Sambalpur
Encyclopedia
Sambalpur (Also pronouced as Samalapur) is a city
in Sambalpur district
in the India
n state
of Orissa
.
It lies at a distance of 321 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar
. In the year 1876, Sambalpur was established as a municipality. It is currently the headquarters and the largest city of Sambalpur district
. It is also the commercial capital of Western Orissa. After independence of India, many commercial and government establishments sprung up around Sambalpur making it the communication and administrative hub of Western Orissa. After the economic liberalisation of India in 1990 many industries opened up in and around this place, making this region as the industrial center of gravity of Orissa. Sambalpur is not only located on the Mumbai
- Howrah rail route but it connects the rest of Orissa with western and northern India by rail. Sambalpur is a prime railway junction in Orissa
with the headquarters of Sambalpur Railway Division located at this place. It is also a prime road junction with the crossing of NH-6, NH-42 and SH-10 through the city. Hirakud Dam
, the longest earthen dam in the world and the largest artificial lake of Asia is situated here. Sambalpur is also the headquarters of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
. Sambalpur is famous for Hirakud Dam
, Sambalpuri Saree
, Sambalpuri songs, Sambalpuri Dance, the Sitalsasthi Carnival
, The Leaning Temple of Huma
and Gandhi temple.
Sambalpur derives its name from Goddess Samaleswari
, an incarnation of Shakti
and the presiding deity of the Samaleswari Temple
located in the city which is one of the major tourist attaction from all over Orissa and nearby states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand
and Madhyapradesh.
(ସମଲେଇ ଠାକୁରାଣୀ_ who is regarded as the reigning deity of the region. In history, it has also been known as 'Sambalaka'. The region in which Sambalpur city is located was also known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. Ptolemy has described the place as "Sambalak". According to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
and India
.
Sambalpur is mentioned in the book of Ptolemy
(Claudius Ptolemaeus) as Sambalaka on the left bank of river "Manada", now known as Mahanadi
, other evidence are available from the records of Xuanzang
, and in the writings of the celebrated King Indrabhuti
of Sambalaka of Odra Desha or Oddiyan (oldest known king of Sambalpur), the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism and the Lama cult. He has written the book Jñānasiddhi.
French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier (1605–1689) in his travel account “Six Voyages en Turquie, en Perse et aux Indes (1676–77)” translated into English by Valentine Ball
as “Travels in India” (2d ed., 2 vol., 1925) wrote about the numerous famous diamond mines of Sumelpur (Semelpur), the present day Sambalpur. He states that, 8,000 people were at work in these mines at the time of his visit, in the dry season at the beginning of February.
Vajrayana Buddhism
Although it is generally accepted that Tantric Buddhism first developed in the country of Uddiyana or Odra Desha under King Indrabhuti, there is an old and well known scholarly dispute as to whether Uddiyana or Odra was in the Swat valley, Orissa or some other place.
Indrabhuti
, the oldest known king of Sambalpur founded Vajrayana
while his sister who was married to Yuvaraja Jalendra of Lankapuri (Suvarnapur) founded Sahajayana. These new Tantric cults of Buddhism
introduced Mantra, Mudra and Mandala along with six Tantric Abhicharas (practices) such as Marana, Stambhana, Sammohana, Vidvesan, Uchchatana and Vajikarana. The Tantric Buddhist sects made efforts to raise the dignity of the lowest of the low of the society to a higher plane. It revived primitive beliefs and practices a simpler and less formal approach to the personal god, a liberal and respectful attitude towards women and denial of caste system.
From the seventh century A.D. onwards many popular religious elements of heterogeneous nature were incorporated into Mahayana
Buddhism which finally resulted in the origin of Vajrayana, Kalachakrayana and Sahajayana Tantric Buddhism. Tantric Buddhism first developed in Uddiyana, a country which was divided into two kingdoms Sambhala and Lankapuri. Sambhala has been identified with Sambalpur and Lankapuri with Subarnapura (Sonepur
).
Kalki & Shambhala
Kalachakra
tantra was first taught by the Buddha to King Indrabhuti, the first dharmaraja of Shambhala.
"Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brahmin
of Shambhala village, the great souls Vishnuyasha and Sumati." (Srimad-Bhagavatam Bhag.12.2.18)
. The average elevation is 150.75 meters above the mean sea level. Sambalpur falls under the Zone-3 seismic number, which shows the possibility of an earthquake. The geography of Sambalpur comprises the following:-
Climate
Sambalpur experiences extreme type of climate with hot and dry Summer followed by humid Monsoon and cold Winter. The hot season commences from 1st week of March and lasts till the second half of June. In the month of May, temperature rises up to 47°. Similarly in the month of December, the temperature comes down to 5°C. Sambalpur gets rainfall from South Western monsoon. Since 1982 as per the data available with District Emergency section, Sambalpur, there has not been a single occurrence of cyclone in Sambalpur. There are possibilities of strong winds with the speed of 53 km/ph before on set of monsoon.
The relative humidity is high during rainy season being generally over 75%. After rainy season the humidity gradually decreases and the weather becomes dry towards the winter. The best time to visit Sambalpur is between September to March. Heaviest ever recorded rainfall is 581.9 mm in Sambalpur in 1982 which was the highest ever in Orissa till September 2010. The areas of the Sambalpur town on Mahanadi river sides/low-lying areas are flood prone.
The 5 day meteorological predictions of Sambalpur is available at http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/distforecast/sambalpur.htm
and Hirakud
. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sambalpur has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 58%. In Sambalpur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
, English
and Oriya
is spoken at Sambalpur, the chief communicative language is Sambalpuri Language
. Not much research has been done on the accent and phonetics of this language, and it is generally considered to be a dialect of Oriya; however, recent research done at Sambalpur University
claimed Sambalpuri as a distinct language and the University has subsequently introduced a one year diploma course in Sambalpuri Studies.
Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav
A cultural manifestation of the hidden age-old traditional performing art of a vast geographical area is possible through this annual celebration of the festival in the name of” Lok Mahotsav”. This festival is by the people, for the people, of the people & a reflection of the socio- anthropological evolution of the people of an area. Here “Lok” means “People” only.
