Navratna Journal JAN-FEB 2008 Page : 41

Gandhamardan – A treasure House of

Medical Plants
By Netra Bhanu Pradhan

Among the Mountain ranges in the town. There are many

district of Bargarh the Gandhamardan range is mountains big and
a famous one. It is replete with forest products small in the area with
and minerals of different types. The scenic their minimum height
beauty of the place is simply incomparable. at 320M and
Several streams have been flowing out of the Maximum at 1060M
mountain rocks. It is a holy place as well as a .The rock type of the
tourist spot. In this mountain range the famous area is of Meta
shrine the Sri Sri Nrusinghanath Temple is morphic type, of which
situated on the side of the district of Bargarh Kondalite is the most
while on the side of Bolangir that of Sri Sri common. At some
Harishankar exists. This mountain range stands Netrabhanu Pradhan places occurrences of
as a high wall on the South-East direction of layers of quartzite and
Bargarh district and extends towards the North
– West direction of district of Bolangir. It is Bauxite are reported. In the mountain tops red-
situated between 20°49’ and 20°56’ North white metallic rocks and rocks with traces of iron
do occur.
Longitude and between 82°45’ and 82°55’ East
The forest
Latitude. It is about 120km. Away from Bargarh
range in this area
gets its annual
Paikmal rainfall by the
Monsoon where the
average rainfall is
1500mm. The
northern part of it
gets more rainfall
than the southern
Satelite image of Gandhamardan part. In this area
summer sets in Biodiversity map of Eastern Ghat

Biodiversity is an umbrella term and
refers to the variety and variability
of all life in the planet. In practice it refers to all
species of plants,animals and micro-organisms,
the ecosystems and ecological processes of
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aquatic bodies etc.). In effect these three levels
cannot beseparated as a change at one level can
bring changes at the other levels.The importance of
biodiversity lies with the fact that it forms theresource
base for agriculture, forestry, medicine and provides,

