Top 5 Best Places to Visiting in Mayurbhanj – Waterfalls, Temples & Wildlife

1.Devkund Waterfall

People consistently admire the natural beauty that exists throughout Mayurbhanj. Several cultural landmarks away from urban growth and city population attract numerous visitors. Devkund has become an important destination in the district that attracts people visiting with their friends or families. Devkund stands as the sacred bath which both Gods and Goddesses have used. More than 100 steps lead visitors to the Devi Ambika Mata (Durga temple) which stands at the origin point of the river and deserves to be seen. Worship ceremonies continue in the temple which the Mayurbhanj monarchs constructed during 1940.

Devkund’s charm increases through the bird songs of known and unknown species as well as various colored butterflies flying around. This location holds great significance for Hindu culture practicing people because they consider it the holy bathing site for their deities so they receive spiritual blessings when they touch the water. The geographical area of Devkund waterfall exists within Mayurbhanj district.

The waterfall of Devkund draws national fame from the steep descent of water from the hill peaks. The fame of Devkund Waterfall in Bhira Patnus gained from social media resulted in heavy crowds at the site. Three waterfalls unite at this spot which local belief says creates the source of Kundalika River. Visitors need to journey for three hours from their base village throughout the forest and dam backwater to locate this place called ‘Devkund’. Most of the expedition runs next to the river which follows beside and across the expedition path through a mix of dry and moist woodlands. Trekkers must use the services of a guide because the surrounding forest area is quite dense.

2.Kichakeswari Temple

Kishakeshwari Temple is Hindu Goddess Chamunda, alias Kali temple in Khiching, during ancient capital of Bhanja rulers ,which is 205 km far away to Balasore and 150 km to Baripada in the Mayurbhanj district, north Orissa. The largest temple in the town is of Goddess Kichakeswari, the family goddess of the ruling chiefs of Mayurbhanj. The Goddess Kiscakeshwari was not only ishtadevata of Bhanj dynasty but also the Rajya devata. The temple of chlorite is architecturallyníku and nicely carved from the outside of it. This temple is one of the finest temple of Kalinga architecture.

The architecture of the temple is of the same time as Brahmeshwara and Lingaraj temples of Bhubaneswar. The height of the temple is 100 feet (30m.) and the total floor space is 1,764 square feet (163.9 m2.) However it all started out when the original temple was built sometime between the 7th or the 8th century and had fallen into decline for allowing it to fall into the hands of vandals. But undeterred was the then and last ruler of Princely State of Mayurbhanj Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo by the state of Mayurbhanj.

The temple built with back chlorite faced east is the one which is built of mere rekha vimana and has a platform on high of one meter & twenty. The interior is a single room in which the Goddess deity is situated and worshiped. The temple façade is attracting for magnificent sculptures like nayakas, naga-Nagin, Ganesha, Kirtimukha, Khakharamundi, other divine gods and goddesses. The huge pillars carved along with Nagin is the identity of this temple. The shrine holds a beautiful ten-armed terrifying bony image of Chamunda-Kali with outstanding veins system, rib and hollow belly, adorned with garland of head made of skulls and placed on the dead body.

3.Barehipani Waterfalls.

It is the generosity of Odisha that it allows travelers to come and savor the view of second tallest fall in India, Barehipani. It is this waterfall that entraps some land within the Simlipal National Park existent in the Mayurbhanj district which is the home for the wild elephant, gaurs (Indian bison), Bengal tigers and chausingha (four horned antelope). It is obviously the flowing Budhabalanga River, which way this waterfall takes up residence and flows softly over the strong Meghasani mountain.

One of the most striking things of this well known waterfall of Odisha is his two plunges who descends from a edge cliff of 399 m where the highest drop reaches 259 m. Additionally, people who come across the national park for watch Bengal and White Tiger their experience gets more exciting and amazing with the presence of this popular dot in the very habitat of the thriving flora of the area.

Travelers like to stop and gaze at the view of the height of Barehipani Fall and meanwhile, enjoy its thundering sound as it makes its way down. Tourist can also visits another popular water-fall in Odisha, Joranda Falls name is known as the 19th largest water-fall in the country and is located inside the Simlipal.

4.SIMILIPAL NATIONAL PAR

Similipal, originates its name from ‘Simul’ (Silk Cotton) tree, is a national park and a tiger Reserve at the northern part of Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district. Tiger reserve is spread over 2750 sq km with a couple of beautiful waterfall like Joranda & Barehipani. The park is bordered by high plateaus and hills with twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515 mmsl). At least twelve rivers traverse across the plain region with all of it flowing into Bay of Bengal. The prominent ones among them are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.

This park is famous as for tiger, elephant and hill mynah. It possess highest tiger in Orissa state. 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish and 164 species of butterflies have been recorded in the Park.

5.FLORA AND FAUNA

A total of 1078 species of plants of which 94 species of orchids find shelter in the park. The vegetation constitute various forest and habitat types with Northern tropical moist deciduous stands out in some semi-evergreen patches. Sal is the prevailing tree species here. The park also has a large grassland which is an grassland for several of these grazing herbivores. These forests also have a number of essential medicine plants along with the plants emit aroma.

The park is popular for tiger, elephant and hill mynah. It has the maximum number of tigers in the state of Orissa. 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish and 164 species of butterflies have been recorded in the Park.

Apart from the tiger, the large mammals are leopard, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, four-horned antelope, giant squirrel and common langur. Grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill and Malabar pied hornbill are also there. Besides there is a considerable variety of reptiles as well in the park which have the longest venomsnake the King cobra and the Tricarinate hill turtle. Aid of the Mugger Management Programme at Ramatirtha has worked wonders and grown the mugger into a thriving population on the banks of the Khairi and Deo.

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