Panchalingeswar is a small village in the proximity of Nilagiri Hills in the Balasore district of Odisha. The prime attraction of this place is the Panchalingeswar temple situated atop a hill. Beyond the hills, the dense forest of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary starts. The historical town of Nilagiri that was once a princely state in pre-Independence India is also nearby. A 2-3 days trip would be perfect for exploring these places covering all the sightseeing points comfortably.
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About Panchalingeswar and Nilagiri
The name Panchalingeswar came from the five Lingas that were found here and worshipped by devotees. There are two interesting mythological stories behind the presence of these Shiva Lingas. One belief is that Sita, the mythological character from Ramayana, had found them here during their exile. And the second belief is that King Banasura, the mythological character from Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana, started worshipping the Shivalingas here, getting attracted to the natural beauty of this place.
The nearest town, called Nilagiri, is 10 kilometres away from Panchalingeswar and has a long history that dates 1000 years back. Two Rajput brothers from the Chotanagpur royal family, Nila and Shankar, came to visit the Jagannath temple in Puri. The Gajapati King, being impressed with their personalities, gave them land here to stay back and rule. So one of them, Nila, stayed back here, and from his name, the place is named Nilagiri. Thereafter the descendants of his family ruled Nilagiri.
In the sixteenth century, one of the rulers, Raja Narayan Basant Bhujang Mandahta, acted as a commander of the Gajapati King and fought against the Muslim invaders. Because of his bravery, the Gajapati King gave his daughter’s hand to Raja Narayan Basant Bhujang Mandahta. Since then, the Nilagiri kingdom became more influenced by the culture of Puri. In the nineteenth century, the capital was shifted to the present-day location in the foothills of Swarnachuda mountain and is called Nijagada.
Places to see
Panchalingeswar Temple
The Panchalingeswar temple can be reached at the hilltop by ascending more than 300 stairs. There are quite a few temples on the hilltop and attract many visitors, particularly during the weekend. The five Lingas are washed continuously by a small stream, and they are hidden beneath the water. To touch them, one has to lie down on an adjacent rock and submerge the hand under the water.
The Magha Saptami Fair and the Maha Shivratri Fair are celebrated here with large gatherings.
Kuldiha Forest and Rissia Dam
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its Asiatic Elephant population. Locally the part of Kuldiha that is the habitat of elephants is called Tenda Elephant Reserve. The Sanctuary is spread over an area of 270 square kilometres.
It is a mixed deciduous forest dominated by Sal trees. Animals like elephant, leopard, gaur, sambar, giant squirrel and birds like hill Moyna, Woodpecker, Peafowl, Hornbills can be sighted here. Tourists can stay at Rissia Nature Camp inside the forest. The Kuldiha and Tenda FRH were also previously used for the night stay after getting proper permission. The permission to enter the forest can be obtained from Nilagiri Forest Office.
Rissia Dam is adjacent to the Kuldiha Forest and the best place to enjoy a sunset. If you are staying in the Rissia nature Camp, then you can also enjoy boating here.
Deokund
Deokund is another religious place near Panchalingeswar. Apart from that, the scenic beauty of Deokund also attracts many visitors around the year. It comes inside Simlipal National Park. Deokund literally means “bathing places of gods and goddesses” The kund or the pond can be reached by hiking through the jungle. The small waterfall, which is the source of kund water, is also spectacular. From the water body, the stairs go up to the Ambika Temple that a Bhanj Deo king built.
Nilagiri Palace and Temples
The residence of Nilagiri kings is a place to visit. The 20th-century palace is situated at one end of the town. There is a clock tower inside the palace. The Chau mandapa is built by the influence of Mayurbhanj rulers. You can also visit the ruins of the old palace near the town.
The Jagannath temple is close to the palace and another attraction in Nilagiri town. It is almost a replica of Puri Jagannath Temple. The trinity gods – Jagannath, Balaram and Suvadra, are worshipped here. “Rathayatra” or the Chariot Festival is celebrated here on a grand scale every year.
Maa Bhudar Chandi Temple near Sajangarh is also an old temple that locals frequently visit.
Khemkut Dam
Khemkut is another beautiful dam in the foothills of Panchalingeswar hills. It is a small dam often visited by elephants at night. You can see a submerged watchtower and a temple inside the dam. This watchtower was used once by Nilagiri kings for hunting. The submerged temple was made by one of the kings and is called Gada Chandi or Gupta Chandi temple. When the water level recedes during summer, locals get down in the water for fishing.
Stone carving village
Baulagadia, a village near Panchalingeswar, is famous for stone carving works. You can visit the workshops in the village where artisans are busy in their creation. You can also buy their artwork from the shops in front.
How to reach
Panchalingeswar is 10 kilometres away from Nilagiri town. Both are in the Balasore district in Odisha. The distance between Panchalingeswar and Balasore is 27 kilometres.
From Kolkata, Panchalingeswar is 270 kilometres away. It takes five hours to drive from Kolkata. While from Bhubaneswar, Panchalingeswar is 185 kilometres.
The nearest railway station of Nilagiri and Panchalingeswar is Balasore (code – BLS). Bhubaneswar (code – BBI) is the nearest airport.
Where to stay
The best place to stay in Panchalingeswar Is the OTDC Panthanivas. There are a few private hotels in Panchalingeswar where you can book your accommodations if the OTDC property is full.
OTDC Panthanivas has both ac and non-ac double bedrooms. There are also ac suites. But, I found the view from the ac rooms in the reception building is better than the view from the ac suites. However, the room size is smaller than the suites. The staffs are helpful, but the suite rooms lack proper cleaning. Both veg and non-veg food are available in the restaurant.
OTDC Panthasala, Panchalingeswar
Ph: (06782) 211959, email: otdc@panthanivas.com
Website: https://www.otdc.in/
Google Map: Panthasala, Panchalingeswar
When to visit
The best time to visit Panchalingeswar is during the winter months, between November-February. During monsoon, this place looks more vibrant with lots of greeneries around, but the nearby Kuldiha Forest is closed for visitors. In summer, the days can be scorching, and the temperature often crosses 400F.
Other nearby attractions
Book your trip: Resources
- Flight
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.
- Accommodation
Tripadvisor and Agoda are perfect for booking your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would greatly help you find one at your convenience.
- Travel Insurance
World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection from them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.
- Package Tour and Activities
You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company arranging small group tours and customising them per your requirements. You can also use Get Your Guide to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.
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