Sitalsasthi Carnival
The marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is being celebrated as Sitalsasthi for hundreds of years from now in Sambalpur. People from all walks of life join in large numbers in the carnival.
The architecture in the district attracts people from all over because of its unique designs. The important historical relics in the district of Sambalpur are the temples built by the Chauhan
rulers. The splendour of Orissa Art and Architecture had reached its climax in 13th century much before the advent of the Chauhans into Sambalpur region.
The Pataneswari temple of Sambalpur was built by Balaram Dev, the first Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur in the last part of 16th century. It consists of a sanctum with an enclosed circular count. The Pataneswari Deity is the temple of Goddess Kali
.
The Samalei temple in the town represents the finest Chauhan style of circumvallation round the sanctum. The image of Samalei is a unique sculpture and appears to be a primitive deity worshipped by the local people. However, Samalei or Samaleswari is the tutelary deity of Chauhan dynasty of this area (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008).
The important archaeological places in and around Sambalpur are listed at http://ignca.nic.in/img_0002_as_or_sambalpur.htm
This is the most important social festival of Sambalpur. Generally it takes place during the month of August and September. Preliminary preparation of the festival starts 15 days before the occasion. The first grains of the paddy crop, cooked into various dishes are offered to the deities. There after the eldest member of the family distributes new rice to the junior members of the family. All the household articles are cleaned. People greet each other. It is a community festival celebrated by every Hindu
family low and high.
Bhai-juntia
It is mostly known only in the region of Western Orissa. Bhai-juntia festival is celebrated on the Mahastami Day of Durga Puja
. It is a total fasting undertaken by women with out water for the whole day and night to seek Goddess Durga's blessing for the long life of their brothers.
Puo-juntia
It is another fasting puja of similar austerity for women of the area. The Puo-juntia festival is observed by mothers to invoke the grace of Lord Dutibahana for the long life and prosperity of their sons.
Besides the above listed festivals, other religious festivals are observed. These include Shiva Ratri, Dola Jatra, Durga Puja, Janmastami, Dipavali, Ganesh Puja, and Saraswati Puja.
Shiva Ratri mela at Huma attracts a large numbers of devotees. Ratha Yatra is held at almost all central places of Sambalpur. On the occasion of Makara Jatra, a fair is held at Themra in Sambalpur.
The most popular festivals celebrated by Muslim
s are Id-Ul-Fitre, Id-Ul-Juha and Muharram
. The Sikh
s also celebrate the birth day of Guru Nanak.
) also forms part of the economy of Sambalpur with many bidi manufacturing units functioning in Sambalpur. The place is famous for its globally renowned textile bounded patterns and fabrics locally known as Baandha. Sambalpur is famous for its Hand loom textile works. Popularly known as Sambalpuri textile
. It has earned international fame for its unique pattern, design and texture. The large number of rice mills found here also contribute to the economy. Approximately 25 rice mills are functioning in Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud. The first rice mill was established in 1953 at Sasan, Sambalpur.
Gole Bazaar is the main merchandising area of the city. It is famous for handloom and other textile products.
Some of the industries located at Sambalpur are:-
Road
National Highway 6 which connects Surat
to Kolkata
passes through this city. It is connected to Bhubaneswar through National Highway 42. Rourkela-Sambalpur State Highway-10 is presently being upgraded from a two lane highway to four lane and even six lanes where it is necessary. An estimated amount of Rs. 1270 crores is to be spent on this upgradation and it is planned in such a way that by 2017 it will have the capacity to handle 49,000 vehicles everyday.
Rail
Sambalpur is one of the Divisional Headquarters of East Coast Railway
. There are four railway stations namely Sambalpur (Khetrajpur), Sambalpur Road (Fatak), Hirakud and Sambalpur City in Sambalpur. There are direct train connections to all the metros and prominent cities across India. It lacks direct connectivity to Indore
, Dehradun
, Lucknow
and Guwahati
.
Air
The nearest Airports are Mana Airport, Raipur (262 km) and Biju Patnaik Airport
, Bhubaneswar (325 km). A new airport is being constructed at Jharsuguda
(50 km).
The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Orissa legislature on 10 December 1966, the university started functioning from 1 January 1967 with Prof. Parsuram Mishra as the first Vice Chancellor. In the year 1973 the University was shifted to the present campus named Jyoti Vihar at Burla.
VSSUT (earlier University College of Engineering, Burla) was established in the year 1956 as the first engineering college of the state of Orissa. It has already produced more than 10,000 graduate engineers and 2000 post graduates in different fields of engineering and technology.
This institution imparts football training to specially selected players with free boarding and schooling. The campus is located on the periphery of the left dyke of the Hirakud Dam
.
Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur. Built in 1956, it was the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence. The dam is the world's largest earthen dam and is one of the longest dams in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia
, with a reservoir holding 743 km² at full capacity with a shoreline of over 640 km.
The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma
located about 25 km from Sambalpur. The 17th century temple of Huma leans at an approximate angle of 47 degrees to the west. (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).
Samaleswari Temple
This is the main tempe of Goddess Samaleswari, located on the banks of river Mahanadi. Sambalpur owes its name to her.
Ushakothi
A wild life Sanctuary, 43 km north east of Sambalpur on National Highway 6 stretching for more than 130 km, the sanctuary hosts of Elephants, Tigers, Gaur
s, Sambars, Black panther
s, Deer
, Spotted deer, and Wild bears etc.
Ghanteshwari Temple
Located 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) south-west of Sambalpur and on the bank of river Mahanadi
, this temple played an important role for navigation in the past. It was called a light house without a light. A temple also existed here, of Goddess Ghanteswari from whom the place got its name. Earlier there were some large bells on this spot and with the help of wind those created enormous sound which made the navigators aware of this treacherous spot. This area being the conglomeration of three streams of water of the Mahanadi river
, the water current here is very dangerous forming a whirlpool
. Due to this many boats sunk while nearing this spot. Here the wind blows quite heavily which caused the bells to produce sound. After the construction of Hirakud Dam, this spot became safer. The specialty of this temple area is thousands of bells hanging everywhere, the only place of its kind in Orissa.
