Akhandalamani Temple, Aradi

Akhandalamani Temple stands on the bank of the Baitarani river at Aradi village, 37 km east of Bhadrak in Odisha, and is dedicated to Shiva as Baba Akhandalamani. No firm history of the temple survives, but legend tells that some 350 years ago, under Raja Niladri Samara Singha Mohapatra, a ploughman's blade broke on a black granite stone from which blood was flowing. When the king arrived he found milk in its place and a great black cobra spreading its hood over the stone. After a dream, he began worship there and built a wooden temple.

That shrine was replaced between 1830 and 1840. The present temple was built by Harihara Bhanja, king of Konika, and his chief queen Satyabhama Patadei, with stone from Lalitgiri hill. Mahashivaratri, known here as Jagara mela, draws large numbers, and in Sravana Bol Bam pilgrims bring water from rivers such as the Ganges and Mahanadi to pour over the linga. Aradi can also be reached by boat from Chandabali.