Bhilai
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| ?Bhilai Chhattisgarh • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Durg |
| Population | 825,837 (2007) |
| Codes • Telephone • Vehicle |
• +788 • CG-07 |
| Website: www.bhilai.co.in | |
Bhilai is the second-largest city in Chhattisgarh, India with a population of 553,837 (2001 census}. The city is located 22 km west of the capital Raipur on the Howrah-Mumbai rail line, and National Highway 6.
The town is famous for the Bhilai Steel Plant, one of the largest in the world. Nearby mines, connected to the steel plant by specially built rail lines, supply it with iron ore, dolomite, and manganese. Some of the steel products manufactured by Bhilai Steel plant are: railway sleepers, rails, construction materials, and other steel products. Other factories in Bhilai produce chemicals, acids, and gases.
There are important companies like ACC, BSBK Private Limited and Bhilai Engineering Corporation Ltd which started as ancillary of BSP but off late have become international entities in themselves.
The nearest big railway station is Durg, other railway stations being Bhilainagar, Bhilai Powerhouse, Kumhari and Bhilai-3. Bhilai is a known educational centre for sending large number of students to Indian Institutes of Technology. Three of the town's educational institutions viz. Delhi Public School, BSP Senior Secondary School, Sector - 10 and BSP Senior Secondary School, Sector - 4 have been exceptional in their standards of quality of education and lead the way for schools throughout the state.The city has produced 2 IIT JEE Toppers - Navin Budhiraja & Shashank Shekhar Dwivedi. Formerly a small town, Bhilai grew rapidly in the decades following the construction of the steel plant.
During 1990s and 2000's Bhilai has emerged as an excellent educational centre in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, both at school and college level. Six enginnering colleges have come up in and around the city contributing to the educational needs in technological fields for the new developing state. Bhilai Institute of Technology, Durg is the pioneer of all the engineering colleges in the state. It is the only college in the state which is offering Six Post Graduate and Six undergraduate courses in professional studies.
Bhilai is divided among 11 sectors. Each sector has a community hall, schools, health centers and market. Sports facilities are also maintained there are two man stadiums Pant stadium and Jayanti Stadium. Many Outdoor stadiums are also there for handball, and badminton. Main market places are Power House Market, Supela Market, Civic center, Aakash Ganga, Sector -6 'A' market.
Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital and Apollo Hospital are two of the most prestigious hospital of the state with research work. The pace of development has increased since the formation of Chhattisgarh. The city itself is a very calm and peaceful place. Since the employees of Bhilai Steel Plant are the primary residents of the town, its population is a cosmopolitan one. Unlike other industrial towns, the residential areas in Bhilai are clean and green. Due to the employment opportunities created by the Bhilai Steel Plant, people from all over the country flock here and the culture here provides a scintillating example of "Unity in Diversity".
If you just want to check out the local hangouts, The Maitri Bagh Zoo & Park is a nice place. The colorful musical fountain & the accompanying show are a must watch. Sectors also have recerational parks where you can take a leisurely stroll. If you are serious about shopping and checking out the malls, Civic Center & Akash Ganga are must goes. Things obviously tend to get a little expensive here, so for a price concious buyer, the neighbouring Durg and Sector-6 markets offer a welcome respite.
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[edit] Tours and Travels
Bhilai :- It is famous for Iron & Steel Plant. It is the only steel city of Chhattisgarh State. It is famous for technical tourism. Visitor passes are issued by the P.R.O. Department. The main places in the Steel Plant are: Coke oven battery, Blast furnace, Rail & Structure Mill, Plate Mill, Wire Rod Mill etc. The Main movie th it attracts large crowds. It is also famous for its Zoo. Various types of Indian & Foreign animals & birds are kept in this zoo. The zoo also consists lake, toy train and many more.
Deobalod :- It is situated about 3 km. from Bhilai & is famous for Oldest Shiv Mandir.
Tandula :- It is 60 km. away from the district of Durg. It is famous for Dam on the river Tandula. It is an exciting picnic spot. One can stay here in the rest house of irrigation department.
Dhamdha :- It is situated on the Durg-Bemetara road 35 km. from the district of Durg. It is famous for Prachin Kila (Oldest Palace) & Mandir. Lodge & hotel facility are there for the staying of tourist.
