Keonjhar: Hemghar hill, a picture-postcard spot near Kadagada under Keonjhar block, has been a sacred place for the local populace.
However, the spot’s tourism potential remains untapped due to lack of proper attention by the government.
An ancient cave, that stretches believably miles underground, is the hallmark of the place. Most of the people living in the villages around the sacred hill solely depend on farming.
“Locals have a strong belief that when there is no rain, they flock together to the cave and organise a jajna inside it to propitiate the rain god,” said Gangadhar Amat, the priest of the temple of Sri Sri Bisweswaraya Mahadev.
It is also said that the hill has so many other mysterious caves and tunnels, but over the years, many have been blocked with crashing of boulders and earth.
Locals claimed that there was a tunnel road via the cave upto Santheibhanj hill near Palaspanga. Saints used to move through the tunnel, the locals said.
The temple was built atop the hill, about 400 ft above the ground level,
in 1997 with efforts of the locals. The locals have also built roads to reach the place.
The hill is rich with flora and fauna. But water scarcity has been a problem. Locals demanded provision of water in the area. People from various parts of the district come to the site, 12 km from the district headquarters.
Locals said if the administration takes steps to develop infrastructure at the site, it will attract tourists from across the state.
People believe that the place was once inhabited by saints. Though they have not seen the saintly persons, the latter used to appear in dreams of devotes and priests and give them commands, locals said.
“Hemanta Rishi was one of the saints living here ages ago. The hill is named after him – Hemghar,” said Gourachandra Dehury, a local resident.
Shivratri, Makar Sankranti, Kartik Purnima and water offering in the month of Shrabana are some of the major festivals organised here. Devotees enter the cave by crawling and have darshan of the deity.
To maintain greenery of the place, locals have planted a variety of saplings, but water is scare, said members of the temple management committee. PNN
