| Voice of Jharsuguda
: Andini Padhi
The increasing number of industries in the district requires large
area of land. This is causing displacement of the tribals residing
in these areas. Their livelihood is getting affected due to the
same.
Migration in the district is also on rise.
The level of pollution is the district is increasing.
Jharsuguda
District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 2081.0 Km2
Population in JHARSUGUDA (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 579,499
Male : 297,014
Female : 282,485
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 15300
In seeing : 7792
In speech : 964
In hearing : 1342
In movement : 3713
Mental : 1489
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 67
Sex Ratio Rank : 325
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 459 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 185 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Brief About Jharsuguda District
Jharsuguda District is situated in western part of Orissa at 21°
82’ N and 84° 1’ E coordinates. Jharsuguda is rich in mineral wealth,
especially coal and it is one of the most industrialised and urbanised
districts in the state. It is well connected with all parts of the
country by rail and road and also has an airport set up during world
war II.
It has an area of 2203.32 sq.kms. During the re-organisation
of the Garhajat States in 1936 under the British, Jharsuguda formed
a part of Sambalpur district. The new district of Jharsuguda came
into existence on 1st April, 1994 and was created by amalgamation
of the erstwhile Jamindars of Rampur, Kolabira, Padampur & Kudabaga;
Jharsuguda Town is the head quarters of the new district.
Sex Ratio : 946 (Rural 975, Urban 898)
Sex Ratio in Orissa : 972 (Rural 986, Urban 895)
Geographical Area : 2,98,886 Hect.
Forest Area : 26,917 Hect.
Geographical Location
Jharsuguda town is situated at the Western end of Orissa on the
State High way No. 10. It is situated at a distance of 515 K.M.
from Calcutta and 616 Km. from Nagpur. The river ‘IB’ flows along
the Western side of Jharsuguda town and the river ‘Vheden’ flows
in the south. The area of the town is 70.47 sq.km. The town situated
at 21o.82’ north longitude and 84o.1’ latitude at a height of 700-750
feet above mean sea level. The highest temperature recorded in summer
is 46.7o . Centigrade and it has an average rain fall of 1527 mm.
Padmasini
Temple of Padampur
At a distance of 70 Kms.
from Jharsuguda, there is Hirakud reservoir on the left side of
village Bhikampali. Just at the point where the river Mahanadi
leaves the than Madhya predesh and enters Orissa to pour in to the
Hirakud reservoir, there was once a town called as "Padampur".
The famous Sanskrit dramatist “Bhabahbhoti” was believed to be born
here. Moreover, it is said that “Bajrajan’ Tantra marg of Buddhism
took origin here.
Goddess Padmasini is the reigning deity of this town. The temple
of “Padmashini’ was constructed in 7th century A.D. by a Chalukya
king of South. However the original temple had met decay and
was believed to be reconstructed by the Chouhan king in 16th century. In
the whole Orissa Padmasini Temple is a unique example of Chalukya
art and architecture. In 1956 Padampur town was submerged
in Hirakud reservoir, but the deity has been shifted to a new temple
at nearby ‘Pujaripali’.
Ruins
of Hill Forts of Ulapgarh
On the Jharsuguda-Belpahar
Road at a distance of 21 Kms. from Jharsuguda there is a village
known as Lajkura. In the vicinity there is a hill known as
“Maheswar Pahad” where the remains of an old holy fort attracts
the attention of historians, researchers and tourists.
On the foot of Maheswar
Pahad, there is small village called “Ulap”. About one kilometer
from the village, the ruins of Ulapgarh are situated. At this place,
the Maheswar pahad is about 1000 ft high and on the top there is
a huge plain surface. On this rectangular plain stone surface
the fort of Ulapgarh had been constructed. The plain
stone fine surface is about 400 metre long and 250 metre wide.
On the eastern side of the fort there are almost about 7 kms. Of
densely forested Baramunda Hills and on the Western side, the Belpahar
Railway Station is located at a distance of 5 kms. On the north
there is a dense forest stretching up to Hemgir and in the South
stretching up to Badjob village.
About 1000 people could
take shelter at Ulapgarh at a time. On the western side of Ulapgarh
and down hill there is Ushakothi cave.
It is believed that Ulapgarh
was being used as a residential fort by some kings of “Naja” Dynasty.
Research is going on by various Indian and Foreign researchers and
Historian in this direction.
Rock Painting and
Lithography of Bikramkhol.
On the Jharsuguda-Lakhanpur
Road at about 25km. from Jharsuguda there is a village known as
Banjari. In the vicinity of the village the ancient cave of
Bikramkhol is located. There are some ancient script engraved
in the wall of Bikramkhol and also paintings of animals. Circular
holes have been dug in the wall where weapons, dress and other articles
of use were being kept suspended. Bikramkhol has been declared a
tourist spot by the Central Government and tourists, historians
and researchers from all over the country and abroad.
Koilighughar
water fall (Lakhanpur)
The
Koilighugar water fall is situated 55 kilometer away from Jharsuguda
in the Lakhanpur block near the village Kushmelbahal. A rivulet
named ‘Ahiraj’ takes origin from the ‘Chhuikhanch’ forest and while
flowing through its rocky belt falls from a height of 200 ft. creating
the water fall of Koilighugar. After the fall the rivulet
flows west wards to merge into the river ‘Mahanadi’. It is a picturesque
beauty spot with its sylvan back drop.
Inside the fall there is
a Shivalingam known as ‘Maheswarnath’. There is an “Ashram’ of a
holy man “Saham swami’ near the water fall. Every year a fair sits
in Kalighugar on the occasion of Sivaratri.
Ramchandi:
An ancient Shaktipitha
This important
place of ‘Shakti Worship’ is located 10 km. away from Jharsuguda
town inside a cave.
From the remote past Davi
Ramchandi is being worshiped as the reigning deity of Rampur region.
The Shrine is famous not only on the Rampur area but throughout
the western Orissa. Many pilgrims and devotees come to the Rampur
cave from far and near to visit and worship the goddess Ramchandi.
Shiva
Shrine of Mahadebpali
As the history of local
area is clearly linked with this temple it is considered to be one
of the Astaswayambhus of Jharsuguda district. Every year fair takes
place here on the day of Sivaratri.
Historical
Kolabira Fort:
This fort is situated at
a distance of 17 kms. From the Jharsuguda town on the bank of river
‘Telen’.
Shree
Pahadeswar Temple, Jharsuguda is situated at the top of
a small hill on the eastern side of Jharsuguda and is another place
of attraction in the District.
On the South East direction of Jharsuguda and on the bank of river
Bhaden there is an ancient Sivashrine’ at Mahadebpali.
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