Ghanteswari Temple stands on the bank of the Mahanadi at Chiplima, about 33 km southwest of Sambalpur. The goddess Ghanteswari gives the place its name, and bells hang across the shrine and its grounds, offered by devotees when their wishes are fulfilled. The temple sits where streams of the Mahanadi meet in strong currents, close to the Chiplima hydroelectric station.
quick facts
- district
Sambalpur
- dress code
Ethnic or traditional dress is customary.
know before you go
do
- Follow the local custom of offering a bell after a wish is fulfilled
- Keep a safe distance from the river edge
- Note the Chipilima road turn near Goshala before you set out
avoid
- Do not bathe or swim in the Mahanadi near the shrine
- Do not climb on the frames that hold the bells
- Do not litter the riverbank
safety
The Mahanadi currents here are strong and form whirlpools, which is why the warning bells were hung according to local tradition. Stay on the bank and keep children away from the water.
how to reach
The nearest railway station is Hirakud, about 20 km away. By road from Sambalpur or Hirakud, take the Bargarh-Sambalpur road to Goshala, then turn left onto the Chipilima road to reach the temple.
The nearest major airports are Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur (about 265 km) and Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar (about 300 km).
address: Bagbira, Chiplima, Rengalipali, Sambalpur district, Odisha 768113
history and significance
why it matters
Ghanteswari is worshipped as a form of Shakti, and the temple is listed among the Shakti temples of Odisha. Devotees offer a bell at the shrine, traditionally after a wish is fulfilled. This custom is the reason for the goddess's name and for the many bells that fill the site.
history
No founding date or founder is documented in the sources consulted, so none is given here. According to local tradition, large bells once hung at this spot, where the streams of the Mahanadi meet in a dangerous whirlpool. When the wind rang the bells, boatmen took warning and kept away, and the place came to be called a lighthouse without light. Many boats are said to have been lost here before.
The Sambalpur district tourism page notes that the spot became safer after the Hirakud Dam was built. One visitor account puts the temple at 200 to 300 years old, but that figure comes from a review, not an authoritative source, and should be treated as unverified.
what to see
Bells hang from every part of the shrine and its surroundings. The sources consulted describe no other architectural detail.
nearby
- Chiplima hydroelectric station, on the same bank of the Mahanadi
- Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur, the best-known Shakti shrine of the district
other temples nearby2
questions visitors ask
Why is the temple called Ghanteswari?
The name comes from the goddess Ghanteswari and from the custom of offering bells (ghanti). Devotees traditionally leave a bell at the shrine after a wish is fulfilled.
What is the story of the warning bells?
According to local tradition, bells hung here rang in the wind and warned boatmen away from a dangerous whirlpool where the Mahanadi's streams meet. For this reason the spot is called a lighthouse without light.
How far is Ghanteswari Temple from Sambalpur?
The Sambalpur district tourism page places it about 33 km southwest of Sambalpur, on the bank of the Mahanadi. The nearest railway station is Hirakud, about 20 km away.
