Gupteswar Temple

One of them is the important cave shrine of Lord Shiva situated on a lime tone hill, on the bank of the river Kolab. This temple is located in a very densely populated forest covered by the natural scenery in the Dandakaranya region. This is a naturally formed ‘rock’ in the form of a ‘Shiva linga’ in the cave. For centuries, it went unnoticed and the local tribal king found this during his hunt and identified the ‘hidden god’. Some people do believe that God has come in the dream of the king and he went in search of this “linga” and found in this place. This area is inside deep forest and there is no facility to stay here, the only tourist rest house of Orissa tourism is not in operation. This is just an attempt to explore the worth visiting places in the state Odisha. Carry a powerful torch light with you. It is better if each member of your team carries one torchlight. There are local kids who can show you different formations at a cost of Rs 10/-. This cave is quite long and you need to have an expert guide to venture further inside the cave. From the parking area, there are nearly 170 steps to be climbed to reach the entrance of the cave. Pilgrims from all over the country come during the Sravana period because the yearly BolBom Yatra is held in this place. The Cave is more or less like the Bora Caves. You have got the same feelings in other natural places. It is a natural cave with Stalagmites. One has to reach the end to view the superb scene. A land where religion is the essence of existence, it is but natural to find deities embedded in the beliefs and lives of people. The same holds true for Lord Gupteswar of Jeypore. The deity is not just a good heart but the centre of the life of the people living in Koraput district. This place figures in Ramayan and has its traditional association with the great epic and has become a Centre of Pilgrimage in the neighbouring tracts of Orissa and Chattisgarh. The cave shrine is noticed at a height of 151 metres higher than the surrounding countryside.