Bhadrak district

Bhadrak ଭଦ୍ରକ ଜିଲ୍ଲା
district
Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 21°04′00″N 86°30′00″E / 21.0667°N 86.5000°ECoordinates: 21°04′00″N 86°30′00″E / 21.0667°N 86.5000°E
Country	India
State	Odisha
Headquarters	Bhadrak
Government
• Collector	Sri Krushna Chandra Patra
• Member of Parliament	Arjun Charan Sethi, BJD
Area
• Total	2,505 km^2 (967 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	1,506,522
• Rank	12
• Density	601/km^2 (1,560/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Odia, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code	06784
Vehicle registration	OD-22
Sex ratio	981 ♂/♀
male	760,591
female	745,931
Literacy	83.25%
Precipitation	1,427.9 millimetres (56.22 in)
Avg. summer temperature	48 °C (118 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	17 °C (63 °F)
Website	bhadrak.nic.in

Bhadrak District is an administrative district of Odisha state in eastern India.

Origin of name

The district is named after goddess Bhadrakali.

History

The district includes Rakta Tirtha Eram in Basudev Pur, where about 30 people were killed by the British police while fighting for independence.The legendary history of Bhadrak District dates back to the age of the Puranas when Odisha achieved thriving maritime and agrarian prosperity. As far as the history is concerned, king Mukunda Dev was the last sovereign indigenous ruler of Bhadrak. The Muslim population began to settle in the District around the year 1575 following the discomfiture of the Afghans under Usman at the hand of Raja Man Singh. During the Mughal period Bhadrak District survived as a Subha under the Nawabs of Bengal. When the majestic Muhgals diminished from the political scenario of Bhadrak District. In course of time Bhadrak District has passed on to different hands and colonized by different dynasties till the British occupied the entire region of Odisha.

Since independence, the history of Bhadrak has been the history of multifarious progress in Education, Industry, Agriculture, Trade and commerce and with the birth of a new star it is leaping towards the twenty-first century with hope and promise.

There are many historical places and monuments to visit in the Bhadrak District. Palia is famous for Biranchi Narayan Temple. Sri Radha Madanmohan temple is one of the most visited temples of Bhadrak District. Aradi situated at a distance of 10 km from Chandabali is famous for the temple of Akhandalamani.

On 1 April 1993, this district was carved out from the Balasore District and became a separate entity.

Geography

The district has an area of 2,505 km². Bhadrak town is situated at a distance of 125 km from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. Salandi River passes by this district.

Economy

Bhadrak is home to FACOR, which is one of the largest manufacturers of quality ferro chrome in the country.

Many new factories including a shipbuilding factory will be coming up soon.

Tourist places

• Bhadrak has a special identity for ERAM VILLAGE which is known as "2ND JALIANAWALABAGH". It is 07 km from Basudevpur. A memorial was built for the martyrs of Eram massacre.^[1]

• Akhandalmani Temple is on the bank of river Baitarani, the Akhandalamani Temple is the abode of Lord Shiva. The Patana Mangala in Chatrapada village is famous for Mangala temple with the biggest pond of Odisha. Chief interest of the place is its legendary history. As the history runs, king Niladri Samara Singha Mohapatra started worshipping the God Akhandalamani some 350 years ago, when the black glazed granite stone was found underground and the king dreamt of the god. However the religious and historical significance with which the place is invested, constitute it to be a center of special interest in the tourism of Bhadrak. Moreover, the artistic carvings of the temple deserve special worth to the tourist. Surrounding the temple many fairs and festivals are organized, the chief among which is the Mahashivaratri. During this festival, tourists, including a vast chunk of pilgrims, flock into the core of the temple. On the month of Sravana, people from nationwide assemble here to pour the holy water on the Siva Linga and to offer their worship to Lord Shiva. The Akhandalamani Temple is the principal source of the profitable development of the tourism industry of Bhadrak.
• Dhamra Port is an ancient port on the banks of the river Baitarani, around 5 km from Kanika Palace. The highlights are the direction tower and some ancient structures.
• Jagannath Temple :- Nilok This is a sacred place of Hindus (Vaisava).

