Goabirder

The Soul of Incredible India - Dhanobeni Temple

The Soul of Incredible India series - 

The Sun Temple at Konark

Kichakeswari Temple

Dhanobeni Temple

The Leaning Temple of Huma

Dhanobeni Temple

ODISHA - This venerable land of temples has much to offer in terms of the best known ancient all the way to the modern temples. And then there are those that are not well known except to the avid trekkers and explorers. 

Dhanobeni is one such place. I have no idea of it's history since we did not see a soul there and have not found anything on the internet either. But the remote location and the serene environs drew me to it. 

Dhanbeni village is just off the main highway to Keonjhar and about 20 Kms to the south of it. Dhanobeni temple in it's vicinity is built on this gigantic rocky hill which seems to be a single rocky outcrop jutting out of a boulder-strewn landscape. Surrounded by a little stream on one side and some fields, it is a very scenic location! The pictures will speak for themselves.....  

It's super steep though!

The small shrine on top is a simple white-washed structure with 2 Nandis at the entrance. One looked old and the other a relatively new sculpture. The sanctum was closed but I assume there would be a Shivling inside. 

A tiny oasis from millennia of flying dust which has probably formed a thin layer of soil up on the rocky hill has supported so much greenery that it is wondrous to see... Trees have grown there, some of them with their roots encircling rocks and yet thriving!

One word of caution though. To comfortably climb this I would recommend closed shoes with good grip since there is no path to go up. One just has to climb the colossal rock! But you won't regret it!