Though it is one of the ancient seats of Lord Ganesh and has many aces up its sleeves to provide the thrill to the natureseekers, for being located on foot of tall mountains and surrounded bydense forests, the Ganesh Khol Pitha, five km from Karamul village in Dhenkanal district, is yet to attract many footfalls, thanks to lackof development and publicity.
The two-hand idol of Lord Ganesh is still a matter of research as towho set up the idol in this forlorn forest clad area.However, it is believed that the Pitha had received prominence duringthe time when Karamul was the capital of the ancient Dhenkanal Gadajat.
In about 1700 AD, Harisingh Bidyadhar had set up his capital at Karamul on the bank of river Brahmani and ran his administration from here. Hari Singh was a Maratha king and the presiding deity of the Maratha dynasty was Lord Ganesha. It is believed that either King Hari Singh or some Sadhu by getting the king’s patronage had built the Ganesh idol.The capital of the Dhenkanal Gadajat was shifted to Besalia and again to Dhenkanal which the perhaps the reason why the ancient seat of Ganesh lay neglected and virtually forgotten afterwards. The Pitha, besides having the Ganesh idol, has a Ram Temple and a mutt established in later years. It is said that a Sadhu had establishedthe mutt some 70 years ago and ever since some clan of seers has beenstaying in the secluded spot. The Mahant of the mutt worships the LordGanesh two times under a ten-foot roof structure.
A perennial hillystream is flowing in the spot but an attempt to block its water forrenovation by concrete and cement has only affected the natural flowand beauty of the streamlet. The water too is left polluted.
There is a two-foot wide well in front of the Ganesh idol where wateris found just under a foot. The forest is rich with flora and fauna. The Chandikhol Mahabinayak temple has a name in the whole of theState. Similarly, this ancient seat of Lord Ganesh could be developed for tourist attraction and for research as well.
Though the Dhenkanal administration has built some concrete structures in the name of development, but it appears they are all unplanned and hardly enhance the beauty of the place. A beautiful temple should be built here with all amenities, instead.
(With inputs from Suresh Prasad Mishra)