The Chandrasekhara temple at Kapilash, about 25 km north of Dhenkanal town, is the most important Shiva pilgrimage site in the region. The black-stone shrine stands on the summit of a forested hill in the Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary, reached either by the 1,352-step pilgrim staircase or by a winding motor road that climbs to a parking lot near the top.
The climb takes about an hour at a steady pace and passes through dense sal and teak forest where wild elephants are occasionally seen at dawn or dusk. The temple itself is small and quiet outside festival days; the panoramic view over the surrounding forested hills compensates for the unspectacular sanctum. Most visitors combine the climb with breakfast at one of the small dhabas at the foot of the steps.