which they are parts. Scientifically biodiversity
is considered at threedifferent levels: Species
diversity (this also includes the interactions
between individuals of a species and between
different species), Geneticdiversity (variations
in the genetic constitution of individuals of a
speciesand between different species), and
Ecosystem diversity (grasslands,forests,
food,fodder, wood and fiber, many other utility
materials to mankind and provides ecosystem
services like pollination, nutrient cycling, air and water
purification, climate modification, drought and flood
control etc. and has recreational, aesthetic and
spiritual value for man. In view ofthis, the living
resources (biodiversity) is to be carefully managed
andconserved for us and for our future generations.
 Navratna Journal JAN-FEB 2008
around March with the temperature level at 34°C
and the Mercury rises up to 42°C around May-
June. In winter the maximum temperature is
25°C. While the minimum is 6°C. The humidity
of the area is 85% or slightly more.
Due to its geographic diversification one
can find a verity of Eco-systems in the area
sustaining different types of plant species
depending on the nature of the Eco-systems.
These species of plants are found here with
different varieties. Therefore, the
Gandhamardana has always attracted
scientists interested in the study of plants. Even
when the are was inaccessible, British Scientists
and Botanists H.H. Haynes (1921-25) had
identified several species of plants in this area.
After 25 years i.e. in 1950 Herbert Muni
visited this place and located 17 new species
of plants. Later on renowned Oriya Botanist and
Scientist of the Botanical Survery of India Dr.
Orissa host rich biodiversity in
variety habitats. The largest Ramsar
sites (Brackish water Chilka lake and the man-
grove forests of Bhitarkanika), which attract the
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largest population of migratory birds from very
distant lands, the largest egg laying beaches of
Gahirmatha for Olive Ridley Sea turtles, some
of India’s closed green forests, floral and faunal
diversity of Similipal biosphere, rich medicinal
plants in Similipal and Gandhamardan forest
ranges and many tribal races of people are also
found in the state of Orissa.
Page : 42
Gopinath Panigrahi (1963) published research
paper on 125 species of precious medicinal plants
available in the Gandhamardan. His paper was
based on an extensive study made by him in this
area. Realizing the rich potentiality of the area
for containing more varieties of medicinal plants,
Dr. Gopinath Panighrhi re-visited the place once
again in 1964 along with a group of his associates
who collected 300 varieties of species and herbs
available in this area and prepared a catalogue
on the basis of it. In 1990 M.Brahmam and Hari
Om Saxena surveyed on the plants of
Gandhamardan and identified 200 species of
plants out of which the usefulness of 77 species
of plants in the treatment of common ailments
were highlighted. Again, in 1995 Saxena and
Brahmam surveyed in the area of Gandhamardan
and enlisted 781 plants species available there.
R.C. Mishra (1990,1994,1996) worked in this
mountain range and illustrated 920 species of
plants. In the year 1994 P. Bilung, P.N. Pradhan
and R.N. Pradhan Dept. of Botany, Panchayat
College, Bargarh have surveyed the area and
report the use of local Mahura plants from Aracei
family. In 1999 N.B. Pradhan, R.N. Pradhan,
P.Sahu and S.K. Sen made a detailed survey of
the area and highlighted on many rare medicinal
plants have shown concern about the decreasing
population of these plants. The Vesaja Samity of
Nrusinghnath, Padampur has been educating
people on the plants and herbs available in
Gandhamardan since 1994 and also organizing
the Baidyas of the district of Bargarh and helping
them in the proper identification of the medicinal
plants. Sri Sri Nrusinghnath Ayurvedic College
Orissa is by and large underlain by
precambrian rocks. However, geological for-
mations of all ages are represented in the state and
theimportant rock types belong to Eastern Ghats
(Archean age), Iron Ore Group (Paleo-Proterozoic
age), Koira-Similipal Group (Meso-proterozoic age),
Gangpur and Kolhan Group (Neoproterozoic age),
Vinhdyan Platform cover (Epi-proterozoic age),
Gandwana Group (Upper pateozoic to middle
mesozoic age), Baripada Beds (Mio-plioene age and
other geological formations of Pleistocene and recent
age arescattered all over the state.
 Navratna Journal JAN-FEB 2008
and Research Institute in collaboration with the
Department of Botany, Panchayat College,
Bargarh have undertaken a Joint Venture in
making a detailed survey of the area, identification
and cataloguing of the plants and preparation of
‘herboriams’. In the recent past a Banaspati
Bana Prakalpa ( 2003 ) has been launched by
the Department of Forest and Environment, Govt.
of Orissa, with assistance from the Govt. of India.
The Project is making rapid strides under the
supervisions of the Divisional Forest Officers of
Bargarh and Bolangir Range. It is hoped that with
the successful implementation of the project, it
would contribute a lot in the protection,
preservation and expansion of the plants.
Geographical area of Bargarh
District is 5834 squire K.M. Out of
which Reserve forest cover 583.52 squire
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K.M area while 0.13 squire K.M area belong
to un reserve forest . As per 2001 FSI report
423 squire K.M area of Bargarh district
covered with dance forest , and 481 squire
K.M area by open forest , hence total forest
area of Bargarh District is 904 squire K.M .
% of shrub is 15.49% .
Page : 43
Many survey works have been undertaken
under the supervision of both the Department of
Forest and the SSN Ayurvedic College,
Nrusinghnath. One of the reports reveals that
there is rapid deforestation in this area. These
plants which were easily available in the post have
become rare. Gandhamardan range of mountain
that extended upto 1800 sq. k.m. was fully of
dense forest and was replete with herbs and