Balod :- It is situated at 58 km.from the district of Durg. It is famous for Prachin Kila (Oldest Palace), Mandir (Temples) & Sati Chabutra.
Siyadevi :- It is around 20 km. (80 K.m from Durg city) from balod (Must See Place). This place is famous for Sita Maiya's temple, situated in the heart of greenery of natural jungle. You can find a natural and very beautiful waterfall between (July- Feb).
Nagpura :- It is situated at 2 km. from the district of Durg. It is famous for Jain Temples & Pasharwanath Tirth.
Kharkhara :- It is 95 km. away from the district of Durg by road. It is famous for Dam on the river Kharkhara. The total length of the dam is 1128 m.
Hajra Falls :- It is 100 km from Bhilai, crossing Dongargarh near Darekasa Railway station in Howrah Mumbai rail route. Situated amongst dense forests, hills and tunnels, this spectacular 150 feet high falls is a visual delight for tourists. Place to stay : The Forest bungalow.
[edit] Culture
The steel plant township – which is the dominant populated area – is basically an artificially created area of domicile. And the people who have made this their home have come from all parts of the country. This merging of peoples from all over of India has created its own cosmopolitan culture. And since this is also predominantly a town of educated technocrats, has given rise to a culture of meritocracy and value for education.
The people of Bhilai also have a great tendency towards adopting new trends and life styles. Bhilai thus is multicultural for people from all over the world who have come and settled in this region. Bhilai's people are also known for their simplicity, kindheartedness and adaptability. And this is the actual culture of Bhilai.
The people of this region are very fond of colours. The dresses they wear are all colourful. Women too wear sarees with Kardhani. In rural areas women wear mala made of one rupee coins. Though this has gone out of trend these days. The people of this region are also known for creating humour out of language. Comical plays are very popular and are worth watching.
Bhilai is rich in its cultural heritage. Bhilai has its own dance styles, cuisine, music, and traditional folk songs in which sohar song, bihav(marriage) song, and Pathoni songs are very famous. Sohar songs are related to childbirth, Bihav songs are related to marriage celebration. The main parts of Bihav songs are Chulmati, Telmati, Maymouri, Nahdouri, Parghani, Bhadoni and other songs related to Bhanver, Dowery and Vidai songs. Pathoni songs are related to gouna (departure of bride to bridegroom home). Seasonal Chhattisgarhi folk songs are Fag (Basant Geet), Baramasi (12 months), Sawnahi (in rainy seasons). Festival's related Chhattisgarhi folk songs are Cher-Chera songs (in welcome of new crops, child songs), Dohe of Rout Nacha (Dipawali), Sua songs (Dipawali).
Regional folk songs are Goura songs (worships Shivji & Parvati in Dipawali), Mata Seva songs, Janvara songs, Bhojali songs, Dhankul songs, songs of Nagpanchami. Loriya & playing songs of child are Loriya, Fugdi, Kau-Mau, Chau-Mau, Khuduwa (Kakdi), Dandi Pouha. Karma songs, Danda songs & Dewar songs are most popular of Entertainment songs in Bhilai.
Bhilai is rich in its cultural heritage. Durg has its own dance styles, cuisine, & music. Pandwani the musical narration of the epic Mahabharata, "Raut Nacha"(The folk dance of cowherds) and the Panthi and Soowa dance styles are very popular in the region. Teejan Bai, the Pandwani artist was awarded Padmashree for her contribution to this dance style. Ritu Verma is also a well known name.
People of Durg celebrate marriage and other cultural festivals like Navakhani, Ganga Dushhara, Sarhul Chherka, Durga Puja, Dushara, Dipawali, Karma & Kartika.
[edit] Notable people from Bhilai
- T.C.Yohanan - He went on to win the Long Jump gold medal in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran creating an Asian record.
- Rajesh Chauhan - cricketer who played for the Indian National team.
- Teejan Bai - Pandwani artist, awarded with Padmashree.
- Anurag Basu: Notable director from Bhilai, director of superhit Murder, Gangster, Metro and director of TV serial Love Story.
- Vivek Gandhi - Institutional Investor.
- Gurupreet Singh - Only property owner on Moon.
- Dr Shashin Dewangan - .
- Amit Sana - famous playback singer and runnerup of Indian Idol
- Satish Deb Kaminkar - 1st Inventor of Chhattishgarh state, awarded with 1st Prize National award for his Invention by Hon'ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in Year 2007.
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