Rest of Odisha · Waterfall shrine on Gandhamardan hill
Harishankar Temple
A temple to Vishnu and Shiva together where a stream cascades over smooth granite slides beside the shrine — set on the herb-rich Gandhamardan hills of the Ramayana.
History & legend
Built in the 14th century by Queen Durlabha Devi of the Chauhan king Vaijjala Dev of Patnagarh, Harishankar is one of the few shrines where Hari (Vishnu) and Shankar (Shiva) are worshipped as one. Gandhamardan is identified with the hill from which Hanuman carried the sanjeevani herb in the Ramayana; the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (7th century) described a Buddhist university, Parimalagiri, on its plateau whose ruins survive. A 1980s people's movement stopped BALCO's bauxite mining here — one of India's first environmental victories.
Timings
5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Best time to visit
October–February; monsoon for the falls
Entry fee
Free
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹9,500 · 380 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- Natural granite water slide
- Harihara deity
- Gandhamardan forest trek
- Nrusinghanath on the far side
Local tip: The 16-km trek across Gandhamardan to Nrusinghanath is a classic — start early with a local guide.
On the map
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