Gandhamardhan hills, Sacred mountain summit in Bargarh district, India
Gandhamardhan Hills is a mountain mass rising to 990 meters and forming a natural boundary between two districts of Odisha. The terrain supports forested slopes and natural springs used by surrounding communities.
Ancient Buddhist monasteries once occupied these hills, documented by 7th-century Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsiang. This early religious importance made the location a significant pilgrimage center.
The name derives from Sanskrit meaning 'fragrance of the mountains'. Two temples mark the landscape on opposite slopes where visitors encounter people gathering for prayer and worship.
The location holds over 200 species of medicinal plants harvested by local people for traditional medicine. Visitors should prepare for forest paths and rough terrain, ideally traveling with local guides.
Surrounding villages have gathered herbs from the slopes for generations and supply them to Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers. This trade connects local people directly with the global wellness industry.
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