Bhubaneswar, May 10: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday led the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony of the Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site under the Naktideul Block of Sambalpur district. The project aims to preserve the prehistoric legacy of the region while boosting eco-tourism opportunities for the local community.
The Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site is located within the Naktideul Forest Range, 92 km from Sambalpur town and 15 km from Naktideul in Odisha. This area is renowned for its ancient rock art and mythological associations. It is a fascinating tourist destination known for its historical significance, ancient rock art, and mythological connections, as per the official website of Odisha tourism.
It is a spot for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventure seekers. Lord Shiva and Parvati are worshipped in the form of Gupteswar in this cave, the official website of Odisha tourism stated.
The site has rock paintings and stone inscriptions that are over 20,000 years old. The Bhimamandali caves served as shelters for early humans from the Old Stone Age to the Neolithic period. Believed to be associated with the Pandavas from the Mahabharata and named after Bhima, who is said to have built a dam on the nearby Champali River.
Bhima Mandali in Sambalpur, Odisha, is a fascinating tourist destination known for its historical significance, ancient rock art, and mythological connections.