Chiplima
Located about 37 km from Sambalpur, Chiplima is known for a natural fall(24.38 mts in height) harnessed for generating electricity. It is an ideal picnic spot and also known for harbouring “Ghanteswari”, the presiding deity of the place. Moreover, the State livestock Breeding Farm and Agricultural Farm are located here.
Kandhara
Sambalpur also boasts of a pilgrimage-cum-sight seeing spot. Kandhara
, 78 km from Sambalpur in Rairakhol
Sub Division, is the birthplace of poet Bhima Bhoi
, the great propounder of Mahima Dharma or alternatively known as Alekha Dharma.
Cattle Island
Cattle Island exists in one of the extreme points of Hirakud Reservoir, a natural wonder. It is near Kumarbandh village of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur. The island is a submerged hill, and before the construction of Hirakud Dam it was a developed village. During the resettlement period, villagers left some of their cattle behind; when the dam construction was over, the cattle settled on the hilltop. With the passage of time the nearby area filled up with the reservoir water, turning the hilltop into an island. Being away from mankind, the cattle are now wild, very swift and not easily caught. Living on a hilltop with dense forest, they are larger than tame cattle, almost all of which are white in colour. Nearby residents attempt to capture these animals from time to time, but these hunts are rarely successful. Though descended from tame cattle, these animals provide a contrasting picture of this breed of animal returning to life in the wild. If the visit to this island is taken by a boat in the Hirakud reservoir it's an adventurous trip with some of the breathtaking views.
. Sitting MP from Sambalpur is Amarnath pradhan. Current MLA from Sambalpur Assembly Constituency is Jayanarayan Mishra of BJP
, who won the seat in state elections in 2004 and 2000 also. Previous MLAs from this seat were Durgashankar Pattanaik of INC
who won this seat in 1995 and 1990, Sraddhakar Supakar of INC in 1985, Ashwini Kumar Guru of INC(I) in 1980, and Jhasketan Sahoo of JNP in 1977.
in this area and majority of the people in this region are demanding a politically separate Kosal state by carving out 10 western districts from Orissa. The foremost argument being put forth in favour of a separate state is lack of development of the region. This movement has gained broader and detailed support of the local populace basically farmers and students. A regional political party Kosal Kranti Dal has been very active with this demand of a separate state and is the only political party till date supporting this demand.
He invented the first handloom to weave textiles of ninety inches width . The Sambalpuri Sari is his creativity. He nutured ,tutuored and guided the weaving community to improve their skills . He is known as the father of Sambalpuri -Textiles who herald the era of Baandha Art.
He participated in the freedom struggle and jailed during the Quit India movement. He strove, to remove 'un-touchability' and maintain communal harmony amongst all classes and religion. Only his selflessness has consigned him to Oblivion.Ref Samaj dt 19-11-2009; Sambalpuri- Textiles ISBN no- 978-81-906822-0-6.
Pasayat, C. and P. K. Singh (Eds.) (2009), Veer Surendra Sai, Bhubaneswar: Paschim Odisha Agrani Sangathan.
Pasayat, C. (Ed.) (2008), Paschim Odisara Lokageeta (in Oriya), Bhubaneswar: Folklore Foundation.
Pasayat, C. (2008), Oral Tradition, Society and History, New Delhi: Mohit Publications
Pasayat, C. (2007), Tribe, Caste and Society, New Delhi: Mohit Publications.
Pasayat, C. (2007), History of Tribal Society and Culture, New Delhi: Zenith Books International.
Pasayat, C. (Ed.) (2007), Adivasi Moukhika Sahitya Parampara (in Oriya), Kolkata: Sahitya Akademi.
Pasayat, C. (2007), "State Formation and Culture Assimilation in Medieval Orissa: The Case of a Tribal Deity in Sambalpur" in Utkal Historical Research Journal, Vol. XX, pp. 71–83.
Pasayat, C. (2005), "Oral Narrative and Hindu Method of Assimilation: A Case of Marjarakesari in Narsinghnath" in The Orissa Historical Research Journal, Vol.XLVIII, No.1, pp. 12–25.
Pasayat, C. (2004), "Oral Tradition of Huma and Legitimisation of Chauhan Rule", The Orissa Historical Research Journal, Vol.XLVII, No.2, pp. 90–96.
Pasayat, C. (2004), "The Hindu Mode of Tribal Absorption and the State Formation during Medieval Period in Sambalpur", The Orissa Historical Research Journal, Vol.XLVII, No.3, pp. 83–89.
Pasayat, C. (2003), Glimpses of Tribal and Folkculture, New Delhi: Anmol Pub. Pvt. Ltd.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Sambalpur district
Sambalpur District
Sambalpur District is a district in the western part of state of Orissa, India. The historic city of Sambalpur is the district headquarters.The district is located in the Mahanadi River basin. It has a total area of 6,702 square kilometers, of which almost 60% of the district is covered in dense...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
It lies at a distance of 321 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
. In the year 1876, Sambalpur was established as a municipality. It is currently the headquarters and the largest city of Sambalpur district
Sambalpur District
Sambalpur District is a district in the western part of state of Orissa, India. The historic city of Sambalpur is the district headquarters.The district is located in the Mahanadi River basin. It has a total area of 6,702 square kilometers, of which almost 60% of the district is covered in dense...
. It is also the commercial capital of Western Orissa. After independence of India, many commercial and government establishments sprung up around Sambalpur making it the communication and administrative hub of Western Orissa. After the economic liberalisation of India in 1990 many industries opened up in and around this place, making this region as the industrial center of gravity of Orissa. Sambalpur is not only located on the Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
- Howrah rail route but it connects the rest of Orissa with western and northern India by rail. Sambalpur is a prime railway junction in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
with the headquarters of Sambalpur Railway Division located at this place. It is also a prime road junction with the crossing of NH-6, NH-42 and SH-10 through the city. Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world's longest earthen dam....
