Visit Gupteswar famous for Shrine of Lord Shiva nearRamagiri, Koraput, Jeypur of Orissa enriched with natural beauties, High Hill Ranges, Deep Forest

Gupteswar is a famous cave shrine of Lord Shiva. It is located at the top of a limestone hill named Badudi Hill which is about 500 meters above sea level.

The place is surrounded by a dense forest of Sal trees and flanked by Kolab river, and Sabari River, a 2 m high Shiva Linga stands in the cave since unknown times means it is created from nature locally says Patal Futa. The shrine is called Gupteswar which means the ' Lord Siva of Hidden Place.'. It is so named because it was lying hidden in the cave up to 1665 for a very long period.

History: In 1665 the King of Jeypur State Maharaj Sri Bikram Dev was got a Order from Lord Shiva in dream to find out the Hidden Place where the Lord Shiva was established. Then King started searching all forests and hills there around and got the Holly Shrine in a cave and started worshiping since then. The Great Maha Shiva Ratri is being celebrating every year.

One can reach it by climbing the 1000 steps flanked with rows of champaka trees. The entrance of the cave is about 3m wide and 2 m in height. There are also several other caves nearby. Inside the second cave there is a large statue called Kali Gai (Black Cow) some people worship it as Kamadhenu the divine cow means who fulfills any wills of devotees, One have to wait there with outstretched palms under the Panha of Kali Gai to collect drops of water which fall only at long intervals and getting a drop of water from Kali Gai is the bestow of God to be blessed with all happiness and prosperity.

The Place is popular with the name of Gupteswar or as Gupta Kedar in the vicinity, this holly place is endowed with unusual panoramic natural beauty, and is associated with Shri Ramachandra the great hero of the epic Ramayana. According to mythology, the linga was first discovered by Lord Ram when he was roaming in the then Dandakaryana forest with wife Sita and brother Laxman and later worshipped it calling it Gupteswar. The poet Kalidas too, described the scenic beauty of Ramgiri forest where the cave temple is referred to in his famous ‘Meghadutta'. The nearby hill has been named "RAMAGIRI.

However, with the passing of time, the temple was unused since the King Sri Bikram Dev searching to get it. Lingam was being worshipped by the tribes of Koraput region. During Shivaratri Celebration Gupteswar Temple draws over 200.000 devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chattisgarh. People suffering from incurable diseases come here to worship the god and remain here for months in the hope of getting cured.

Other Attraction Places: Never forget to see the near by places, which are also having great value for your visit Gupteswar.

Paravadi: Paravadi means Para: Pigeons and Vadi: Rack means the Rack for Pigeons. Where you can find thousands of Pigeons of different color living there and popular folklore is that the Pigeons living there are having a great moral and religious value in their behavior. And it is also believed that some of pigeons are living since the mythological age.

Sabari River: Sabari means the feminine word of Sabara the local name of Tribal people and called so in Oriya. The ever floated River Sabari floating in high stone base gives most attraction with fear.

Children’s Park: A children’s Park is maintained there for visitors.

Medicinal Garden: A Garden is maintained there with thousands of species of Rare Medicinal Plants and it is a better place to recognize some rare Plants there.

Tiger Cave: Out of many caves a cave is named Tiger Cave where tigers were living then.

Rama Kunda and Sita Kunda: During Rama Banabasa Sri Ramachandra and Devi Sita and brother Laxman was living in Ramagiri Hill for Months and Sri Rama and Devi Sita was bathing there to worship Lord Shiva in separate ponds now they called so Rama Kunda and Sita Kunda.

Rama Pada , Hati Pada, and so many caves are there to visit.

How to Reach: It will be about 50 K.M from Jeypur. One can find the way to Gupteswar at Ramagiri on the way to Baipariguda from Jeypur. As the Jeypur and Koraput are connected with National High Way and Indian Railways from Vijaya Nagarm in Andhra Pradesh you can reach there in either means. And you can find Night Bus Services from Bhubaneswar to Koraput and Jeypur and even upto Baipariguda on the way to Malkanagiri. You can find Taxi service and Lodgging and broading facility at Jeypur and Koraput to visit the Places around Koraput.

