Mahendragiri Hills Sacred Forest Ecology of Srikakulam

The Mahendragiri hills on Srikakulam's northern border with Odisha rise to 1,501 metres — the highest point in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The hills are ecologically significant as a forest island in an otherwise agricultural landscape, supporting moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forest with several endemic plant species. The hills are considered sacred by local tribal communities (Kondh, Savara) who maintain traditional forest management practices, including prohibition on cutting specific sacred tree species. The Parshvudu (Parshvanatha) Jain temple at the Mahendragiri summit reflects the hills' historical importance as a religious site across multiple traditions. The forests are the source of several perennial streams that feed irrigation tanks in the Srikakulam coastal plain.