Know Everything About Mahanadi: The Largest River of Orissa

The Mahanadi River originates in the Sihawa Hills, in the forests of Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, fed by streams from the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. Its name means "The Great River" - it is the largest river in Odisha, and together with its tributaries forms the third largest river system of peninsular India after the Godavari and Krishna.

Mythological Origin: The river has been known through the ages by names such as Kanak Nandini, Chitrotpala, and Mahashweta. Legend links it to sage Rishi Shringi, whose disciple Mahanad woke him from deep meditation by setting himself ablaze, to stop a flood caused by an overflowing Goddess Ganga. The enraged sage turned Mahanad to ashes, but upon seeing the flooding, redirected Ganga to flow beneficially through the region - and pleased by the disciple's sacrifice, Ganga declared she would be named after him: Mahanadi.

Course: The Mahanadi flows eastward across Chhattisgarh and Odisha, forming a fertile delta before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Its longest tributary is the Seonath (Shivnath) River, and its largest is the Hasdeo.

Key Places: The Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in the world, submerged hundreds of temples and villages when built - some still become visible for a few weeks each summer when water levels fall. The uninhabited "Cattle Island" within the reservoir is home to cattle left behind decades ago by villagers, now living wild. The Leaning Temple of Huma and the Samleswari Temple in Sambalpur are important pilgrimage sites. Major cities on its banks include Sambalpur, Cuttack, and the port city of Paradip.