The scenic and unique hill range of Kapilash in Dhenkanal will celebrate the Mahasivaratri and Jagaramela on Monday.

History says Gangavansi King Langula Narasingha Dev had endowed the 60-feet-high temple of Lord Chandrasekhar on April 30, 1246 at the mid-hill, around 457 meter-high from the foothill. Earlier, the Gangavansi Prince Ananga Bhima Dev had to surrender before the Lord at Kapilash on the order of Lord Jagannath at Puri in a divine dream to be released from the sin of Bramhahatya (killing a Brahmin).

At that time, there were no steps or a curved road to rich the Lord or to witness the Sitanka Entudisala (labour apartment of Goddess Sita) and a heap of stone called as Deva Sava. The prince had to climb the hill with his followers with much difficulty. Ultimately, the prince traced the self-emerged lingo covered with leaves. The Prince named the Lord as Sikhareswara, which was renamed as Lord Chandrasekhar later.

Interestingly, though the hill range was full of cobras and pythons, one devotee had died due to snakebite. Another died in snakebite believably for consuming onion with Prasad. Yet another died for molesting a woman devotee. Besides, the hill range is full of monkeys; but surprisingly, no crow is ever noticed.

The 1,352 steps to access the Kapilash hill range were constructed by public donations. The twelve curved roads and many other development works at Kapilash were constructed by the Dhenkanal royal family.

For tourism potentiality, the State Government has set up a deer park and The Central Government has opened a science park at the foothill. For tourists, a PWD bungalow is available near the temple and a Panthanivas at the foothill.

Though the State Government had sanctioned Rs 23.23 lakh for repairing the 1,352 steps, water supply to Payamruta Kunda, construction of a rest-shed at Deogaon, construction of a Bhubaneswari Mutt, construction of a Harihar Mutt, a granary house of Durgaprasad Mutt and some other purposes in the year 2017-18, the Government agencies have executed work of Rs 9.30 lakh so far.

However, the district administration has decided to spend around Rs 5 lakh through an event manager to organise cultural programmes this year at the foothill during the Mahasivaratri celebrations.