Mahendragiri “the Mount Kailash of Odisha”, a majestic sentinel in Odisha’s Gajapati District, rises like a guardian at 4,925 feet, where clouds dance with the peaks and whispers of myth linger in the air. This towering giant, Odisha’s second-highest peak, serves as a sacred gateway to ancient tales, said to cradle the meditations of Lord Parashurama and the exiled Pandavas. Temples dot its slopes like gems, honouring deities such as Lord Shiva, Parashurama and Yudhisthira, drawing pilgrims, trekkers and nature seekers to its revered presence. Mahendragiri’s forests are a living tapestry woven with rare flora and fauna—a kingdom where the elusive Golden Gecko hides among ancient branches, and medicinal plants grow like nature’s hidden remedies. For the intrepid soul, the hill offers a rugged path through dense forests, winding up to a summit that unveils views both breathtaking and humbling. From here, visitors witness not only the dawn and dusk but also the shimmering line where mountains bow to the sea, a horizon where earth meets sky.