Mahanadi River Origin

The Mahanadi River Origin at Sihawa in Dhamtari District, Chhattisgarh, marks the source of the Mahanadi, one of central and eastern India's major rivers. Located in the forested hills of Sihawa Parvat at about 442 metres elevation, the site features a small spring-fed kund and a shrine. Surrounded by hills and forests, it is notable for its natural setting and cultural reverence and is visited for sightseeing and pilgrimage.

Visitors can expect a small spring-fed kund marking the origin of the Mahanadi River set in forested hills of Sihawa Parvat. The site includes a modest shrine and stepped approach, surrounded by wooded slopes and rural landscape. The area is quiet and natural, with space for viewing the kund, offering prayers, photography and short walks in the surrounding hill and forest environment.

The Mahanadi is one of the major rivers of central India, historically important for agriculture, settlement and culture in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Its origin at Sihawa has long been recognized in local tradition and gazetteers as the river's source in the Sihawa hills.

The origin kund and adjoining shrine are revered locally, with visitors offering prayers at the source of the Mahanadi. The site is considered sacred and is often visited as a pilgrimage alongside nearby temples such as Karneshwar Mahadev Temple in Sihawa.