Two Heritage Sites In Odisha’s Gandhamardan Hill Need Urgent Renovation

Bargarh: Residents of Bargarh district have urged the Odisha government to urgently take up the renovation of two heritage sites located in the Gandhamardan hill which are on the verge of extinction.

According to some historians, then-king of Patana, Baijala Dev, had built the Nrusinghanath temple on the foothills of Gandhamardan in 13th Century. While the conservation of the temple is presently entrusted to the State Archaeology Department, there has been a long-standing demand to hand over the temple to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Besides the Nrusinghanath temple, there are two heritage sites in the Gandhamardan hill— the Panda Ghara Nivas and Rajabasa.

Situated near the Nrusinghanath temple, the Panda Ghara Nivas is believed to have been constructed about 500 years ago. The Patana king had entrusted the management of the temple to the Panda Ghara Nivas.

However, due to lack of maintenance, it is now on the verge of collapse. Presently, one of the members of the Panda Ghara clan, Subodh Panda, works as a priest in Nrusinghanath temple.

Another heritage site on the top of the Gandhamardan hill is Rajabasa, a platform measuring around 3 meters in length and 3 meters in breadth and believed to be the sitting place of the king. Situated about 10 km from the Nrusinghanath temple, it’s also in a state of ruin.

According to well-known historian Dr Nabin Sahu, a Rajabasa was built about 300 years ago.