Nalabana Bird Sanctuary

The Nalabana bird sanctuary, or Nalbana Island, is an area of marshy land in Chilika Lake, named Ramsar. It was pronounced a bird safe-haven under the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. Thousands of birds descend in the migratory season at the center of the park. After the monsoon, the island disappears because it comes in contact with water again after the monsoon.

 Nalaban means a weed – laden island in the Odia language. It is a prominent island at the center of lake with an area of 15.53 km 2 (6.00sq miles). During the monsoon season, the island gets completely submerged. When the winter monsoon is less, the level of the lake decreases and the island is slowly open, the wide number of birds flocks to its surface on a wide variety of issues. Nalbana was notified in 1987 and declared a bird sanctuary under the wildlife protection act 1973.

Many types of birds are found here, including rare birds. The rare birds found in the lake are Asiatic dowitchers(NT), dalmatian pelicans (VU), pallas’s fish – eagles (VU), very rare migrant spoon – bill sandpipers (CR) and spot – billed pelicans(NT). The white – bellied ocean hawk, outsider kite, brahminy kites, kestrel, swamp harriers, and the world’s most far and wide flying predator, peregrine bird of prey, are seen here.  Along with the changing beaches of the lake and islands, too many small – footed noisy birds are seen in a narrow band. These include plovers, collar pratincole, ruff, dunlins, snips and sandpiper. Larks, wagtails, and lappings are also found on moderates. The long-footed avocets, the stilt and the godwits feeding in to the deep waters.

The high vegetation areas of the lake support moorhens, coots and jacanas. With kingfisher and rollers, the herons of the pond can be seen along the coasts and nocturnal herons. Small eras are seen on the walls around the lake, small herds of the brahminy duck are also seen in compact herds of the brahminy duck, as well as shovellers, pintails, gadwall, blue-greens, pochards, geese and fogies.

The nesting colonies of the Ganges, billed turn and river tern are found on the island of Nalbana. In 2002, the Bombay Natural History Society recorded 540 horses of the Indian River turn on the island of the largest Southeast Asia nest.

Mahendragiri

Mahendragiri is a mountain in the Rayagada sub – section of the Gajapati district of state Odisha in India. It is located at a height of 1,501 m (4,925 feet) between the Eastern Ghats. After Deomali, it is the second highest peak.

HISTORY:

 Mahendragiri is associated with the Ramayana as the mountain of Mahendra pravata. Mahendra Giri is related to the name of Mahendra Parvati from Ramayana. Along with Malay, Sahyadri, Parijatra, Shuktiman, Vindhya and Malavayan, it is a Kul-pravat. The Puranas describe that when Lord Rama broke the sacred bow of Shiva, Parasurama was mediating on Mahendragiri. Mahendragiri is situated in the district of Gajapati of Odisha. The legend says that this is the place where Lord Parshurama, an eternal life, lives for all time and meditates. Parasurama is the sixth incarnation of Vishnu in the Hindu religion and he is one of the chiranjeevis, who will appear at the end of the Kaliyuga as the guru of Kalki, the tenth and last incarnation of Vishnu. He had many characteristics, including aggressiveness, war and heroism; Also, peace, sanity and patience. According to chapter 2.3.47 of Bhagavata Purana, he retired on the Mahendra Mountain. Only Vishnu avatar, who never dies never returns to abstract Vishnu and lives in meditation. Apart from this, he is the only Vishnu incarnation that exists in some of the versions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata in conjunction with Rama and Krishna. The temples, which are said to have been built by the Pandavas. The primary celebration commended here is Shivratri.

REASION OF BIODIVERSITY HOT SPOT:

Mahendragiri Hill and its encompassing regions are perceived as biodiversity problem areas because of numerous restorative plants and different species found here. A heaven for therapeutic plants, Mahendragiri slopes, which is essential for the Eastern Ghats, is home to more than 600 blooming plants. The biodiversity of this region is very large and is known especially to be a herpetofaunal hotspot.

The ministry of environment and forests, government of India, in 1986, had proposed the state government of Odisha as Mahendragiri hill as biodiversity hotspot area. An expert committee of forest and environment department has also recommended that biodiversity hotspot Mahendragiri hills should be declared as a biosphere reserve in 2014.

The Mahendragiri biosphere save advisory group, which was set up in November 2011, held its last gathering in December, after which it presented its last report suggesting setting up a biosphere reserve at Mahendragiri hill complex.

 According to the survey conducted by the Odisha space application centre, core area 42.54 k. m Extends to 2 while the area of the buffer zone is 1577.02. m Transitional zone is estimated to be 3095.76 km 2. The entire biosphere reserve, 4715.32 km is proposed in the area.

Daringbadi

Daringbadi is a famous and spectacular hill station. which is situated in the Kandhamala district of the state of odisha in estearn india. Widely known as “odisha’s Kashmir”, it is located at an altitude of 915 m and is a popular tourist destination.

 In the days of British rule, there was a British officer named drawing sahib who was in charge of this place. Over the years, the place was named after him who spelt the meaning of the village along with the Daringbadi. More than 50% of the population here constitutes set community of aboriginal tribes.

 The temperature level of the Daringbadi is often recorded below 0 ° c. It is also well known for the production of improved quality of organic turmeric which is already G.I. tag. It is also famous for harvesting ginger.

To Travel:

 Regular bus services can reach Daringbadi (246 km) from the Bhubaneswar state Capital. The nearest railway station is in Brahampur (119 km).

 From Daringbari Berhampur it can be reached through sorda (nh-59) which is near about 120 km (75 miles), or Bhanjanagar – G.Udayagiri (nh-117) which is through the medium of approximately 180 km (110 miles) – the route of Bramhanigan which is about 145 km (90 miles)

It is about 49 kilometres (30 miles) from Baliguda, 30.5 kilometres (19.0 miles) from Raikia and 105 (65miles) kilometres from Phulbani.

Harisankar Temple

Harisankar temple situated in the slopes of the gandhamardhan hillsin the district of Balangir in Odisha in Ondia.

It is popular for its natural scenery and for its association with two Hindu gods, Vishnu and Siva. It’s such a beautiful tourist place. Every day there are lots of people coming here to visit. Here is waterfall also, that water fall attracts more people.

As a holy place, with a stream passing through the granite bed, it has given some visitors a feeling of peace. In front of the hills of Gandhamardana there is a temple of Narasimhanath. The plateau between the two temples has found ancient Buddhist ruins, considered to be the ruins of the ancient Perimalgiri University.

HISTORY:

 The god of harishankar was discovered in the 14th century by a Chauhan dynasty king of Patna state of Odisha. The goddess has been worshipped ever since. A dancing Ganesh statue has been found, which can be traced back to the beginning of the 12th century. The temple was built by the order of queen durlabha devi, then queen of king Vaijjal dev Chauhan.

LOCATION:

 It is situated in the district of Balangir of Odisha. The nearest railway station is on Harishankar road, which is only 32 km from the temple. Regular taxis are available for temple from this railway station.

FESTIVAL:

 Here all Ekadashi, Eankranti, Makar Sankranti, Shiva ratri, Megha mela festivals are celebrated.