Origin Source of the River
The Mahanadi River originates in the foothills of the Eastern Ghats, fed by several small streams and rivulets in the region. The main source of the Mahanadi River is the Sihawa Hills in the forests of Dhamtari in Chhattisgarh.
Interesting Facts about Mahanadi River
Mahanadi means ‘The Great River’. The Mahanadi River is the largest river of Odisha and along with its tributaries forms the third largest river system of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna.
Hirakud Dam, built across the Mahanadi River near Sambalpur, is the longest earthen dam in the world.
Hundreds of temples were submerged along with villages when the Hirakud Dam was built on the Mahanadi. In peak summer months, when the water level falls, some of these temples become visible for a few weeks and get submerged again with the onset of the monsoon.
There is an uninhabited island called ‘Cattle Island’ in the Hirakud Reservoir of the Mahanadi, which is populated completely by wild animals. The island is a submerged hill, on which cattle left behind by villagers have been living free for decades.
Rajim Kumbh Mela is an annual two-week long festival celebrated around February to March, held in Rajim, located on the banks of the River Mahanadi. During the same time, music and dance events are held as a part of the ‘Rajim Lochan Mahotsav’.
The states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh have an ongoing dispute regarding sharing of the waters of the Mahanadi, and Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (2018) was set up to resolve the issue.
What is the course of Mahanadi River?
The Mahanadi River flows in an eastward direction across the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Towards its eastern end, the Mahanadi River forms a fertile delta region before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
Main tributaries of Mahanadi River
The Seonath or Shivnath River: the longest tributary of the Mahanadi
Jonk
Mand
Ib
Hasdeo: The largest tributary of the Mahanadi.
Ong
Tel
Bangua
Pairy
Sondur
Joan
Kharun
Shivnath
What are the key tourist and spiritual places located around the Mahanadi River?
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary: An important place for environmental conservation and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna in Bargarh District in Odisha.
Cattle Island: (mentioned in section on interesting facts). Other interesting spots in the Hirakud reservoir include Bat island, Sunset Island and Peacock Island.
The Leaning Temple of Huma: It is a temple dedicated to Lord Bimaleshwar, situated on the bank of the Mahanadi, near Sambalpur. The main building of the temple has a slight tilt, while the pinnacle is upright.
Samleswari Temple: A revered temple in Sambalpur, dedicated to Maa Samaleswari, also known as Samalei Maa, who is the most important deity in Odisha after Lord Jagannath.
Maa Bhattarika Shakti Peeth Temple: A temple in Badamba dedicated to Maa Bhattarika, a manifestation of Goddess Shakti.
Barabati Fort: The ruins of an ancient fort in Cuttack. It is considered as a Monuments of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Netaji Birth Place Museum – This is the childhood home of the great freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Cuttack, which has been converted into a museum. It contains letters, books, documents, and other articles that belonged to Netaji.
Odisha State Maritime Museum: This museum in Cuttack has ten galleries that offer displays on maritime history, boat and ship building, coastal monuments of Odisha and navigation.
What is the mythological origin story of Mahanadi River?
Through ages this river has been known by various names such as Kanak Nandini, Chitrotpala, Nilotpala, Mahananda, and Mahashweta. In the Vayu Purana, the river Mahanadi was referred to as Nilotpala, while in the Matsya Purana, it was called Chitrotpala. River Mahanadi is linked to the ancient sage Rishi Shringi and his disciple Mahanad. When the great sage was deeply engrossed in meditation, Goddess Ganga, appeased with his worship, filled up his water pot (kamandal). When he did not notice her, she started overflowing causing havoc in the region. His disciple, Mahanad tried to wake Rishi Shringi up but failed. He finally managed to break the meditation by setting the sage ablaze. Woken from his meditation, Rishi Shringi was enraged and turned Mahanad into ashes. He then noticed the flooding caused by Goddess Ganga and brought her back and set her to flow in a different direction, which would benefit the people. Pleased by the sacrifice of the disciple, Goddess Ganga declared that in this region, she would be named after him, Mahanadi.
What are the key cities located on the bank of the Mahanadi River?
Rajim: Located in Chhattisgarh at the confluence of the Pairy River with the Mahanadi. Famous for Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple, the Rajiv Lochan Temple and the Kumbh Mela festival.
Champaran: Small town in Chhattisgarh, the birthplace of Jagadguru Shrimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu.
Sambalpur: A historic city known for its handloom textiles, Sambalpuri sarees, temples, Buddhist heritage and cultural traditions.
Cuttack: A major city of Odisha, situated at the confluence of the Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers. It is renowned for its historic landmarks and silver filigree work.
Paradip: This town is located near the mouth of the Mahanadi River, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Paradip is an important port city and industrial centre, handling cargo traffic and petroleum products.
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