Trip to Harishankar, Orissa


Harishankar is a place of mythological and historical importance situated some 70 kms from Khariar town. Well, I knew this for a long time. But, it wasn’t until a chance phone call from my college friend Debananda that I actually thought of visiting the place.
So, on the morning of 22nd August, 2009, I set out for this place using a myriad of transport means; a Maruti Van, Hero Honda Glamour and finally the “Gyarah No. ki Bus”-my legs. My friend Debananda had an even more hectic journey-90 kms, 4 buses, and 6 hours. All these because of bad roads common in this part of the state.

But, finally when we reached Harishankar, all this pain was simply absorbed by the tranquil surroundings. Nestled at the foot of the famous Gandhamardhana Hills, it houses the temple of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The Ramayana mentions that when Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana were deeply injured in battle, Lord Hanuman, brought the Gandhamardhana hills from the Himalayan range as it was having lot of medicinal plants and herbs.However,he dropped it here on his way back.

We started with a darshan of the temple deities and continued on a small trek up the jungle path. On our way back from the mountain trek, we immersed ourselves at the slippery waterfall. The water was really cool and refreshing.
If one follows the jungle track, it is possible to reach Nrusinghanath on the other side of the mountain. Well, I definitely plan to trek the mountain from Harishankar to Nrusinghanath one day. But, that is for another day.

How to reach there?
Its about 70 kms from Bolangir Town which is 330 kms from Bhubaneswar.
Its about 70 kms from Khariar Town which is 180 kms from Raipur.