Dhenkanal District
Encyclopedia
Dhenkanal District is an administrative division 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...

, 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...

. It is bordered by Kendujhar
Kendujhar District
Kendujhar District, also known as Keonjhar District, is an administrative district of Orissa state in eastern India. The town of Kendujhar or Kendujhargarh is the district headquarters....

 in the north, Jajpur
Jajpur District
Jajpur is a district of Orissa, India, and an historic place of pilgrimage. As Jajpur was once the capital of the Kalinga kingdom, it is now an area of archeological wealth, including the famous Saktipitha of the Goddess Biraja, as well as the shrines of the Goddess Biraja , Sveta Baraha , Sapta...

 in the east, Cuttack
Cuttack District
Cuttack district is one of the 30 districts in Orissa state in eastern India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Cuttack. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Orissa , after Ganjam.-Geography:...

 in the south and Anugul
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,...

 in the west. Dhenkanal
Dhenkanal, India
Dhenkanal is a city and a municipality in Dhenkanal district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Dhenkanal is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres .-Demographics:...

 town, the district headquarters has a cluster of temples, archaeological remains and a mediaeval fort. 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 ...

, Dhenkanal has a long history. Hari Singh Vidyadhar who was a commander of Gajapati Pratprudra deva defeated the local Bhanja kings and occupied and Dhenkanal and Karamul, its capital in 1529 AD. Subsequently, 18 generations kings ruled over Dhenkanal & brought about many administrative, political, socio-economic, and cultural evolutions to the district. In 1947, after Indian Independence, the princely State of Dhenkanal merged in the Indian Union, and subsequently with Orissa in 1948.

Most of this district is covered with dense forest and a long range of hills, which are home of wild elephants and tigers. Primarily agricultural, the principal forest products of the district are timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...

, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....

, firewood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....

 and kendu leaf, and raw materials used for medicine.

The District is the centre of a religious movement called "Mahima dharma" which over the last century has spread throughout the India. The Chandrasekhar (Shivji) Temple at the hilltop of Kapilas attracts pilgrims from all part of the Country for its spiritual enlightenment, natural beauty and holiness. The Jagar Jatra (Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivarathri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha or Phalguna...

) is a famous festival celebrated here in winter season.

History

Dhenkanal was a Princely State until the Independence of India and subsequent merger of Princely States. Raja Shankar Pratap Singhdeo Mahindra Bahadur who was the Raja of Dhenkanl, got elected as an M.L.A. Raja's son, Brigadier K.P.Singhdeo was an M.P. for long period and susequently a Minister of Govt. of India. Dhenkanal produced many eminent persons in political, social and legal fields.

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...

.

Geography

Dhenkanal district is one of the centrally located district in Orissa. It lies between
Longitude:85° 58' to 86° 2' East and
Latitude:20° 29' to 21° 11' North.

Neighbouring districts

  • Keonjhar district in the North,
  • Cuttack
    Cuttack
    Cuttack 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...

     district in the South,
  • Jajpur district in the East and
  • Angul
    Angul
    Angul may refer to:* Angul, town in India* Angul district, India...

     district in the West.

Topography

The Geographical area of Dhenkanal district is 4595 sqr.km; for practical purpose, this district can be divided in to three natural divisions:
  • Southern hilly region.
  • The river Valley with tributains.
  • The northern hilly region.


This district has mainly five varieties of soil:
  • Alluvial soil
  • Red leam soil
  • Sandy loan soil
  • Gravelly soil
  • Cleaving loan soil

Famous villages in Dhenkanal

  • Rekula
  • Kaimati
  • Joranda
  • Bhuban
    Bhuban
    Bhuban is a town and a Notified Area Council , in the sub-division of Kamakshya nagar, Dhenkanal district in the state of Orissa, India. It is the largest village of south Asia. It is well known for its Brass and Metal crafts. The village has a blend of cultures as people of different cultures ...

  • 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...

  • Banasingh
  • Bhapur
  • Babandha
  • Banamali Prasad
  • Karadabani
  • sanda
    Sanda
    -Places:* Sanda, Hyōgo, Japan* Sanda University, Shanghai, China* Sanda, Lahore, Pakistan* Various islands in Scotland:** Sanda Island , off Kintyre** Handa, Scotland , off Sutherland...


Economy

Some large and medium scale industries have established their base in the district. Some of them are


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 Dhenkanal 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).

