Ghanteshwari in Sambalpur District of Odisha

Goddess Ghanteshwari

Orissa is replete with natural treasures and religious shrines with rare and distinctive features. The Ghanteshwari temple in Sambalpur district is one of them. Ghanteshwari, the goddess of bells, is the presiding deity of the temple. The Oriya word ‘ghanti’ means bell, and hence the name. Situated in a naturally opulent atmosphere adjacent to the Chiplima hydroelectric power plant, the temple is visited by tourists throughout the year. The most spectacular sight of Ghanteshwari is the numerous bells, of sizes ranging from the tiniest to the biggest. They are seen knotted everywhere in this spot. Before construction of the famous Hirakud dam, the spot served as an alarm zone for the sailors. Besides being a place of devotion and tourist attraction, it is also an ideal picnic spot. A report by Himanshu Guru.

Walk-able Iron bridge to reach Ghanteshwari

Backdrop

Ghanteshwari is located on the banks of the Mahanadi and is the meeting point of the three streams of the river. Here the water current is fast enough to form a whirlpool. Resultantly, it was a risky zone for the boatmen and sailors in the early days. People say a number of boats drowned in this particular spot in the river. Again, during those days roadway connectivity was not very good and the water route served as a prime route for communication. It is said even traders from Madhya Pradesh travelled through this route to sell their stuff in Sambalpur and would often travel right up to Cuttack. However, to deal with the situation huge bells were fixed. As this place witnessed high wind speed, the bells rang loudly, thereby giving out an alarm to the sailors. Thus the spot was known as the ‘lighthouse without light’. The goddess was also established soon after. Yet, after construction of the famous Hirakud dam, the water stream lost speed and it was no more a risky water zone. In the following years, the roadway developed a lot and the earlier usage of bells became a legend.

Bells in Ghanteshwari

Description

The shrine of Ghanteshwari is not a big edifice but the surroundings are very beautiful. The main attraction of the spot is the bells that people tie up to make their wishes come true. As the place is on the banks of the Mahanadi one can witness a picturesque landscape, immense greenery and lush water bodies. The Chiplima hydroelectric project adjacent to the spot is also worth a watch. The only way to reach the shrine is via the walk-able iron bridge and taking a stroll on this man-made bridge is an experience by itself. After moving through the bridge you need to get down a number of steps to reach the deity. One can witness slivery fishes swimming in the river – a sight to behold.

View of river Mahanadi from Ghanteshwari

How to reach

Ghanteshwari is situated 33 km southwest of Sambalpur.

When coming from Sambalpur you need to take a left turn at Goshala chowk and travel 15 km to reach Chiplima, the nearest village. The place is merely at a distance of 2 km from Chiplima. The road from Goshala chowk to Ghanteshwari is not very smooth but manageable. The place is accessible throughout the year but visitors should avoid the monsoon season. The nearest railhead to Ghanteshwari is the Hirakud station and Sambalpur junction. Most visitors hire a cab from Sambalpur. Also, ferry buses run from Sambalpur to Chiplima, but tourists usually avoid ferry buses as they again need to travel 2 km to reach the spot.

Facilities

As facilities are scant it is wise to stay in Sambalpur. Also, there are no eateries nearby. Of course, there are small markets nearby the shrine from where you can buy flowers and sweets for worship. Tourists usually make their own arrangements for food, vehicles and night stay.

Touristspeak

Alok Ranjan Guru, lawyer, Sambalpur

Once my grandfather told me what he had learnt from the old and the learned. He said, “As we all are sailors of our own voyage, sailing without any compass, sometimes without any aim of direction, many times get entangled and lose hope. The divine grace of goddess Ghanteswari comes like a north star raising hope; the goddess is so kind that the mere act of tying a bell with utmost devotion and submissive request brings Her grace. Highly revered by the local populace, the goddess of bells has protected the sailors every time against bad weather and guided them with proper directions. Situated on the banks of the Mahanadi, bounded by mountains, cascading waters and forests, the temple of goddess Ghanteswari serves as an excellent destination for pilgrims as well as tourists. Thirty-five km off Sambalpur, this place with innumerable bells, is a perfect spot for those seeking divine grace as well as recreation.

Shiba Prasad Sahu, lyricist, Balangir

As I am a part of the Sambalpuri entertainment industry, I visit Ghanteshwari to worship a script, otherwise assumed as the ‘mahurat’ of an album. We flock to the shrine to seek the blessings of the goddess for an upcoming project.

Surendra Nayak, teacher, Jharigaon

I have visited the shrine on several occasions. Once we visited the spot for a picnic. The temple is an excellent place to sit for a while and to meditate on the idea of divinity since it is a calm and quiet place far away from the hustle-bustle of city life. It is place enveloped in natural beauty and splendour.