Sambalpur District
Encyclopedia
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 forest. The district is bounded by Deogarh District to the east, Bargarh
and Jharsuguda
districts to the west, Sundergarh District
to the north, and Subarnapur and Angul
districts in the south.
Sambalpur city is the connecting city between Chhattisgarh
and Orissa. Whereas it used to be known for its importance as a diamond
trading centre, nowadays it is mainly known for its textiles, especially the Sambalpuri Saree
. It's a good place from which to explore the surrounding forests and spot, some of the rare species still roaming the area in one of the wild life sanctuaries, such as the well-known Badrama sanctuary. Sambalpur is also famous for Sambalpuri song and Sambalpuri dance.
(2nd century) as Sambalaka on the river Manada (the Mahanadi River
). This gateway to the exotic charms of the western region of Orissa was the cradle of an ancient civilization and is an important landmark in India's cultural history.
Sambalpur was a former princely state
of British India. When its ruler died without a direct male heir in 1849, the British seized the state under the doctrine of lapse
. It was attached to the British Bengal Presidency
, but was transferred to the Central Provinces
in 1862. The district was transferred back to Bengal in 1905, but the subdivisions of Phuljhar and Chandarpur-Padampur remained with the Central Provinces. Bengal's Orissa division became part of the new province of Bihar and Orissa in 1912, and in 1936 became the separate province of Orissa. After Indian Independence in 1947, Orissa became an Indian state
.
Sambalpur District was subsequently divided into four separate districts. Bargarh was separated in 1993, and Jharsuguda and Deogarh districts were separated in 1994.
It is currently a part of the Red Corridor
.
temples were built during the Chauhan
period. The most important amongst them were the Asta Sambhus in the undivided Sambalpur district as detailed below:-
An interesting feature of Saiva shrines found in Sambalpur area is "Non-Brahmin Priest" called Thanapati of Mali caste of these shrines (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).
trade. Kendu leaf (Diospyros Melanoxylon) is also produced in Sambalpur. Tendu leaf is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Sambalpur and is also called as green gold of Orissa. Lately industrialisation
has started in the district and the prime industries of power, alumina and steel have been established. 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. Apart from textiles, Samabalpur has a rich tribal heritage and fabulous forestlands.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
named Sambalpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts
(out of a total of 640
). It is one of the 19 districts in Orissa currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Sambalpur district has a population
of 1,044,410, roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus
or the US state of Rhode Island
. This gives it a ranking of 433rd in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 158 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.63 %. Sambalpur has a sex ratio
of 973 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 76.91 %.
, an Austro-Asiatic
language spoken by approximately 17 000; and Bhunjia, spoken by approximately 7000 Bhunjia
Adivasi
s.
, is an ancient centre for the diamond
trade is famous for its internationally renowned textiles (ikat
), rich tribal heritage and fabulous forestlands. Sambalpur is easily accessible by rail and road.
Samaleswari
, the presiding deity of this region is enshrined at 'Samalei Gudi' on the bank of Mahanadi River. The other temple of importance is the Budharaja Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and is perched atop the Budharaja hill. These temples are located at a few kilometres' distance from Sambalpur. The Hirakud Dam
, the longest dam of the world, is some 15 kilometres from Sambalpur and can be easily visited on a day trip.
About 20 km from Sambalpur lies the Huma Temple which is a leaning structure, angling up to almost an astonishing 17 degrees. A mystery of engineers since the past few decades, it was made by the erstwhile ruler of Sambalpur.
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...
, 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...
. The historic city of Sambalpur
Sambalpur
Sambalpur is a city in Sambalpur district in the Indian 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...
is the district headquarters.