Transport

By Air : Bhubaneswar, the nearest airport (80 km) is connected to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

, 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...

, 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...

, Hyderabad, and Vishakapatnam.
By Train : Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack 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...

 (55 km), on the main Howrah Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

 route, links Dhenkanal to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...

, 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...

, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...

, 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...

, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

, Hyderabad, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...

, Trivandrum, 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...

 and Puri
Puri
Puri is district headquarter, a city situated about south of state capital Bhubaneswar, on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian state of Orissa. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the Jagannath Temple . It is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages...

. Dhenkanal is also directly connected to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...

, Vizag, Raipur and 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...

.
By Road : Dhenkanal is situated 75 km from 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...

 and 55 km from Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack 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...

 on the National Highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

 No.42. Air Condition and Non-A/C Taxis are available for long distance as well as local travel.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census
2011 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...

 Dhenkanal 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 1,192,948, roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste 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 400th 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 268 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 11.82 %. Dhenkanal 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 947 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 79.41 %.

Notable Personalities

  • Harmohan Patnaik, Freedom Fighter and First President, Dhenkanal Prajamandal.
  • Debendra Satpathy ( Former MP)
  • Brig. K.P.Singhdeo ( Former Union Minister)
  • Baisnab Charan Patnayak (Freedom Fighter)
  • Nandini Satpathy
    Nandini Satpathy
    Nandini Satpathy , was an Indian politician and author, and was the former Chief Minister of Orissa.-Family:...

     ( Former Union Minister, Former CM of Orissa)
  • Mr.Jusice D.N.Patnaik
  • Tathagata Satpathy ( Politician)
  • Haladhar Mishra ( Former MLA )
  • Kalpana Dash (Mountaineer)
  • Suparno Satpathy
    Suparno Satpathy
    Suparno Satpathy is a noted socio-political-cultural leader from Orissa in India. He hails from Dhenkanal district.He is the Chairman of SNSMT, a leading social cause organization of India which is based out of Orissa.-External links:* * * * * * *...

     (Socio-political-cultural leader)
  • Krushna chandra patra(EX-MLA-SADAR)
  • Rama chandra patra (politician)
  • Prafula Bhanja ( Former MLA)
  • Nabin Ch. Narayan Das ( Ex Minister)
  • Rama Satapathy (Ex Chairman)
  • Gagan Bihari Swain(Ex-Principal,Banasingh Degree College)
  • Bijay K. Pattnaik (Principal,Kapilash Jr.Mohavidyalaya)

Cuisine

  • Staple Food of Local People - Rice, Dal and Vegetables.
  • Special delicacy includes fish, prawn and meat in non-veg and dalma
    Dâlma
    Dâlma may refer to several villages in Romania:* Dâlma, a village in Scorţoasa Commune, Buzău County, Romania* Dâlma, a village in Bala, Mehedinţi, Romania* Dalma , an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates...

     (a mix of vegetables and pulses) and sag (leaf vegetables)
  • Typical sweetmeats include Chhenapoda, Chhenajhilli, Rasabali
    Rasabali
    Rasaabali Oriya:ରସାବଳି is a sweet dish from Orissa, India. Unlike some other popular Oriya desserts, such as rasagolla which have spread throughout India through Bengal, the popularity of rasabali remains largely confined within Orissa...

    , Rasagola (all made from milk) and Pitha (cakes)
  • ‘Mahaprasad’, the food of the Gods cooked by unique steaming process is available in the Datatreya Sai Ashram premises & Sri Balram Temple at Dhenkanal.
  • Indian, Chinese and Continental Food available in Hotels and Restaurants.
  • Dhenkanal is very famous for its BARA
    Bâra
    Bâra is a commune in Neamţ County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Bâra, Negreşti and Rediu.-References:...

    which is a traditional tiffin prepared from blackgram & Rice.

Tourism

  • Kapilash Temple
    Kapilash Temple
    Kapilash Temple is situated in the north eastern part of Dhenkanal town, Orissa, India at a distance of 26 km from the district head quarters.-Location and architechture:...



