Mahendragiri Hills Latest News
Recently, environmentalists warn of unchecked tourism projects in Odisha’s Mahendragiri hills
About Mahendragiri Hills
- Location: It is located in the Gajapati district of Odisha in the middle of Eastern Ghats.
- It was declared as a Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2022 due to its rich flora and fauna.
- It is part of an almost unbroken chain of hills between the Mahanadi and the Godavari rivers.
- It is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 metres above sea level.
- Tribal Communities: It is home to the Saora (Saura) and Kondh tribes.
- Biodiversity: It supports 1,348 species of plants and 388 species of animals, many of them endemic and threatened.
- Rivers: The major river in the area is the Mahendra Tanaya, originating from the hill top of Mahendragiri.
- Vegetation: The vegetation of the region is marked with the presence of tropical dry and wet deciduous forest range.
- The principal rock types of the hill range are granite, charnokite, khondalite with intrusive veins of chert, chalcedony, quartz of both crystalline and opec forms.
- The site also attracts pilgrims to its Panchpandava temples.
Source: DTE
Mahendragiri Hills FAQs
Q1: Where is Mahendragiri Hills located?
Ans: Odisha
Q2: Which river originates from Mahendragiri Hills?
Ans: Mahendratanaya River