The district is located in 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:...
basin. It has a total area of 6,702 square kilometers, of which almost 60% of the district is covered in dense forest. The district is bounded by Deogarh District to the east, Bargarh
Bargarh District
Bargarh District ', is an administrative district of Orissa state in eastern India. The city of Bargarh is its district headquarters. The district was carved out of the erstwhile district of Sambalpur in 1993.- Geography :...
and Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda District
Jharsuguda is a district in Orissa, India with Jharsuguda town as its headquarters. The district once had an airport during World War II. This region is rich in coal and other mineral reserves...
districts to the west, Sundergarh District
Sundergarh District
Sundergarh District, also spelled Sundargarh District, is a district in the northwestern part of Orissa state in eastern India. Sundargarh district is bound by Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh in the west, Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh in the North-West, Simdega district of Jharkhand in the...
to the north, and Subarnapur and Angul
Angul District
Angul is a district of Orissa state in India. The city of Angul is the district headquarters.-History:A bridge between western and coastal areas of Orissa where the prehistoric and protohistoric relics are found in village Bhimakund, Kankili, Kulei, Samal, Sanakerjang, Kaliakata, Paranga, Kerjang,...
districts in the south.
Sambalpur city is the connecting city between Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
and Orissa. Whereas it used to be known for its importance as a diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
trading centre, nowadays it is mainly known for its textiles, especially the 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...
. It's a good place from which to explore the surrounding forests and spot, some of the rare species still roaming the area in one of the wild life sanctuaries, such as the well-known Badrama sanctuary. Sambalpur is also famous for Sambalpuri song and Sambalpuri dance.
History
Sambalpur is mentioned in the book of PtolemyPtolemy
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...
(2nd century) as Sambalaka on the river Manada (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:...
). This gateway to the exotic charms of the western region of Orissa was the cradle of an ancient civilization and is an important landmark in India's cultural history.
Sambalpur was a former princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of British India. When its ruler died without a direct male heir in 1849, the British seized the state under the doctrine of lapse
Doctrine of lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the British in India between 1848 and 1856...
. It was attached to the British Bengal Presidency
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal, was a colonial region of the British Empire in South-Asia and beyond it. It comprised areas which are now within Bangladesh, and the present day Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Tripura.Penang and...
, but was transferred to the Central Provinces
Central Provinces
The Central Provinces was a province of British India. It comprised British conquests from the Mughals and Marathas in central India, and covered parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra states. Its capital was Nagpur....
in 1862. The district was transferred back to Bengal in 1905, but the subdivisions of Phuljhar and Chandarpur-Padampur remained with the Central Provinces. Bengal's Orissa division became part of the new province of Bihar and Orissa in 1912, and in 1936 became the separate province of Orissa. After Indian Independence in 1947, Orissa became an Indian 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:...
.
Sambalpur District was subsequently divided into four separate districts. Bargarh was separated in 1993, and Jharsuguda and Deogarh districts were separated in 1994.
It is currently a part of the Red Corridor
Red corridor
The Red Corridor is a term used to describe an impoverished region in the east of India that experiences considerable Naxalite communist insurgency...
.
Asta Sambhus
In the district of Sambalpur a large numbers of ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
temples were built during 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...
period. The most important amongst them were the Asta Sambhus in the undivided Sambalpur district as detailed below:-
| Serial Number | Name | Pace |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bimaleswar | Huma |
| 2 | Kedarnath | Ambabhona (Now in Bargarh District) |
| 3 | Biswanath | Deogaon (Now in Bargarh District) |
| 4 | Balunkeswar | Gaisama (Now in Bargarh District) |
| 5 | Balunkeswar | Maneswar |
| 6 | Swapneswar | Sorna (Now in Bargarh District) |
| 7 | Bisweswar | Soranda (Now in Bargarh District) |
| 8 | Neelakntheswar | Niliee (Now in Bargarh District) |
An interesting feature of Saiva shrines found in Sambalpur area is "Non-Brahmin Priest" called Thanapati of Mali caste of these shrines (Pasayat, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).
Economy
The economy of Sambalpur District is basically dependent on agriculture and secondly on forests. Forests play an important role in the economy in terms of contribution to revenue, Domestic Product as well as dependence of people for livelihood. The people living adjacent to the reserved forests of Sambalpur Forest Division are heavily dependent on these forests. In the past Sambalpur has been a great centre of diamondDiamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
trade. Kendu leaf (Diospyros Melanoxylon) is also produced in Sambalpur. Tendu leaf is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Sambalpur and is also called as green gold of Orissa. Lately industrialisation
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
has started in the district and the prime industries of power, alumina and steel have been established. 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. Apart from textiles, Samabalpur has a rich tribal heritage and fabulous forestlands.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India looking after the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance in the States....
named Sambalpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts
Poverty in India
Poverty is widespread in India, with the nation estimated to have a third of the world's poor. According to a 2005 World Bank estimate, 41.6% of the total Indian population falls below the international poverty line of 1.25 a day...
