MAHENDRAGIRI HILLS

Context

Environmentalists have expressed alarm over rapid tourism expansion and construction projects in the Mahendragiri Hills of Odisha. Despite being declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) in 2022.

About Mahendragiri Hills

What it is

• A prominent mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, celebrated for its mythological, cultural, and ecological importance.
   
• Recognized as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, owing to its rich flora and fauna.
   

Location

• Situated in Gajapati district, Odisha, at an elevation of 1,501 meters (4,925 ft) above sea level.
   
• Approximately 175 km from Berhampur, lying at the heart of the Eastern Ghats.
   

Key Features

1. Hosts 1,348 plant species and 388 animals, many endemic or threatened; critical habitat for elephants and historically tigers.
2. Known as Mahendra Parvata in epics; significant in Ramayana, Mahabharata; Lord Parashurama’s penance site.
3. Home to Panchpandava temples, Lord Shiva shrines; attracts thousands of pilgrims annually, especially during Maha Shivaratri.
4. Inhabited by Saora and Kondh tribes relying on forests for traditional livelihoods and sustenance.
5. Fragile mountain ecosystems threatened by deforestation, unregulated tourism, habitat loss affecting elephant corridors, predators.
6. Ecological balance is crucial for the region's climate control; ancient temples declared protected monuments drawing devotees.

Significance

• Ecological – A biodiversity hotspot of the Eastern Ghats.
   
• Cultural – A sacred landscape embedded in India’s epic traditions.
   
• Tribal livelihoods – Sustains traditional forest-dependent communities.
   
• Tourism potential – A destination for eco-tourism and pilgrimage, requiring careful regulation.
   

Conclusion

The Mahendragiri Hills embody cultural reverence and biodiversity. Designated a Biodiversity Heritage Site, they face threats from unchecked tourism. Sustainable management should focus on eco-tourism, forest conservation, and tribal involvement to protect this unique fragile ecosystem.