• Situated in the western part of Odisha, spread across the Bargarh and Bolangir districts.
• Covers an area of 190 square kilometers.
• Dense forests and hill slopes.
• Plays a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of local communities.

• Bauxite: Primary ore of aluminum.
• Graphite: Used in industrial applications.
• Manganese: Important for steel manufacturing.

1. Nrusinghanath Temple: A major pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Nrusingha, a half-lion, half-human incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
2. Harishankar Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu, set amidst picturesque surroundings.

Hiuen Tsang described the hill shrine as a Buddhist heritage site named Parimalagiri in his chronicles.

– Flora: Rich in medicinal plants.
– Fauna: Rich biodiversity, including diverse wildlife species.

Dasycarpa and spider peucetia harishankarensis are endemic to this hill.

Declared as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) by the Odisha government in March 2023 (making 37th BHS in India).

PYQ:

[2015] Consider the following pairs :

Place of Pilgrimage: Location

1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills

2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills

3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3