Mahendragiri (Odisha)

For peak in Tamil Nadu, India, see Mahendragiri.

Mahendragiri
Mahendragiri Location of Mahendragiri, Orissa
Highest point
Elevation	1,501 m (4,925 ft)
Coordinates	18°58′28″N 84°22′05″E / 18.97444°N 84.36806°E / 18.97444; 84.36806Coordinates: 18°58′28″N 84°22′05″E / 18.97444°N 84.36806°E / 18.97444; 84.36806
Geography
Location	Paralakhemundi, Orissa, India
Parent range	Eastern Ghats
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike/scramble

Mahendragiri, is a mountain peak at in the Paralakhemundi (or Parlakimidi) subdivision of the district of Gajapati, Orissa, India.^[1] It is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 metres (4,925 ft).

Mythology

The Mahendra mountain is associated with east direction which clearly says that it is non other than Eastern Ghats. It is associated with mythological stories from the Ramayana as Mahendra Parvata (mountain). It is a 'Kula Parvata' along with Malaya, Sahyadri, Parijatra, Shuktiman, Vindhya and Malyavaan.^[2] In the Puranas and Mahabharata [we read] that Parashurama practiced penance for a long time on the Mahendra mountain.^[3]

The epic mountain Mahendragiri is situated in Gajapati district, Orissa.Legend says that it is the place where lord Parashurama,a Chiranjeevi staying eternally and doing tapasya.Temples built by Pandavas are seen. The main festival here is Shivaratri.

Geology

This is the second highest mountain peak of Odisha after Deomali in Koraput district. It has interesting archaeological remains.^[4]

Biodiversity hot spot

Mahendragiri hill and its surrounding areas are recognized as a biodiversity hot spot due to numerous medicinal plants and other species that are found here. A haven for medicinal plants, Mahendragiri Hills, which is part of the Eastern Ghats, is home to over 600 flowering plants. The faunal diversity of the region is huge and particularly known for being a herpetofaunal hotspot.^[5] The Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI had proposed the State Government of Odhisa in 1986 to declare the Mahendragiri hill as a Biodiversity Hotspot area. An expert committee of the Forest and Environment Department has also recommended that the bio-diversity hotspot Mahendragiri Hills should be declared as a Biosphere Reserve in 2014.^[6]

The Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve Committee, which was constituted in November, 2011, held its last meeting in December last after which it submitted its final report recommending that a Biosphere Reserve in Mahendragiri Hill Complex should be created.

As per the survey carried out by Odisha Space Application Centre, the core area could be spread over 42.54 km² while the buffer zone will have an area of 1577.02 km². The transitional area is estimated at 3095.76 km². The entire biosphere reserve, proposed at 4715.32 km² area.^[7]

Citations

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hindu temples of Orissa.

Mahendragiri: the pride of Eastern Ghats. Orissa Environmental Society. 1993.

Eastern Ghats

Rivers	Champavathi River Godavari Gosthani River Gundlakamma River Kaveri Krishna Kundu River Mahanadi Nagavali River Palar Penner River Ponnaiyar Rushikulya Sabari River Sarada River Sileru River Sweata Nadi Vasishta Nadi Vellar Vamsadhara River

Regions	Deccan Plateau Kolar Plateau

Hills	Bilgiri (Biligirirangan) Chitteri Erramala Kalrayan Karanthamalai Kolli Lankamalla Mahendragiri Mettur Nallamalla Pachaimalai Palamalai Palkonda Shevaroy Sirumalai Vada Chennimalai Velikonda

Waterfalls	Agaya Gangai Kiliyur Mayil Uthu Mangalam Periyar Pudur Megan Talakona Falls Ubbalamadugu Falls

States	Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Odisha Tamil Nadu Telangana West Bengal

Parks & Reserves	Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary Chilika Bird Sanctuary Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary Kanger Ghati National Park Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Nalbana Bird Sanctuary Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary Simlipal National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary

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