Maa Majhighariani Temple

An avatar of Goddess Durga, Majhighariani is accepted as the prime, most important deity in this region. The name originates from the placement of Shakti’s temple in the middle of the fourteenth-century Silavansi king Viswanath Dev’s palace and translates to the one seated in the central room. This temple attracts worshippers from all over the state and the country, especially Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The temple opens for visitors at 6:00 AM, till 1:00 PM., after which it closes for bhogam, and then reopens from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM While entry is free, to arrange a special darshan can cost ₹20, or ₹100 for the VVIP darshan. Sundays and Wednesdays witness a more massive footfall, while evening is generally much less crowded. The festival of Chaitra Parva, which falls in April, is the most crucial time of the year for worshippers of Shiva and Majhighariani, which is also the time this temple is the most crowded. Durga Pooja and Shivratri also see an abundant influx of pilgrims.
It is relatively easy to reach the temple, as it is barely 20 mins away from the railway station at Rayagada. Autos, rickshaws, or personal cars are easy to transport, and there is enough parking space for each.