Nrusinghanath Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda is the nearest airport.

• By train

  The nearest railway station is Baragada Road.

• By road

  The road route to the temple runs via Baragada and Padampur.

Why devotees come here

Nrusinghanath Temple stands at the foot of the Gandhamardhan hills in Paikmal, Odisha. It is dedicated to Nrusingha, an incarnation of Vishnu, and holds special significance alongside Harishankar Temple on the far side of the hills.

Nrusinghanath Temple stands at the foot of the Gandhamardhan hills. Its deity is Nrusingha, an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple holds special significance together with Harishankar Temple, which stands on the opposite side of the same hills.

Legend says that the demon Musika Daitya was trapped in a tunnel. Nrusinghnath, also called Marjara Keshari, has guarded the place ever since. King Baijal Singh Dev of Patna laid the foundation of the temple in the early 15th century CE.

The temple is about 45 feet tall. It has two parts: the sanctum, where the deity sits, and the Jagamohan hall in front of it. It is built in the Deula style of Kalinga architecture, which is prevalent in the Odisha region. Pilgrims come for darshan of the deity and for the fair held each year in May, when thousands gather from far and near. The temple is set against the Gandhamardhan hills, and it sits in Paikmal, in Bargarh district of Odisha.

Festivals

• Vaishakha shukla chaturdashi (May)Nrusimha Chaturdashi fair

  An annual big fair draws thousands of pilgrims from far and near.

Tips for your visit

• Chal Dhar, 400 m from the temple, and Bhim Dhar, 425 m away, can also be visited.
• A recent renovation included work on separate waiting halls for men and women, modernised toilets and a ramp for visitors with disabilities.

Questions people ask