Situated in the north east corner of Dhenkanal
Dhenkanal, India
Dhenkanal is a city and a municipality in Dhenkanal district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Dhenkanal is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres .-Demographics:...

 town at a distance of 26 km from the district head quarters. The temples is situated in about 2239 feet from the sea level. Narasinghdeva I constructed the temple for Sri Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar or Chandra Shekhar is an Indian name and may refer to a number of individuals. Etymologically, the name comes from the Sanskrit words "चन्द्र ", meaning "moon", and "शेखर ", meaning "crest" or "crown" which is an epithet of Hindu god Shiva...

 in 1246 A.D The temple has a wooden Jagamohana. Sri Ganesh, Kartikeya, Gangadevi
Gangadevi
Gangadevi, also known as Gangambika, was a poet in the Vijayanagara Empire during the 14th century and chronicled the story of the victory of her husband, Kumara Kampana, son of Bukka Raya I over the Muslims in Madhura in the form of a poem. The title of the eight chapter poem was Madhura...

, etc. are found in the temple. Patita pavana Jaganath also remain in the temple as 'Parsa deva'. Lord Biswanath temple is also situated in Kapilas. According to some scholars this temple is older than the Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar
Chandrasekhar or Chandra Shekhar is an Indian name and may refer to a number of individuals. Etymologically, the name comes from the Sanskrit words "चन्द्र ", meaning "moon", and "शेखर ", meaning "crest" or "crown" which is an epithet of Hindu god Shiva...

 Jew temple, hence it is known as 'Budha linga'. There are many legends about kapilas pitha and its significance.

  • Saptasajya


One can proceed 12 km in the Sankarpur road from Dhenkanal Bus stop and then turn west at the Badagila chowk and pass two km to reach Saptya Sajya a scenic beauty where the holy temple of Maryada Purusottama Sri Ramachandra is located at about 900 feet at the hilltop
Hilltop
-Place names:England*Hilltop, Buckinghamshire*Hilltop, DerbyshireHong Kong*Hilltop Building, Cloud View Road, North PointUnited States*Hilltop, former name of Fuller Acres, California*Fairmede-Hilltop, Richmond, California, commonly referred to as "Hilltop"...

. A mountains stream flows down as if touching his holly feet in veneration. Mythologically this place is important and many legends are still available. Its name is Sapta Sajya because, there are seven hills surrounding the area. Again there is story that, the Saptarashi had their ashramas here in this place. There is also a mythological story, that, Sriram during his exiled or Vanabasha had spent seven days in this beautiful spot. Secondly the Pandavas during their 12 years of exile and one year of Agyanta Vasa had chosen this mountains for shelter. The Govt. constructed the Pukka road way in 1982. Inside the temple complex Maa Annapurna temple was constructed in 1982, the 1st floor Kalki temple in 1985, the Surya Narayan temple in 1990. Now the temple of Sri Rameswaram Shiva
Shiva
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...

, Sri Ganesh, Sri Mahavir, and the Nabagrah Temple with each room for each graha are found. Mahakali
Mahakali
Mahakali , literally translated as Great Kali, is a Hindu Goddess, considered to be the consort of Shiva the God of consciousness, and as the basis of Reality and existence...

, Mata Saraswati
Saraswati
In Hinduism Saraswati , is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as His Shakti....

, Sri Nrushingha temple are conceived to be built in the holy complex. This scenic spot has become a good tourist and picnic spot where thousands of tourists and devotees gather from different corners 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...

 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...

.
  • Naganatheswar Temple


This temple belongs to sri sri Naganatheswar shiva, situated at village 'Nagena' about 20 km from Dhenkanal. It is the most ancient saiva temple and was constructed during the region of the Keshari dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...

. According to scholars Pandit Nagendranath Mohapatras' Naganath satakam it is one of the 12 yotir lingas. In the stotras of the 'Awashyotirlinga' one of the yotirlinga is in the Daruka-Vana or Neem
Neem
Azadirachta indica is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil...

 forest. The neem forest is still there in the premises. Even Harisingh Vidyadhar who occupied the Dhenkanal fragmental temple for the darshan of Lord Naganath. The sloka of dwadasha yotirlinga says that Naganath temple is situated in the southernmost part of Anga Kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...

. It shows that some times in history that part kalinga
Kalinga
Kalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...

 touched Anga border. However, near it there is a debris of a fort which is still unidentified. Here river Brhamani turns to north which is as holy as the Gangas
Gangas
The Western Ganga Dynasty was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India. They are known as Western Gangas to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over modern Orissa...