Transport

Bhadrak railway station is the biggest railway station of Bhadrak district and serves Bhadrak city. An important upcoming town in Bhadrak distinct is Dhamara, which is upcoming newly built megaport of the district. New railway line from Bhadrak to Dhamra is constructed.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Bhadrak district has a population of 1,506,522,^[2] roughly equal to the nation of Gabon^[3] or the US state of Hawaii.^[4] This gives it a ranking of 332nd in India (out of a total of 640).^[2] The district has a population density of 601 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,560/sq mi) .^[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.95%.^[2] Bhadrak has a sex ratio of 981 females for every 1000 males,^[2] and a literacy rate of 83.25%.^[2]

The language mostly spoken by the people is Odia, though some people speak Urdu.

Culture

• Bhadrak is famous for Bhadrakali Temple, which is also now a great occasion over the district.
• Aradi, Chandabali, Dhamanagar, Dhamara, and Guamala Nuasasan are some other places of tourist interest.
• Nalanga, a village in Gelpur Panchayat is famous for Lord Naleswar (Shiva). The Naleswar Temple is one of the oldest temples in Odisha. Nalanga is the birthplace of Lokakavi Jagannath Pani, the teacher of Baishnav Pani.
• Brahmangan, another village in Basudevpur constituency of this district is famous for its century old Prasanna Khemeswar mahadeva temple and its melana jatra during holi. Durga puja & Jagar also famous in this village.
• Biggest Pond in Odisha and Famous Maa Patana Mangala Temple (Chhatrapada) is about 38.0 km (43 min) away from Bhadrak.
• Banta, Basantia, Basudebpur blocks & villages respectively in which village various melas are organised in various days of the year out of which Panchuka Purnima which is celebrating in a very great fun of people in which boat is sailed in the big pond of Basantia village in the memories of Oriya Sadhabas, who was going to make their business in the near islands like Java and Borneo, Indonesia for too many days. Also in this mela big Operas also comes here to show their shows.^[5][6]

Notable personalities

• Chandrakanta Nath (b. 1960), novelist, columnist and media icon from Sandhagada village.

• Inspector Prafula Mohapatra, well known police inspector of British Time

• Chakradhara Behera (1894–1973), Freedom fighter who has become immortal for leading the masses against tyranny of zamidar of Kanika.

• IAS Dr. Hrusikesh Panda (Birth. 1955) (1979 Batch IAS) (an eminent writer)Post Graduation in Chemistry, Diploma Pers. Mgt., MBA in Admn. Finance Economics, Ph. D. in Philosophy English.
• Mr Apurba Ranjan Ray( An eminent writer who is written more than 60 books, Great speaker, Founder of ' Bhadrak Pujyapuja Sansad', Awardee of Sahitya academy and more than 100 awards in his name for the contribution to the odia culture. He is the regular speaker in Akashbani, Script writer of Dordarshan, Founder of many schools.

Politics

Vidhan sabha constituencies

The following is the 5 Vidhan sabha constituencies^[7][8] of Bhadrak district and the elected members^[9] of that area

No.	Constituency	Reservation	Extent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks)	Member of 15th Assembly	Party
43	Bhandaripokhari	None	Bhandaripokhari, Bonth	Prafulla Samal	BJD
44	Bhadrak	None	Bhadrak (M), Bhadrak	Jugal Kishore Pattnaik	BJD
45	Basudevpur	None	Basudevpur, Basudevpur, Tihidi (part)	Bijayshree Routray	BJD
46	Dhamnagar	SC	Dhamnagar, Tihidi (part)	Muktikanta Mandal	BJD
47	Chandabali	None	Chandabali, Tihidi (part)	Byomkesh Ray	BJD

References

1. http://www.nuaodisha.com/Odisha-Tourism/Tourist-Places-In-Bhadrakh.htm
2. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
3. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. Gabon 1,576,665
4. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Hawaii 1,360,301
5. Bhadrak district, Orissa Diary
6. Bhadrak District, District Info
7. Assembly Constituencies and their EXtent
8. Seats of Odisha
9. "List of Member in Fourteenth Assembly". ws.ori.nic.in. Retrieved 19 February 2013. MEMBER NAME

External links

• Official website