, the longest earthen dam in the world and the largest artificial lake of Asia is situated here. Sambalpur is also the headquarters of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited is one of the major coal producing company of India. It is one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited was carved out of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in 1992 with its headquarter at Sambalpur...
, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited is an Indian state-controlled coal company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the world's largest coal miner with revenue exceeding 60,245 Crore . It was formerly owned entirely by the Union Government of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of...
. Sambalpur is famous for Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world's longest earthen dam....
, Sambalpuri Saree
Sambalpuri Saree
Sambalpuri Saree , is a traditional handwoven Ikkat sari or saree wherein the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving. It is produced in the Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur and nearby districts of Orissa...
, Sambalpuri songs, Sambalpuri Dance, the Sitalsasthi Carnival
Sitalsasthi Carnival
The marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Sitalsasthi for several years from now. No one is sure about the actual dates of its origin. However, from the records it is known that for the last 300 odd years it has been celebrated on the same day. This Hindu festival is in the form of a...
, The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma is the only leaning temple in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It is located in Huma, a village situated on the left bank of the Mahanadi, 23 km south of Sambalpur in the Indian state of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.Nobody...
and Gandhi temple.
Sambalpur derives its name from Goddess Samaleswari
Samaleswari
Maa Samaleswari is the presiding deity of Sambalpur and is a strong religious force in western part of Orissa, also known as Kosal region, and Chhattisgarh state of India. Maa Samaleswari is known as the symbol of Sambalpuri "Sambalpuri" culture...
, an incarnation of Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
and the presiding deity of the Samaleswari Temple
Samaleswari Temple
Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Sambalpur, Western Orissa, India dedicated to the goddess known as Maa, also known among the natives as samalei maa, meaning Mother Samaleswari. Shree Shree Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, is a strong religious force in western part of Orissa...
located in the city which is one of the major tourist attaction from all over Orissa and nearby states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
and Madhyapradesh.
Etymology
Sambalpur derives its name from that of the Goddess SamaleiSamaleswari
Maa Samaleswari is the presiding deity of Sambalpur and is a strong religious force in western part of Orissa, also known as Kosal region, and Chhattisgarh state of India. Maa Samaleswari is known as the symbol of Sambalpuri "Sambalpuri" culture...
(ସମଲେଇ ଠାକୁରାଣୀ_ who is regarded as the reigning deity of the region. In history, it has also been known as 'Sambalaka'. The region in which Sambalpur city is located was also known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. Ptolemy has described the place as "Sambalak". According to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
History
The history of Sambalpur, as depicted by eminent historians, is full of events including Indian freedom struggle representing the different sections of society. Since Sambalpur is one of the ancient district of India, which survived even in the prehistoric age and hold a very important place in the history of OrissaOrissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Sambalpur is mentioned in the book of Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
(Claudius Ptolemaeus) as Sambalaka on the left bank of river "Manada", now known as Mahanadi
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
, other evidence are available from the records of Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
, and in the writings of the celebrated King Indrabhuti
Indrabhuti
Indrabhuti is a name attributed to a number of individuals that have become conflated in the esoteric Buddhadharma tradition of Mantrayana...
of Sambalaka of Odra Desha or Oddiyan (oldest known king of Sambalpur), the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism and the Lama cult. He has written the book Jñānasiddhi.
French merchant Jean Baptiste Tavernier (1605–1689) in his travel account “Six Voyages en Turquie, en Perse et aux Indes (1676–77)” translated into English by Valentine Ball
Valentine Ball
Valentine Ball was an Irish geologist, and a brother of Sir Robert Ball.Ball joined the Geological Survey of India, becoming an authority not only on geology but also on ornithology and anthropology. His best known work is Jungle-Life in India...
as “Travels in India” (2d ed., 2 vol., 1925) wrote about the numerous famous diamond mines of Sumelpur (Semelpur), the present day Sambalpur. He states that, 8,000 people were at work in these mines at the time of his visit, in the dry season at the beginning of February.
Vajrayana Buddhism
Although it is generally accepted that Tantric Buddhism first developed in the country of Uddiyana or Odra Desha under King Indrabhuti, there is an old and well known scholarly dispute as to whether Uddiyana or Odra was in the Swat valley, Orissa or some other place.
Indrabhuti
Indrabhuti
Indrabhuti is a name attributed to a number of individuals that have become conflated in the esoteric Buddhadharma tradition of Mantrayana...
, the oldest known king of Sambalpur founded Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
while his sister who was married to Yuvaraja Jalendra of Lankapuri (Suvarnapur) founded Sahajayana. These new Tantric cults of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
introduced Mantra, Mudra and Mandala along with six Tantric Abhicharas (practices) such as Marana, Stambhana, Sammohana, Vidvesan, Uchchatana and Vajikarana. The Tantric Buddhist sects made efforts to raise the dignity of the lowest of the low of the society to a higher plane. It revived primitive beliefs and practices a simpler and less formal approach to the personal god, a liberal and respectful attitude towards women and denial of caste system.
From the seventh century A.D. onwards many popular religious elements of heterogeneous nature were incorporated into Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhism which finally resulted in the origin of Vajrayana, Kalachakrayana and Sahajayana Tantric Buddhism. Tantric Buddhism first developed in Uddiyana, a country which was divided into two kingdoms Sambhala and Lankapuri. Sambhala has been identified with Sambalpur and Lankapuri with Subarnapura (Sonepur
Sonepur
Sonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
).
Kalki & Shambhala
Kalachakra
Kalachakra
Kalachakra is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric Buddhism that literally means "time-wheel" or "time-cycles".The spelling Kalacakra is also correct....
tantra was first taught by the Buddha to King Indrabhuti, the first dharmaraja of Shambhala.
"Lord Kalki will appear in the home of the most eminent brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
of Shambhala village, the great souls Vishnuyasha and Sumati." (Srimad-Bhagavatam Bhag.12.2.18)
Geography and Climate
Sambalpur is located at 21°.27' North Latitude and 83°.58' East Longitude in OrissaOrissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. The average elevation is 150.75 meters above the mean sea level. Sambalpur falls under the Zone-3 seismic number, which shows the possibility of an earthquake. The geography of Sambalpur comprises the following:-
- Rivers :- The MahanadiMahanadi RiverThe Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
;
- Hillocks :- Laxmi Dungri, BudharajaBudharajaBudharaja is a small hillock in Sambalpur city. There is a Shiva temple situated on the top. A concrete road goes to the temple from the base. The locality on the eastern side of the hillock is known as Budharaja due to its proximity to the hillock....
