beach, elevating it to the ranks of India’s top tourist destinations. Talsari’s beach is well-known for its fishing village and for those who enjoy seafood. Digha Beach is only 7 kilometers away.
The flowing Subarnarekha river raises the visual appeal of Talasari beach by a few notches. In addition, the Talasari beach has sand dunes and red crabs, which add to the beach’s appeal. The fishing hamlets and mangrove trees of Bichitrapur, which are located near this beach, draw visitors.
Overview
The area features long stretches of green paddy fields, numerous rivers, blue hills, and long beaches. Tall coconut trees, palm trees, and casuarina trees line the beach. The last beach on this stretch is Udaipur Beach.
When the stream is overflowing, the only way to get to the main beach is by boat. At times, however, one can walk across the dry riverbed. It place is a bit windy here.
Talasari is one of Odisha’s lesser-visited beaches. The Talsari beach is not as popular as the other beaches in Odisha. The sea at Talsari beach is calm and peaceful, as opposed to turbulent. It is the final beach in the state of Odisha to the north.
Attractions
- Red and orange flowers bloom on cashew trees in February. The cashew kernel dangles from the fruit, which is also edible.
- There are a few small hotels and an Odisha government-run Panthasala.
- The beach is relatively flat, with small, playful waves. In the distance, the Subarnarekha River’s estuary can be seen.
- On the beach, a quay has been built that serves as a fish market in the morning.
Transport
Talasari is 36 kilometers from Jaleswar, which is the nearest railway station, and Kolkata, which is 180 kilometers from Talasari. It’s also easily accessible from Baleswar. However, Talsari is only 8–10 kilometers from Digha from the West Bengal side. Two trains have recently been launched from Howrah (Kolkata) to New Digha, covering a distance of approximately 4 hours. To get to Talsari, take a cab or other local transportation (motor-van or bike) from the New Digha railway station. It would take about 15 minutes.
Jwalamukhi Temple
Jwalamukhi Temple is located 2.5 kilometers from the Baripada Bus Stand in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. The Temple is approximately 300-400 years old. Jwalamukhi Temple is one of Goddess Shakti’s 51 Shakti peeths dedicated to the “Goddess of Light,” also known as Goddess Jwalamukhi or the Flaming Mouth. A burning blue flame emerges from a rock chamber in this temple, and it is prayed for as a sign of the deity. Jwalamukhi Temple, though one of the most sacred Hindu temples, has a gold dome gifted by Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. The best time for tourists to visit is between the beginning of April and the middle of October, during the Navratri festival.
The Jwalamukhi fair takes place twice a year, during the Chaitra and Aswin Navratris. Devotees make their offerings around the ‘Jwala Kund,’ where the sacred fire burns. Near the Jwala Kund is the ‘Gorakh Tibbi,’ a center of the Gorakhpanthi Naths. Folk dances, songs, dramas, wrestling events, and athletics are only a few of the fair’s highlights. The biggest fair takes place at the Jwalamukhi Temple in Kangra.
Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri (Odia: meaning “hill of jewels”) is the location of a ruined maha vihara, which was once the most important Buddhist monastery in modern Odisha, India. It is located in the Jajpur district on a hill between the Brahmani and Birupa rivers. It is close to other Buddhist sites in the area, including Lalitagiri and Udayagiri, and is 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Bhubaneswar, the state capital, and 70 kilometers from Cuttack, the former state capital.
The Buddhist monuments were built starting in the 5th century CE and ending in the 13th century, with the peak era of activity being during the 7th and 10th centuries. The site was abandoned after the 16th century, and it is now in ruins. These were little known until the 1960s, when the Archaeological Survey of India (“ASI”) conducted significant excavation projects, revealing the site and unearthing large quantities of very excellent sculptures. “The finest in terms of carved stone decoration to have survived in India,” according to Monastery 1. Some of it was relocated to other museums, but much of it remained on site. A museum has recently opened at the location to hold many of the pieces.
Three quadrangular monasteries, as well as a spectacular stupa (Stupa 1) encircled by hundreds of smaller stupas of varied sizes, were the key elements (Monasteries 1 to 3). Monastery 1 is the largest, with a stunning carved doorway, a large open courtyard, cells, and verandahs facing the courtyard, and a great shrine centered on a giant Buddha.
The buildings are mostly made of brick (much of which has since been removed), but the doorways, pillars, and sculptures are mostly made of two different types of stone that contrast nicely. A “blue-green chlorite and the local khondalite, a garniferous gneiss with plum-colored overtones” are involved. The majority of the stone sculptures unearthed at the site, together with a few (27) metal and brass figurines, are of the “Post-Gupta” style, with the earlier ones maintaining the classic form of Gupta art. The images are large of Buddha and the Buddhist pantheon, and examination of the topic patterns over time reveals that Ratnagiri, like Nalanda in Bihar, became a center of Tantric Buddhism. Over two dozen enormous Buddha heads, in particular, have been discovered.