.
  • Astasambhu Temple


Kualo or Karmula was the ancient capital of dhenkanal. Kualo is situated in north of Dhenkanal town at a distance of 32 km on the right side of river Brahmani
Brahmani
In Hinduism, Brahmani is a kind and benevolent aspect of Devi, the Divine mother. Brahmani is associated with the Hindu creator god, Brahma as His consort or Shakti . She is one of the seven Mother Goddesses called Matrikas.-As Kuldevi:Many Kshatriya clans consider Her to be their Kuldevi...

. The kingdom was ruted by the Shulki kings who hold 'stamba'epithets. They were the fedotaries of the Bahmukar kings. Their futiler deity was Lord Shiva
Shiva
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...

. Hence we see eight Siva temples at Kualo known as 'Ashta Sambhu'. These eight Shiva lingas are known as - Kanakeswar, Swapneswar, Aisneswar, Kapileswar, Baidyanatheswar, Baneswar and Lokanatheswar.
  • Sri kanakeswar


It is one of the Ashta Shambhu Siva and situated near Ramachandi temple.
  • Sri Annakoteswar


Situated at Latodeipur. The significance of this Shiva linga is that it grooms in the bright fortnight and reduces on the dark half.
  • Sri Raghunath Temple


Sri Raghunath Temple of Saptya sajya is one of the Important Baisnav temples of Dhenkanal.
  • Jagannath Temple
    Jagannath Temple
    -India:*Jagannath Temple, Puri, Orissa, India*Jagannath Temple, Koraput, Orissa, India*Jagannath Temple, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Orissa, India*Jagannath Temple, Nayagarh, Orissa, India*Jagannath Temple, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India*Jagannath Temple, Delhi, India...

     Deogaon


With the spread of Baisnavism in Dhenkanal Jagannath
Jagannath
Jagannath is a transcendental non-anthropotheistic Hindu god worshiped primarily by the people of Indian state of Orissa, and, to a great extent, West Bengal...

 Temple were built in different parts of the District
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...

. This Jagannath
Jagannath
Jagannath is a transcendental non-anthropotheistic Hindu god worshiped primarily by the people of Indian state of Orissa, and, to a great extent, West Bengal...

 Temple is located at Deogaon at the foot of Kapilas mountain. Gajapati Prataprudra Deva had built the temple. The gateway of this temple is higher than the temple itself. Every year the Rathayatra (Car festival) is being organised by the temple management in collaboration with Debottor Dept., Dhenkanal.
  • Narayan Temple of Kaplias


Kaplias is the place where synthesis of saivism and Baisnavism are amply demonstrated. The Narayan Temple at the hill of Kaplias is an example of that great event. There, is a beautiful black granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...

 image of Sri Narayan is Worshipped. A stream flows down touching holly feet of Narayan
Narayan
Narayan may refer to:*Narayana, an Indian name, an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu*Narayanan, an Indian name*Narain, an Indian name- People :*Aditya Narayan, Indian television show host*Anand Narayan, Indian television personality...

.

Interest in and around Dhenkanal

  • Joranda

This place is situated at a distance of 24 km. from Dhenkanal which is famous as the religious headquarters of 'Mahima Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...

', the only religious cult started from Orissa. Joranda houses the samadhi of Mahima Gosain, the preacherpropounder of the Mahima Cult. The other sacred temples are the 'Sunya Mandira', 'Dhuni Mandira' and 'Gadi Mandira' Pilgrims in large numbers pour forth to Joranda fair held on full-moon day of Magha which falls in January–February every year. All of the principal texts of the religion like the Stuti Chintaamani were composed by 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...

. This is mainly celebrated by the religious people belong to the religion, locally named ‘Alekh/Mahima’ dharma.

From the year, 1874 this unique festival was regularly held year after year. For the first time Mahima Swami has imagined and created the idea of this great fair. Every year the people belong to Mahima religion gather here to celebrate their annual function, termed as "Joranda Fair". From each nook and corners 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...

 the devotees come to this place to discover calmness in their life and how to achieve nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...

(Swarg) after death.

According to the devotees they pray altogether to their god by saying. Alekh Brahma and burn enough amount of ghee in Jajnan Kund to being peace back into the earth’s life. They believe that this devotion will provide our earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...

pureness and all the basic needs people cherish in their day-to-day life.
  • Ganesh Khola

Remnants of the first palace and fort of the ancestors of the present King of Dhenkanal can be visited at Ganesh Khola a further 10 km from Joranda.
  • Ladagada

40 km. from Dhenkanal
Dhenkanal, India
Dhenkanal is a city and a municipality in Dhenkanal district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Dhenkanal is located at . It has an average elevation of 80 metres .-Demographics:...

 town, Ladagada is a place of religious importance. A piece of stone known as Lord Siddheswar is worshipped here with great reverence. The banyan tree which gives shelter to the Lord is known as Kalpabriksha.
  • Sarang
    Sarang
    Sarang is the helicopter formation display team of the Indian Air Force.The team flies four HAL Dhruvs. The name Sarang is symbolic as it is the national bird of India. The team was formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian Aerospace Show, Singapore, 2004...