, Brooks Hill (Small hill);
- Plain Area :- Mandlia, Sunapali, Gole Bazaar, Durgapali, Dhanupali, Makhnapara, BudharajaBudharajaBudharaja is a small hillock in Sambalpur city. There is a Shiva temple situated on the top. A concrete road goes to the temple from the base. The locality on the eastern side of the hillock is known as Budharaja due to its proximity to the hillock....
, Bareipali, BurlaBurla, IndiaBurla is a town and a notified area committee in Sambalpur District in the state of Orissa, India. It is a small town on the banks of Mahanadi, and is 15 kilometers from Sambalpur.- Geography :...
, HirakudHirakudHirakud, a notified area, a small township, is located in Sambalpur District in Orissa, situated just 15 km from Sambalpur. This village came to the industrial limelight in 1956 when Hirakud dam was built and thereby clearing the path for industrial growth in this earlier known rustic small...
, Gopalmal, Modipara;
- Small Ponds :- 18;
- Big Ponds :- 8;
- Sea/Gulf :- Nil;
Climate
Sambalpur experiences extreme type of climate with hot and dry Summer followed by humid Monsoon and cold Winter. The hot season commences from 1st week of March and lasts till the second half of June. In the month of May, temperature rises up to 47°. Similarly in the month of December, the temperature comes down to 5°C. Sambalpur gets rainfall from South Western monsoon. Since 1982 as per the data available with District Emergency section, Sambalpur, there has not been a single occurrence of cyclone in Sambalpur. There are possibilities of strong winds with the speed of 53 km/ph before on set of monsoon.
The relative humidity is high during rainy season being generally over 75%. After rainy season the humidity gradually decreases and the weather becomes dry towards the winter. The best time to visit Sambalpur is between September to March. Heaviest ever recorded rainfall is 581.9 mm in Sambalpur in 1982 which was the highest ever in Orissa till September 2010. The areas of the Sambalpur town on Mahanadi river sides/low-lying areas are flood prone.
The 5 day meteorological predictions of Sambalpur is available at http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/distforecast/sambalpur.htm
Demographics
India census, Sambalpur agglomerate had a population of 2,26,469 which includes BurlaBurla
Burla may refer to:*Burla: alternative name for burletta, a musical entertainmentPeople*Mikhail Burla, politician in Transnistria*Oded Burla, Israeli writer*Yehuda Burla , Israeli writerPlaces*Burla, India, a town in India...
and Hirakud
Hirakud
Hirakud, a notified area, a small township, is located in Sambalpur District in Orissa, situated just 15 km from Sambalpur. This village came to the industrial limelight in 1956 when Hirakud dam was built and thereby clearing the path for industrial growth in this earlier known rustic small...
. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sambalpur has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 58%. In Sambalpur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Language Spoken
Although HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
is spoken at Sambalpur, the chief communicative language is Sambalpuri Language
Sambalpuri language
Sambalpuri or Kosli is an Indo-Aryan language. It is mainly spoken in Western Orissa and north central part of Orissa. It was considered to be a dialect of Oriya language, but owing to its distinct grammar, pronunciations and vocabulary, it has achieved the status of a distinct language...
. Not much research has been done on the accent and phonetics of this language, and it is generally considered to be a dialect of Oriya; however, recent research done at Sambalpur University
Sambalpur University
Sambalpur University is located at Sambalpur, India in the Indian state of Orissa. Popularly known as Jyoti Vihar. It offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Governor of Orissa is the Chancellor of the university...
claimed Sambalpuri as a distinct language and the University has subsequently introduced a one year diploma course in Sambalpuri Studies.
Culture
The culture of Sambalpur has its own unique identity. For several hundreds of years the people of Sambalpur have been an integral part of this and due to their contributions, now Sambalpur stands uniquely in the cultural diaspora. These developments have made the common Sambalpuri person stand out in terms of the language he speaks, the cloths that he wears, the dances that he performs etc.. Several traits of the culture like Sambalpuri language, Sambalpuri dance, Sambalpuri songs or Sambalpuri sarees have held a national identity and it is now being admired by people outside this region.Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav
A cultural manifestation of the hidden age-old traditional performing art of a vast geographical area is possible through this annual celebration of the festival in the name of” Lok Mahotsav”. This festival is by the people, for the people, of the people & a reflection of the socio- anthropological evolution of the people of an area. Here “Lok” means “People” only.
Sitalsasthi Carnival
Sitalsasthi Carnival
The marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Sitalsasthi for several years from now. No one is sure about the actual dates of its origin. However, from the records it is known that for the last 300 odd years it has been celebrated on the same day. This Hindu festival is in the form of a...
The marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is being celebrated as Sitalsasthi for hundreds of years from now in Sambalpur. People from all walks of life join in large numbers in the carnival.
Architecture
Sambalpur retains its classic sleepy charm, even in the face of rapid, albeit unplanned expansion and a deluge of retail establishments. Some of the houses along the old part of Sambalpur are still maintained, and used, like they were, a century ago. A peculiar way the houses in the older parts of town are arranged is, the gulli system, literally, mazeway. Houses in Patnaikpara, Nandpara, and along the parallel streets of sansadak and badsadak are examples of the above.The architecture in the district attracts people from all over because of its unique designs. The important historical relics in the district of Sambalpur are the temples built by the Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
rulers. The splendour of Orissa Art and Architecture had reached its climax in 13th century much before the advent of the Chauhans into Sambalpur region.
The Pataneswari temple of Sambalpur was built by Balaram Dev, the first Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur in the last part of 16th century. It consists of a sanctum with an enclosed circular count. The Pataneswari Deity is the temple of Goddess Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
.