medicinal plants. But out of them several species
have become rare. These include Barun, Kochila,
Manjusha, Panki, Paldhua, Sunamukhi, Tamul,
Bal Harida, Bhumi Kusmanda etc. Growing
deforestation of Amla, Kuturi, Gudmari,
Chhatiana, Meda, Bidanga is still underway. But
all is not lost. There is still hope that as even now
also one can find in the scrub forest living stumps
of different species of plants. It is hoped that if
the free entry of human intruders and the
movement of stray cattles are prevented, green
plants will again raise their heads covering the
surface of the rock and the jungle will get back
its lost luster and greenery.
Bhramarmari
is a much talked about
medicinal plant. It is
well known for
containing curative
properties for diseases
like leprosy. The name
of the tree suggests
that a number of
Bharamar (black-bee0
fall dead under it. It is
The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range
of mountains along India’s eastern coast. The
Eastern Ghats run from West Bengal state in the north,
through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in
the south. They are eroded and cut through by the four
major rivers of southern India, the Godavari, Mahanadi,
Krishna, and Kaveri. The mountain ranges run parallel
to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau lies to the
west of the range, between the Eastern Ghats and
Western Ghats. The coastal plains lies between the
eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Ghats
are not as high as the Western Ghats.
 Navratna Journal JAN-FEB 2008
said that this is a identity of the tree. The reports
of the Scientists, however do not make a mention
of such a tree existing in the area of
Gandhamardan. It is futile to search for such a
plant in this locality as such plants are found in
the Mountain range of India.
Gandhamardan range of Mountain is not
only well known in the two districts of Orissa, but
they are the objects of glory and pride for the
entire state of Orissa and the neighboring
Chhatisgarh. It has a rich tradition of its own.
The rare Ayurvedic material Medical and valuable
forest products once collected from these forests
heave now become in obtainable. Deforestation
in the area has assumed alarming proportion. If
we still neglect its preservation, it will turn into a
wasteland and will get extinct for ever and in such
an event its dangerous consequences cannot be
imagined. Yet it is never too late. Even today the
Gandhamardan has not lost its glory. It is still
possessing most of its materials within. If man
undertakes fruitful ventures and stops behaving
like a savage, it will again emerge as an
impenetrable dense forest in its full glory.
Netrabhanu Prahdan
Reader in Botary (Retd.)
College Road, Bargarh
(Convener , Biodiversity Cell
Agragami Yuvak Sangha, Bargarh Dist.)
The Eastern Ghats along the
peninsular Undia are divisible in to
three zone , The Northen Eastern Ghat , The
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Middle eastern Ghat and Southern Eastern Ghat
,extending over 1750KM with average wide of
about 100Km. covering the area under 100 20’
to 210.) N lat and 770 22’ to 85020’E long. The
hilly area from the river Mahanadi to the River
Godabari covering the modern districts of Orissa
mainly , Sambalpur, Bargarh (Gandhamardan
Page : 44
GRAPHITE MINING IN WESTERN ORISSA
Orissa is the leading producer of graphite in India.
The graphite deposits of Orissa are confined to
Precambrian Eastern Ghats Complex and are found
in the district of Bargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal,
Boudh, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Nayagarh
and Angul But the majoprity of the graphite deposits
are located in the districts of Bargarh and Bolangir.
Graphite occurs as disseminations, schists and
lodes/veins. The graphite schists and lodes which
are mined economically pinch and swell both in the
strike and dip directions and taper towards both
ends. Graphite mining is an important activity in the
Western Orissa. This reports incorporates the
findings on the lithology, structure, mode of
occurance, graphite mining practice and the
assessment of eco-degradation in and around
graphite mines in Bargarh, Bolangir and Kandhamal
districts of Western Orissa. The modes of
occurrence of graphite, controls of graphite
localisation, associated mineral impurities and the
genesis of graphite. The Bargareh-Bolangir zone is
very important from the point of view of graphite
production and the number of mines. Graphite occurs
as dissemeniations, schists and lodes/veins.
Khondalites, calsilicate granualte and pegmatite are
the lithological controls while the foliations, fold
hinges are the structural controls. The graphite lodes
in many cases are controlled by folds of different
generations. The mineral impurities identified in the
graphite ores are quartz, orthoclase, calcite,
microcline, plagioclase, perthite, biotite, muscovite,
kaolinite, wollastonite, garmet with minor to trace
amounts of sericite, chlorite, sphene, epidote, zoisite,
apatitte and zircon. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite,
magnetite, henatite and geothite are also associated
in some cases. Poor geological knowledge, irregular
distribution, structural complexities and short term
planning have led to a very unscientific and
unsystematic open graphite mining in Western
Orissa. As a result, the entire graphite resources can
not be mined out and ecological disturbances are
caused with respect to soil, water and plant species.
Hills) ,Bolangir , Subarnapur Nuapada, Deogarh ,
Ganjam ,Gajapati (Mahendragiri hills) Phulbani ,
Rayagada, Nabarangpur & Koraput district and Andra
Pradesh district of Sikakulam (Palakonda- Antikonda-
Burra konda hills) ,Vijayanagaram ,Visakhapattanam , (
Madgol hills - Anantagiri - Chintapalli - Saparala - Gudem
- Marripakalu hill range ) East Godavari (Gurtedu-
Addeteegala- Rampachodavaram - Maredumalli ranges)
& Westt Godavari ( Polavaram -Papikonda ranges)
represents the Northen Eastern Ghats