Bhimkund
Bhimkund is a Natural water tank and a holy place in Odisha and is located in Keonjhar district . It is a beautiful natural water reservoir on the River Baitarani. It is located exactly on the boundary line between the districts Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj, at a distance of about 100 km from Keonjhar. This reservoir is two storeyed which resulted into the formation of two waterfalls one above another. To reach Bhimkund take the road from Baripada to [karanjia] and from Karanjia take the road to Bajna village. The water of this kund is magnificently blue. The kund (tank) is believed to have measureless depth.Locals say, water level of Bhimkund soar about 30 meters when last Tsunami hit in 2004.
Description
About 40 km from Karanjia, near Booring village in Thakurmunda P.S. is the sacred pool BHIMKUND" in the river Vaitarani. The legend reveals that Bhima, the second Pandava used to take his bath in this pool when the Pandavas were passing their incognito life in Birat Nagar, said to be the present Kaptipada. Here river Vaitarani flows through a gorge in steps forming a series of picturesque rapids until it settles down in the pool called "BHIMKUND". It is encircled by precipitous stone wall. During Makar Festival in the month of January thousands of people gather here to take their holy dip. The place can also be approached from Dhenkikote (20 km) on S.H. No 11 connecting Keonjhar and Panikoili. The place is ideal for picnickers.
Myth about Bhimkund
Great Hindu epic Mahabharata links Bhimkund with Pandavas. Tired and weary under the hot scorching sun, Draupadi fainted of thirst. Bhim, the strongest of the five brothers, hit the ground with his gada (a kind of club with a round head, made of metal) and lo and behold, water surged out and the pool came into being.
The kund lies in an underground cave and is about 30m from the mouth. To the left of the entrance is a small Shivalinga (the phallic representation of Lord Shiva) But what’s truly astounding here is that the roof of the cave has a small opening just above the kund as this is the spot Bhim is said to have hit with his gada. The depth of this pool is believed to be measureless.
The pool is a lovely indigo blue which contrasts well with the red stone walls. There are some caves around it but no one has been adventurous enough to find out where they lead. There is something mysterious and exciting about this place, so much so that one almost tends to believe the pool’s epic origin.
Another Legend Associated To Kund
Another legend has it that Narad Muni (the Sage Narad) performed the Gandharva Gayan (celestial song) in praise of Lord Vishnu. Pleased with his devotion, Vishnu emerged from the kund and the water turned blue because of Vishnu’s dark complexion. No wonder then that the pool is also known as Neel Kund (Blue pool) and Narad Kund (after the sage).
Gurukul - Residential School
A stone’s throw from the kund is a gurukul (the Hindu equivalent of a residential school where students live with the guru and his family till the age of 25) called Shrinarayan Sanskrit Vidyalaya with a strength of 80 students. After finishing their studies they migrate to Vrindavan (in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh) for further studies. Surprisingly the students are provided with a dish antennae but their TV viewing is restricted to religious serials and programmes alone. Even the students themselves are not tempted to watch other programs as they feel that it would ruin their concentration.
External links
- http://www.nuaodisha.com/Odisha-Tourism/Tourist-Places-in-Keonjhar.htm
- http://mayurbhanj.nic.in/tour1.htm
- http://www.newodisha.in/bhimkund-waterfall/
- https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Bhima+Kunda(Keonjhar+Side)/@21.5522609,86.0167667,17z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x0:0x0!2zMjHCsDMzJzA3LjIiTiA4NsKwMDAnNTkuNiJF!3b1!8m2!3d21.552005!4d86.016554!3m4!1s0x0000000000000000:0x0a941be5c38717e9!8m2!3d21.5522609!4d86.0167667!6m1!1e1