The Samalei temple in the town represents the finest Chauhan style of circumvallation round the sanctum. The image of Samalei is a unique sculpture and appears to be a primitive deity worshipped by the local people. However, Samalei or Samaleswari is the tutelary deity of Chauhan dynasty of this area (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008).
The important archaeological places in and around Sambalpur are listed at http://ignca.nic.in/img_0002_as_or_sambalpur.htm
Festivals
NuakhaiNuakhai
Nuakhai or Nuankhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of western Orissa in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season...
This is the most important social festival of Sambalpur. Generally it takes place during the month of August and September. Preliminary preparation of the festival starts 15 days before the occasion. The first grains of the paddy crop, cooked into various dishes are offered to the deities. There after the eldest member of the family distributes new rice to the junior members of the family. All the household articles are cleaned. People greet each other. It is a community festival celebrated by every Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family low and high.
Bhai-juntia
It is mostly known only in the region of Western Orissa. Bhai-juntia festival is celebrated on the Mahastami Day of Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
. It is a total fasting undertaken by women with out water for the whole day and night to seek Goddess Durga's blessing for the long life of their brothers.
Puo-juntia
It is another fasting puja of similar austerity for women of the area. The Puo-juntia festival is observed by mothers to invoke the grace of Lord Dutibahana for the long life and prosperity of their sons.
Besides the above listed festivals, other religious festivals are observed. These include Shiva Ratri, Dola Jatra, Durga Puja, Janmastami, Dipavali, Ganesh Puja, and Saraswati Puja.
Shiva Ratri mela at Huma attracts a large numbers of devotees. Ratha Yatra is held at almost all central places of Sambalpur. On the occasion of Makara Jatra, a fair is held at Themra in Sambalpur.
The most popular festivals celebrated by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s are Id-Ul-Fitre, Id-Ul-Juha and Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
. The Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s also celebrate the birth day of Guru Nanak.
Economy
The economy of Sambalpur is basically dependent on agriculture and trade. Majority of the residents are either salaried or self employed. Forests play an important role in the economy in terms of contribution to revenue and domestic product. In the past Sambalpur has been a great centre of diamond trade. Kendu leaf or Coromandel Ebony or East Indian Ebony (Diospyros melanoxylonDiospyros melanoxylon
Coromandel Ebony or East Indian Ebony is a species of flowering tree in the family Ebenaceae that is native to India and Sri Lanka....
) also forms part of the economy of Sambalpur with many bidi manufacturing units functioning in Sambalpur. The place is famous for its globally renowned textile bounded patterns and fabrics locally known as Baandha. Sambalpur is famous for its Hand loom textile works. Popularly known as Sambalpuri textile
Sambalpuri Saree
Sambalpuri Saree , is a traditional handwoven Ikkat sari or saree wherein the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving. It is produced in the Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur and nearby districts of Orissa...
. It has earned international fame for its unique pattern, design and texture. The large number of rice mills found here also contribute to the economy. Approximately 25 rice mills are functioning in Sambalpur, Burla and Hirakud. The first rice mill was established in 1953 at Sasan, Sambalpur.
Gole Bazaar is the main merchandising area of the city. It is famous for handloom and other textile products.
Some of the industries located at Sambalpur are:-
- Hindalco – Aluminium Ingot
- Hirakud Industrial Works – Galvanising
- Rathi Steel & Power – Sponge Iron
Transport
As Sambalpur is the commercial capital of Western Orissa, it has a well networked transport facility for commercial and public transportation.Road
National Highway 6 which connects Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
passes through this city. It is connected to Bhubaneswar through National Highway 42. Rourkela-Sambalpur State Highway-10 is presently being upgraded from a two lane highway to four lane and even six lanes where it is necessary. An estimated amount of Rs. 1270 crores is to be spent on this upgradation and it is planned in such a way that by 2017 it will have the capacity to handle 49,000 vehicles everyday.
Rail
Sambalpur is one of the Divisional Headquarters of East Coast Railway
East Coast Railway
The East Coast Railway is one of the sixteen railway zones of Indian Railways came into existence from 1 April 2003.The geographical jurisdiction of this railway zone extends over three states encompressing almost all parts of Orissa along with parts of Srikakulam, Vizainagaram and Visakhapatnam...
. There are four railway stations namely Sambalpur (Khetrajpur), Sambalpur Road (Fatak), Hirakud and Sambalpur City in Sambalpur. There are direct train connections to all the metros and prominent cities across India. It lacks direct connectivity to Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
and Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
.
Air
The nearest Airports are Mana Airport, Raipur (262 km) and Biju Patnaik Airport
Biju Patnaik Airport
Biju Patnaik Airport , also known as Bhubaneswar Airport, is situated in the city of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. It is currently the only major airport in Orissa...
, Bhubaneswar (325 km). A new airport is being constructed at Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda is the district headquarters of Jharsuguda district of Orissa, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Jharsuguda district. It is an upcoming industrial hub, basically in the metal and cement sectors. Jharsuguda is well connected to all major cities of India through rail network...
(50 km).
Education
Sambalpur is having one of the best facilities for education in the state with many schools and universities. Several private institutes are also being run at Sambalpur. Some of the prominent institutes are:-- Sambalpur UniversitySambalpur UniversitySambalpur University is located at Sambalpur, India in the Indian state of Orissa. Popularly known as Jyoti Vihar. It offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Governor of Orissa is the Chancellor of the university...
http://suniv.ac.in/
The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Orissa legislature on 10 December 1966, the university started functioning from 1 January 1967 with Prof. Parsuram Mishra as the first Vice Chancellor. In the year 1973 the University was shifted to the present campus named Jyoti Vihar at Burla.
- Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology http://www.uceburla.ac.in/
VSSUT (earlier University College of Engineering, Burla) was established in the year 1956 as the first engineering college of the state of Orissa. It has already produced more than 10,000 graduate engineers and 2000 post graduates in different fields of engineering and technology.
