Barunai  is  a small hill (304.8 metres high) situated in  85
degree  39'E and 20 degree 9'30" N, and is about one and half
kilometres   to   the  south  of   Khurda  town.   It  is   a
saddle-backed  hill, rising into bare and often  inaccessible
precipices.   A  large  portion  of the hill  is  covered  by
reserve forest where teak grows luxuriantly.                 
                                                             

The  Bhoi  Kings of Orissa made Khurda their  capital  during
Muslim  occupation.   They lived in a fort that stood at  the
foot  of the hill.  The site was apparently selected  because
of  its strategic position.  It was protected on one side  by
the  hill, which was easily defended and on the other side by
dense,   almost   impenetrable  jungle.   In  the   time   of
Birakishore Deva(1736-1780) the fort was taken by the Maratha
and  in 1804, during the Khurda rebellion, it was carried  by
storm by the East India Company troops after a siege of three
weeks.   The  fort is now in ruins, some traces of its  walls
and  the ramparts still remaining.  Some mounds mark the site
of  the Raja's palace.  On the northern slope of the hill, at
a  height  of about 45.72 metres (a hundred and  fifty  feet)
above the plain, is the temple of Barunai, where a large fair
is  held  for three or four days on the occasion of the  Raja
Sankranti  festival  in the month of June.  Inside the  small
temple  are  placed  two rude images of black  stone,  called
goddesses  Varunai  and Karuani, sitting together.  They  are
now  worshiped as forms of goddess Durga, the Pujari being  a
Brahmin,  but  their  origin  might   possibly  be  from  the
Vajrayana  cult.   A perennial spring flows down the hill  by
the side of the shrine.  Thick mango groves on both the sides
of the stone-steps leading up to the temple have added to the
beauty  of  the  place.  The hill contains several  caves  of
which  the  largest one is known as Pandavaguha,  capable  of
accommodating one hundred persons.  Rows of low rocky pallets
line  the  floor, and it has obviously been the residence  of
Hindu ascetics.  There are a few inscriptions of considerable
age,  e.g.,  that  of  Makaradhwaja Yogi,  dated  900  of  an
unspecified  era, another dated Samabt 780, and three  others
inscribed  in  old Kutila characters.  There is a Rest  house
near  the  temple of Barunai with an accommodation for  seven
persons.