and, though irregularly built, has a bright and busy appearance. It originally stood on the right (western) bank of the Vamsadhara, but one fine day the river turned to the south-west and flowed on the other side of it, and the village is now perched on a sort of island on the left (eastern) bank, with the old bed of the river to the east of it. In flood time this fact and the presence of several big channels on its southern side make the place almost inaccessible.
The Balaji math here contains a granite temple which is designed on generous lines and contains some excellent carving, but is only partly finished. It was begun by Balarama Das, the late mahant of the math, but before he could complete it he was turned out of his post in virtue of a decree of the courts obtained against him by the present Jeypore Maharaja, who himself claimed the position of dharmakarta. North of this temple are the remains of an extensive mud fort which is supposed to have been built by the Rajas of Kimedi. Within it, near a tamarind, is pointed out the spot where the wives of the renter Narayana Patro mentioned above committed sati on his death.
Jagamanda : Lies about thirteen miles north-east of Gunupur. On a small hillock near it is a little shrine to Mallikesvara svami which is known throughout the taluk. It is built in an uncommon fashion of big blocks of stone without the use of mortar; and the people believe that individuals afflicted with leprosy and similar diseases will be cured if they live in it for a fortnight or so and offer small pieces of their person as sacrifices to the deity.
