Panchalingeswar Temple,Nilagiri ,BALASORE

Panchalingeshwar Temple is in Balasore district of Odisha. It named after the five Shivalinga that are enshrined inside. The temple is on top of a hillock near the Nilagiri hill (not to be confused with that of Western Ghats). The Shivalingas are said to have been enshrined by Sita, the wife of Lord Rama during their exile. Another story holds that King Banasura worshiped the Swayambhu Lingas at this place given its beauty. A perennial stream, which is the main attraction of the area, regularly washes the Shivalingas as it flows over them. To reach to the temple one has to lie flat on the rock parallel to the stream to touch and worship the lingas inside the water stream.Panchalingeswar is 30 km from Balasore and 85 km from Baripada. There are regular transport facilities between Balasore and Baripada. On top of the Panchalingeswar temple, there is an another temple of Banadevi. There is a small lake In front of that temple.According to the local people, this pond is not connected to any external water flows but is self-oozing.Sitting near the pond, you can clearly see the bubbles coming from the bottom of the lake.On the top of the hill, there are many small waterfalls which are mesmerizing for the visitors.