About the Place & what to see :

Nrusimhanath is a place of pilgrimage in Padampur Subdivision on the Northern flank of Gandhamardan hills of Western Orissa, situated about 32 km south West of Padampur and 3 kms from Paikmal connected by good motorable road. Located now in the newly formed Bargarh district, it is about 110 km from Bargarh and 64 km from Sambalpur via Baragarh. Here is situated the temple of Vidala-Nrusimhanath. The temple was built in the fourteenth century, though an earlier form existed from the ninth century. Stone steps lead past the temple to an enchanting waterfall, and further to a remote enclave where exquisitely carved relief carvings have been preserved. On Nrushimha-chatrurdasi day (in May) a big fair takes place here and thousands of pilgrims visit the place.


According to Oriya and Devnagari inscriptions, the temple was built by Baijal Dev in early 15th century AD. The seventh-century Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang was also spell-bound by the beauty of the temple during his visit here. He has also spoken about the Buddhist university of Parimala Giri which was near the Gandhamardhan hills. On the other side of the hill lies the equally well known Harishankar temple. Between the two temples lies a 16 km plateau where scholars believe, once existed the Buddhist university of Parimalagiri, referred to by Hiuen T?sang. The hills in this region are considered to be sacred, and were supposedly carried by Hanuman from the Himalayas.