(out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). It is one of the 19 districts in Orissa currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Sambalpur district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 1,044,410, roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
or the US state of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. This gives it a ranking of 433rd in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 158 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.63 %. Sambalpur has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 973 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 76.91 %.
Languages
Languages spoken here include AsuriAsuri language
Asuri is a minor Munda language of India.Ethnologue states that Birjia is a dialect of Asuri, but also that there is a related language Birjia; it is not clear if these refer to the same thing....
, an Austro-Asiatic
Austro-Asiatic languages
The Austro-Asiatic languages, in recent classifications synonymous with Mon–Khmer, are a large language family of Southeast Asia, also scattered throughout India and Bangladesh. The name Austro-Asiatic comes from the Latin words for "south" and "Asia", hence "South Asia"...
language spoken by approximately 17 000; and Bhunjia, spoken by approximately 7000 Bhunjia
Bhunjia
The Bhunjia are a scheduled tribe found in the state of Orissa in India. There homeland is the Sunabeda plateau which is roughly between 21° 25° North and 21° 30° north latitude and 82° 35° East longitude...
Adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
s.
Places of interest
The town of Sambalpur, lying 321 km from BhubaneswarBhubaneswar
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...
, is an ancient centre for the diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
trade is famous for its internationally renowned textiles (ikat
Ikat
Ikat, or Ikkat, is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs a resist dyeing process similar to tie-dye on either the warp or weft fibres....
), rich tribal heritage and fabulous forestlands. Sambalpur is easily accessible by rail and road.
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...
, the presiding deity of this region is enshrined at 'Samalei Gudi' on the bank of Mahanadi River. The other temple of importance is the Budharaja Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and is perched atop the Budharaja hill. These temples are located at a few kilometres' distance from Sambalpur. 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....
, the longest dam of the world, is some 15 kilometres from Sambalpur and can be easily visited on a day trip.
About 20 km from Sambalpur lies the Huma Temple which is a leaning structure, angling up to almost an astonishing 17 degrees. A mystery of engineers since the past few decades, it was made by the erstwhile ruler of Sambalpur.
See also
| 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... | 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 Cinema Sambalpuri Cinema -Introduction:The first ever Sambalpuri movie released was Bhukha or Bhuka. It was released in the year 1989 and was directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. It was also the first film from Orissa to get an International Jury Award at the Gijon International Film Festival. The second film in Sambalpuri... |
|---|---|---|
| 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... |
Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla | Veer Surendra Sai Medical College Veer Surendra Sai Medical College Veer Surendra Sai Medical College is a premier Government run Medical College & Hospital in the Indian state of Orissa. Established in 1959, it is one of the oldest institutes of Orissa for imparting highly specialized medical education in both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels... |
| Western Orissa | Western Orissa Development Council | Farmers' suicide in Western Orissa |
| Maa Samaleswari | 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... |
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... |
| Veer Surendra Sai | Gangadhar Meher Gangadhar Meher Gangadhar 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... |
Sarat Pujari Sarat Pujari Sarat Pujari is one of the noted actors of Oriya film industry. He pioneered the Oriya cinema in the early sixties.He born on 8.8.1934 at Nayagarh.His early education completed in many schools all over Orissa .After that he has completed his post graduation in Economics and Diploma in Paintings in... |
| Nuakhai Nuakhai 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... |
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... |
Burla, India Burla, India Burla 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 :... |
| 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... |
Kochinda Kochinda Kochinda is a town and a notified area committee in Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Kochinda is located at . It has an average elevation of 220 metres .-Demographics:... |
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... |
| 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.... |
Bhukha Bhukha Bhukha or Bhookha is a 1989 Kosli language film directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. The movie was produced by Sabyasachi Mohapatra under the banner of Kumar Productions and had music by Ramesh Kumar Mahananda.This movie is based on the Sambalpuri play Bhukha written by Manglu charan Biswal... |
Kuilta Kuilta Kuiltas are an important caste of the Western Orissa region of India. Kuilta is synonymous with Kulta and Kulata.- History of Kuilta Caste :... |