67 km. from Dhenkanal, 23 km from Angul
Angul
Angul may refer to:* Angul, town in India* Angul district, India...

 and 3 km. from Talcher
Talcher
Talcher is one of the 4 sub-divisions of Anugul district in the Indian state of Orissa . Situated on the right bank of the river Brahmani, the capital of the erstwhile Talcher State is one of the fastest growing industrial and mining complexes of the country.-Geography:Talcher is located at...

 one finds the Anantasayan image of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

 on the rocky bed of the river Brahmani
Brahmani
In Hinduism, Brahmani is a kind and benevolent aspect of Devi, the Divine mother. Brahmani is associated with the Hindu creator god, Brahma as His consort or Shakti . She is one of the seven Mother Goddesses called Matrikas.-As Kuldevi:Many Kshatriya clans consider Her to be their Kuldevi...

 at Saranga. The hoods of Ananta
Ananta
Ananta is a Sanskrit word meaning "without end".It may refer to:*Ananta , one of the names of Vishnu.*Ananta , Actor and Producer for Bengali film.*Ananta, a serpent on which Vishnu lies, aka Shesha....

, the serpent king spread over the head of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

 as the crown and cover. The primal lotus, housing Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...

, the creator, originates from Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....

's naval, the supreme being enjoys deep delight of his cosmic sleep in the water of the river Brahmani
Brahmani
In Hinduism, Brahmani is a kind and benevolent aspect of Devi, the Divine mother. Brahmani is associated with the Hindu creator god, Brahma as His consort or Shakti . She is one of the seven Mother Goddesses called Matrikas.-As Kuldevi:Many Kshatriya clans consider Her to be their Kuldevi...

.
  • Dandadhar

67 km from Dhenkanal and 30 km from Kamakshyanagar
Kamakshyanagar
Kamakshyanagar is a town and a notified area committee in Dhenkanal district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Kamakshyanagar is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...

,
Dandadhar is the site of an irrigation project on the river Ramial- an ideal place for outing. Blue expense of sparkling water caged in sun-bathed valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...

 is a thrill to the searching eyes. This place is regarded as a quality picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...

 spot and is highly acclaimed for its scenic beauty. Many people in the season of winter gathered here to spend some quality time near the dam site.

Education

Dhenkanal is home to the Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication is India's premier media school funded and promoted by the Government of India. IIMC is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The institution was established on August 17, 1965 with support from UNESCO.-The...

, the only institute in Orissa for the study of journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

 and mass communication
Mass communication
Mass communication is the term used to describe the academic study of the various means by which individuals and entities relay information through mass media to large segments of the population at the same time...

; many students come here from all over India to study

Other colleges, universities, and institutes include:
  • Synergy Institute of Engineering & Technology
    Synergy Institute of Engineering & Technology
    Synergy Institute of Engineering & Technology is a private engineering college in Dhenkanal, Orissa. It was founded by Shivani Educational & Charitable trust in 1999. With the approval of AICTE, it was affiliated by Utkal University, vanivihar, Bhubaneshwar...

  • Narayani Institute of Engineering and Technology
  • Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology
    Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology
    The Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology is located at Sarang in the industrial belt of Talcher. It was established in 1982 by the government of Orissa.In addition to four year Undergraduate degrees in electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil engineering, and metallurgical & materials science, it...

  • Dhenkanal Law College
  • Devendra Satpathy Memorial College
  • Dhenkanal College
  • Vidyarthee Residential College
  • E-Tech Residential College
  • Saikripa Residential College
  • Montfort School
  • B B High School
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
    Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
    Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya known as JNV are Indian schools for talented children and form a part of the system of gifted education. The objectives of the scheme are to provide good quality modern education to the children predominantly from rural areas, without regard to their family's...

  • Kendriya Vidyalaya
    Kendriya Vidyalaya
    Kendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....

  • Balarampur High School
  • Satyabadi High School

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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