- Gangadhar Meher College (Autonomous), SambalpurGangadhar Meher College (Autonomous), SambalpurGangadhar Meher College , Sambalpur was established in 1944 as Sambalpur College. This institution is popularly known as GM College Sambalpur. Later the name of the institution was changed to Gangadhar Meher College in 1949 after the name of the illustrious Oriya Poet...
http://www.gmcollege.org/
- Sambalpur Football Academy, Pitapali
This institution imparts football training to specially selected players with free boarding and schooling. The campus is located on the periphery of the left dyke of the Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world's longest earthen dam....
.
Places of interest around Sambalpur
HirakudHirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur. Built in 1956, it was the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence. The dam is the world's largest earthen dam and is one of the longest dams in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, with a reservoir holding 743 km² at full capacity with a shoreline of over 640 km.
The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma
The Leaning Temple of Huma is the only leaning temple in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It is located in Huma, a village situated on the left bank of the Mahanadi, 23 km south of Sambalpur in the Indian state of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.Nobody...
located about 25 km from Sambalpur. The 17th century temple of Huma leans at an approximate angle of 47 degrees to the west. (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).
Samaleswari Temple
This is the main tempe of Goddess Samaleswari, located on the banks of river Mahanadi. Sambalpur owes its name to her.
Ushakothi
A wild life Sanctuary, 43 km north east of Sambalpur on National Highway 6 stretching for more than 130 km, the sanctuary hosts of Elephants, Tigers, Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
s, Sambars, Black panther
Black panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
s, Deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, Spotted deer, and Wild bears etc.
Ghanteshwari Temple
Located 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) south-west of Sambalpur and on the bank of river Mahanadi
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
, this temple played an important role for navigation in the past. It was called a light house without a light. A temple also existed here, of Goddess Ghanteswari from whom the place got its name. Earlier there were some large bells on this spot and with the help of wind those created enormous sound which made the navigators aware of this treacherous spot. This area being the conglomeration of three streams of water of the Mahanadi river
Mahanadi River
The Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
, the water current here is very dangerous forming a whirlpool
Whirlpool
A whirlpool is a swirling body of water usually produced by ocean tides. The vast majority of whirlpools are not very powerful. More powerful ones are more properly termed maelstroms. Vortex is the proper term for any whirlpool that has a downdraft...
. Due to this many boats sunk while nearing this spot. Here the wind blows quite heavily which caused the bells to produce sound. After the construction of Hirakud Dam, this spot became safer. The specialty of this temple area is thousands of bells hanging everywhere, the only place of its kind in Orissa.
Chiplima
Located about 37 km from Sambalpur, Chiplima is known for a natural fall(24.38 mts in height) harnessed for generating electricity. It is an ideal picnic spot and also known for harbouring “Ghanteswari”, the presiding deity of the place. Moreover, the State livestock Breeding Farm and Agricultural Farm are located here.
Kandhara
Sambalpur also boasts of a pilgrimage-cum-sight seeing spot. Kandhara
Kandhara
Kandhara is a village in the Dhenkanal district of the Indian state of Orissa, situated on the banks of the Ramial and Dolia rivers. It is located 20 km northwest of Kamakshyanagar, 55 km north of Dhenkanal, 135 km north of the state capital Bhubaneswar, 100 km west of Jajpur...
, 78 km from Sambalpur in Rairakhol
Rairakhol
Rairakhol is a town in Sambalpur district, Orissa, India.Ideally situated beside NH 42 in a tranquil secluded and sylvan surrounding having atmosphere of idyllic charms aesthetic and spiritual appeal.-Location:National Highway 42 passes through Rairakhol...
Sub Division, is the birthplace of poet Bhima Bhoi
Bhima Bhoi
Bhima Bhoi was a poet and Satya Mahima Dharma activist from Orissa, India.The most permanent contribution of Orissa toour cultural heritage is Bhima Bhoi, Poet-prophet of Mahima dharma, who wielded his pen against the prevailing social injustice, religious bigotry, and caste discrimination...
, the great propounder of Mahima Dharma or alternatively known as Alekha Dharma.
Cattle Island
Cattle Island exists in one of the extreme points of Hirakud Reservoir, a natural wonder. It is near Kumarbandh village of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur. The island is a submerged hill, and before the construction of Hirakud Dam it was a developed village. During the resettlement period, villagers left some of their cattle behind; when the dam construction was over, the cattle settled on the hilltop. With the passage of time the nearby area filled up with the reservoir water, turning the hilltop into an island. Being away from mankind, the cattle are now wild, very swift and not easily caught. Living on a hilltop with dense forest, they are larger than tame cattle, almost all of which are white in colour. Nearby residents attempt to capture these animals from time to time, but these hunts are rarely successful. Though descended from tame cattle, these animals provide a contrasting picture of this breed of animal returning to life in the wild. If the visit to this island is taken by a boat in the Hirakud reservoir it's an adventurous trip with some of the breathtaking views.
Politics
Sambalpur is part of Sambalpur (Lok Sabha constituency)Sambalpur (Lok Sabha constituency)
Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Orissa state in eastern India. This constituency covers the whole Sambalpur district and parts of Deogarh and Angul districts.-Assembly segments:...
. Sitting MP from Sambalpur is Amarnath pradhan. Current MLA from Sambalpur Assembly Constituency is Jayanarayan Mishra of BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
, who won the seat in state elections in 2004 and 2000 also. Previous MLAs from this seat were Durgashankar Pattanaik of INC
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
who won this seat in 1995 and 1990, Sraddhakar Supakar of INC in 1985, Ashwini Kumar Guru of INC(I) in 1980, and Jhasketan Sahoo of JNP in 1977.
Demand for Separate Kosal State
Although the struggle for a separate State of Kosal is more than two decades old, a mass movement has emergedin this area and majority of the people in this region are demanding a politically separate Kosal state by carving out 10 western districts from Orissa. The foremost argument being put forth in favour of a separate state is lack of development of the region. This movement has gained broader and detailed support of the local populace basically farmers and students. A regional political party Kosal Kranti Dal has been very active with this demand of a separate state and is the only political party till date supporting this demand.