Approximate Distances from Important Places in Road

Bhubaneswar – 610 KM

Berhampur- 440 KM

Koraput- 68 KM 

Jeypur- 52 KM 

Jagadalpur 58 KM 

Raipur- 380 KM 

Vijayanagaram 190 KM 

Koraput District of Odisha

Jeypore: 21 kms from Koraput. Ruins of old palaces are the importance of this place. Darbar hall in the palace has good collection of Antique in ivory, silver, sandalwood, rosewood, gold and paintings.


Duduma: 65 kms from Jeypore and 77 kms from Koraput. The magnificent waterfall is regarded as the famous Machhyatirtha.


Bagra: 9 km from Jeypore. Three waterfalls of Kolab river at Bagra starting from Kilkura or the 300 feet plato jump over one another with great speed from a height of 30 feet.


Gupteswar: 65km from Jeypore, cave is famous for the shrine of Lord Gupteswar (Shiva). The natural scenery of this place attracts the pilgrims.


Nandapur: 5kms from Koraput, the great image of Ganapati and throne with 32 steps are the main attractions of this place.


Deomali Peak: Deomali Peak is situated at adistance of 35 km from Koraput with an elevation o 1,672 meter. It is the highest peak in Orissa and the tallest in the whole of the Eastern Ghats. Deomali is dotted with streams and deep valleys, and dence forest.


Koraput Town: Also known as “Sabar Shrikshetra”, the modern Jagannath Temple has come up on a hilltop. The Tribal Museum behind the temple caters to the tourists about the culture and heritage of the tribals.


Gupteswar Temple: Cave shrine of Lord Shiva is situated on a lime stone hill on the bank of river Kolab, surrounded by natural Scenery. Visit Gupteswar


Dumuriput: A village stands between Koraput and Sunabeda road. Sri Ram Temple situated in the locality is widely known for the highest kneeling Hanuman Statue in Orissa.


Kolab Dam: Kolab is at an altitude of about 3000 feet above sea level on river Kolab, stands the Kolab Reservoir generating Power. The place is attracting people for weekend scenery and boating.


Visit to see Old Palace, Water Falls and Water Resorvoirs, Famous Shrine of Gupteswar and High Hills.

Sabar Srikshetra means the Srikshetra of Sabar Peoples in , where a beautiful Jagannath Temple has been built at a height of 940 mts above the sea level located in Koraput town of Orissa / Odisha,

Sabar Srikshetra means the Srikshetra of Sabar Peoples in Orissa / Odisha where a beautiful Jagannath Temple has been built at a height of 940 mts above the sea level located in Koraput town of Orissa / Odisha, which permits entry to people irrespective of their religion, caste and creed.

The nomenclature is being made because of the reason that Lord Jagannath was discovered and worshipped here by the members of the primitive tribe called the `Sabaras'.

The Rath Yatra here is unique for the overwhelming participation of the local tribes. Various tribes like the Bonda, Koya, Lanjia Saura and Paraja also worship Lord Jagannath in the temple and actively take part in the Rath Yatra every year.

Since the Lord was discovered by the primitive 'Sabaras', tribal women make sweets to offer the deities as Bhog every day. During the car festival, the tribals serve jackfruits and pineapple as Bhog.

The `Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping the deck of the chariots) ritual during car festival here, performs by a Dasi Nayak, a tribal leader of the Paraja community

Lord Jagannath's tribal connection is evident from the fact that during his 15-day Anasara (confinement) before the car festival when he suffers from a bout of fever and evades devotees, the only people allowed to worship him are the Dalitas, the decedents of the tribal king Biswabasu. Since only the closest family members are allowed to attend on an ailing person, it is more than clear that the Lord has a strong tribal link. Management committee of Sabara Srikhetra sends special invitations to the tribal leaders of various villages before the Rath Yatra begins. The system of invitation is done by sending Supari (guaa). The tribals reach the temple in advance and take up their responsibility. On behalf of the temple managing body tribal chiefs of different villages are felicitated on the car festival day by presentations of a Sirpa (headgear).

It is originated from the tribal culture, and it has no antagonism towards any religion, caste or creed, Practice of tolerance in the real life of the individual and the society wedded to this ideal, is one piece used in the cult. This is practiced at Sabarasrikhetra in letter and spirit. Everybody has free access to this shrine, which virtually demonstrates the very concept of Jagannath consciousness having tribal bias.