The 9th-century Singhanath Temple nestled in an island of the Mahanadi river near Gopapur village of Baramba block holds the unique characteristics of temple art and architecture of the time.
Here one finds a synthesis of both Shaivite and Vishnu cults. The temple has a Rekha Deula and terraced roof Jagamohan. The Shivalinga is worshipped in its Garva Griha (sanctum sanctorum). The temple is of panchayatan style practised by Adi Shankar and deities like Vishnu, Ganesh, Surya and Mahisamardini are found worshipped around this temple.
Astasambhu like lokanath, Somanath, Singhanath, Hatakeswar, Swapneswar, Dhabaleswar, Champeswar and Sarpeswar also are seen in the shrine. later, a temple of lord Ram was built here by the then Baramba King Biswambhar Mangaraj. The temple represents the early development of Pancharatha Deula of Kalingan architecture.
Famous festivals observed here are the Makar Sankranti, Dussehra, Shivaratri and Kartik Purnami when thousands of devotees congregate for puja, darshan and taking the joy of the scenic beauty of the island. The shrine has sheltered several birds and animals, particularly a large number of bats are found.
Many development works of the shrine have been taken up from time to time with funding of the ASI, local MlA and School and Mass Education Minister Devi Prasad Mishra and some other benevolent persons of the area. A Sita-Kunda is also seen on the hilltop where water is available even during hot summer.
However, the temple is not accessible round the year with the river water standing main deterrent. People come by boat to the shrine during rainy season. Only for four months a year during summer visitors come to the shrine using a road constructed by the local panchayat.
Main priest Mrutyunjay Dash said, “The visitors do not stay during night in the shrine due to non-availability of power supply and lodging facility. This apart, construction of a permanent bridge to the shrine could be done yet.”