Mandar Pravat is located in Banka District in Bihar. The
holy mountain is around 45 km south of Bhagalpur city. It is believed that this
Mandar Parvat was used by Devas and Asuras during the churning of ocean, or
Samudra Manthan, mentioned in Hindu Puranas.
There is a Lakshminarayan Mandir located on the foothill of
the mountain. The temple s surrounded by paapaharini kund (sacred water body).
It is believed by people here that the Mandhar hill is
erected atop Kurma Avatar – the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Other holy places atop the hill are Sita Kunda and Narasimha
Cave. Head of Madhu Demon can be seen near the cave.
Legend has it that Bhagavan Sri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman
visited the cave during their exile period in the Ramayana.
In the Samudra Manthan, Snake Vasuki was used as the churning
rod. The patterns that are visible on the mountain is believed to have been created
by the serpent when the churning took place between the Devs and Asuras.
A huge fair is organized here during Makar Sankranti.