Bhimashankar Temple, Bhimpur

This Shiva temple at Bhimpur in Rayagada district stands on the Mahendratanaya River on the western side of the Mahendragiri mountains, close to where that river meets the Vamsadhara. It is about 30 km from Gunupur and 100 km from Rayagada. Devotees believe its linga is one of the twelve jyotirlingas, the Bhimashankar 'in Dakini' named in Shankaracharya's hymn, on the argument that the old Dakini region lay between the western Mahendragiri and the Godavari; the claim is debated.

The site came to light through excavation in 1974. Its distinctive feature is the four-sided Shakti base around the linga, adorned with a sacred thread as the Purana describes. Nearby, the Machha Diian (jumping fish) waterfall on the Mahendratanaya draws pilgrims and tourists all year round.