Eminent Personalities
- Veer Surendra Sai
- Gangadhar MeherGangadhar MeherGangadhar Meher , renowned Oriya poet of 19th century also known as Swabhab Kavi,was a literary Midas, who transformed everything into gold by the alchemic touch of his genius. He was a born poet of delicate charm. His was a clean white style. His poem Bhakti bears eloquent testimony to the change...
- Bhima BhoiBhima BhoiBhima Bhoi was a poet and Satya Mahima Dharma activist from Orissa, India.The most permanent contribution of Orissa toour cultural heritage is Bhima Bhoi, Poet-prophet of Mahima dharma, who wielded his pen against the prevailing social injustice, religious bigotry, and caste discrimination...
- Chandra Sekhar Behera ( 1873–1936):Chandra Sekhar Behera of Sambalpur was a leading freedom fighter and an active participant in the Non-Cooperation Movement. He consolidated the National freedom movement in Sambalpur region and merged his activities with the Indian National Congress. He was a founding member of the National School of Sambalpur started on lines of Satyabadi Vana-Vidyalaya founded by Gopabandhu Das. As the chairman of Sambalpur Municipality, he received Gandhijee in Sambalpur in 1928. Organised a mass movement against illiteracy and untouchability.He was instrumental in the activities of Utkal Sammilani in formation of the separate statehood for Orissa. Chandra Sekhar breathed his last on 23 January 1936.
- Satya Narayana Bohidar: Known as the pioneer of Sambalpuri language and grammar, Satya Narayan Bohidar was born on 1 August 1913 at SonepurSonepurSonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Orissa. Sonepur was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of...
. His formative and creative years were spent in Sambalpur that produced a good no. of literary translations and biographies. Fighting against all odds, Sri Bohidar was successful in preparing the dictionary and grammar specially in Sambalpuri LanguageSambalpuri languageSambalpuri or Kosli is an Indo-Aryan language. It is mainly spoken in Western Orissa and north central part of Orissa. It was considered to be a dialect of Oriya language, but owing to its distinct grammar, pronunciations and vocabulary, it has achieved the status of a distinct language...
which provided a significant identity to it. Satya Narayan Bohidar died on 31 December 1980, leaving a great legacy behind him to influence the future generations.
- Jadunath Supakar: Born on 10 February 1931 in an artisan’s family of Sambalpur town, Padmashree Jadunath Supakar was educated from National Arts School of Shantiniketan. Starting as an artist of portraits, Jadunath earned his name as a great master of handicraft who continued his undying effort for popularity of forgotten traditional weaving. Working for national handloom Board, Jadunath tied his hand in Serriculture. His designs were highly appreciated in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and he was engaged in weavers service center, established for the cause of artisans development. Jadunath was also known for his mastery in playing musical instruments.
- Isaac Santra: Known for his service and benevolence par excellence, Isaac Santra was born in the year 1892 at Sambalpur. Being a ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, he was persuaded by his family to join a missionary at Bolangir but his interest was different. He graduated as a doctor from CuttackCuttackCuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
and decided to dedicate himself in Leprosy Eradication Mission. He established a Lepor home at Hatibari, a village surrounded by dense forests and spent his time in serving the patients. Highly admired by the patients, academic circles in abroad, even by Mahatma GandhiMahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
during later's visit to Sambalpur for his humanitarianism and philanthropy, Isaac Santra was honoured by Govt. of India with “Padmashree” award. He also edited a magazine “Prabhatee”, propounding human values and qualities. He died on 29 August 1968.
- Laxmi Narayan Mishra: Eminent freedom fighter, known for his selfless and sincere service to the motherland, Laxmi Narayan Mishra was born in the year 1906 and had left school as a student to join India’s freedom movement. He was imprisoned for seventeen years for his active role in the national struggle for Independence. Jail provided him advantage to be a scholar and Laxmi Narayan had become a real Pandit with his education on religion, culture and political thought. He was an expert in the languages like SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, UrduUrduUrdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, BengaliBengali languageBengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, TeluguTelugu languageTelugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, HindiHindiStandard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and had earned a fame as an extraordinary orator. He was assassinated during a train journey at JharsugudaJharsugudaJharsuguda is the district headquarters of Jharsuguda district of Orissa, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Jharsuguda district. It is an upcoming industrial hub, basically in the metal and cement sectors. Jharsuguda is well connected to all major cities of India through rail network...
.
- Radhashyam Meher. Born on 20-11-1909 at Sambalpur. Died 19-5-1961.
He invented the first handloom to weave textiles of ninety inches width . The Sambalpuri Sari is his creativity. He nutured ,tutuored and guided the weaving community to improve their skills . He is known as the father of Sambalpuri -Textiles who herald the era of Baandha Art.
He participated in the freedom struggle and jailed during the Quit India movement. He strove, to remove 'un-touchability' and maintain communal harmony amongst all classes and religion. Only his selflessness has consigned him to Oblivion.Ref Samaj dt 19-11-2009; Sambalpuri- Textiles ISBN no- 978-81-906822-0-6.
- Laxminath BezbaruaLaxminath BezbaruaLakshminath Bezbaruah was a great Assamese personality in Assamese literature. He gave a new impetus to the Assamese literature that had stagnated for some time and enriched it through his essays, plays, fiction and poetry. As a sensitive artist he responded to the influences of social environment...
- General Sundararajan PadmanabhanSundararajan PadmanabhanSundararajan Padmanabhan was the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army Padmanabhan succeeded General V.P. Malik on September 30, 2000.General Padmanabhan was schooled at the Rashtriya Indian Military College...
He became the 20th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army in September 2000. He was born at Trivandrum in the Indian state of Kerala on the 5th of December, 1940 and spent his childhood at Samblapur.
- Aparajita MohantyAparajita MohantyAparajita Mohanty is an Oriya movie actress based in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. She is the wife of Oriya actor Uttam Mohanty and mother of actor Babushan Mohanty.-Filmography:-External links:**...
She is a notable Oriya film actress.
- RPS Kohli He is the director of Jivo Wellness and the brand name Koutons. An alumnus of Sambalpur University.
Source
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Pasayat, C. (Ed.) (2008), Paschim Odisara Lokageeta (in Oriya), Bhubaneswar: Folklore Foundation.
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