Gandhamardan Hills Trek, Nrusinghanath: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Gandhamardan Hills Trek

The route links two old temples on opposite slopes of the Gandhamardan hills, and pilgrims have long walked it during the Nrusingha Chaturdashi fair. The plateau it crosses has Buddhist remains often linked to the ancient centre of Parimalagiri.

Useful facts

Gandhamardan Hills Trek facts at a glance

Location

Nrusinghanath (Bargarh) to Harishankar (Balangir), Odisha

Altitude

Range high point about 1,060 m (3,480 ft)

Experience type

Hill crossing trek between two temples

Known for

Forest falls, medicinal plants and the pilgrim route

Time or schedule

A full day for about 16 km; best November to February

Why it matters

Why Gandhamardan Hills Trek is worth your time

Few walks in eastern India link two living temples across a protected forest. The Gandhamardan hills are revered as a fragment of the mountain Hanuman carried to bring healing herbs to Lakshmana, and Nrusinghanath and Harishankar face each other from opposite slopes. Walking from one to the other follows a long pilgrim tradition rather than a modern trekking circuit.

The range is also a refuge for plants. The Botanical Survey of India has recorded about 220 medicinal species here, and Odisha notified the hills as a Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2023 after a long local campaign against bauxite mining. The plateau holds Buddhist ruins that many scholars associate with the ancient monastery of Parimalagiri. A careful, low-impact walk respects all of that.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Falls behind the temple

   The walk begins up stone steps beside a chain of cascades and pools above Nrusinghanath Temple.

2. 02

   Plateau ruins

   The hilltop between the two temples has Buddhist remains linked to the ancient centre of Parimalagiri.

3. 03

   Two temples in one day

   You start at Nrusinghanath and finish at Harishankar, on the opposite slope of the same range.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

The walk starts behind Nrusinghanath Temple, on the northern foot of the range near Paikmal. Stone steps climb beside the stream past the first falls, Chal Dhar and Bhim Dhar, and then a forest path continues upwards. Sites listed at increasing distances from the temple include Kapil Dhar at about 4 km, Supta Dhar at about 7 km and Bhim Madua at about 11 km. From the plateau the route descends the southern slope to Harishankar Temple in Balangir district, about 16 km in all.

The Gandhamardan range rises to about 1,060 m (3,480 ft), and the crossing climbs from the temple at the foot of the hills to the plateau below that highest point, so expect a long, steady ascent followed by a knee-testing descent. Paths are rocky and can be slippery near water, and there are no shops or marked shelters. Start at first light, carry plenty of water and food, and arrange for a car to meet you at Harishankar.

Pilgrims walk the route in a day during the Nrusingha Chaturdashi fair in April or May, when the path is busy. At other times it is quiet, and a local guide who knows the way is essential. Avoid July to September, when the streams run high.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

From Nrusinghanath Temple near Paikmal to Harishankar Temple, across the Gandhamardan hills

Time needed

A full day, about 16 km one way

Best time

November to February; avoid the monsoon and the April to June heat

Walking level

Demanding

Senior comfort

This is a long day of climbing and descending on rough, often wet forest paths with no facilities. Older travellers should not attempt the crossing. They can enjoy the temple and the first falls behind it, then drive round the range to meet the walkers at Harishankar.

Tickets and access

There is no published permit or fee for the route, but the hills are a protected Biodiversity Heritage Site and forest rules apply. Go with a local guide and confirm current rules at the temple or with the forest office.

Plan it with

FAQs