Rourkela
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| ?Rourkela Orissa • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
200 km² (77 sq mi) • 219 m (719 ft) |
| District(s) | Sundargarh |
| Population • Density |
484,292 (2001) • 2,500 /km² (6,475 /sq mi) |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 769xxx • +91 661 • OR-14 |
Rourkela pronunciation is located in the northwestern tip of the Indian state of Orissa at the heart of a rich mineral belt.It is the third largest city in orissa.It is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by rivers. One of the largest steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited is situated here. It also has one of the National Institutes of Technology of the country.
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[edit] Name
The name "Rourkela" means "Our Village" derived from Rour which means "your" and kela means "village" in the local language Sadri spoken by the Raulia tribe living there.[1]
[edit] History
The picturesque and modern twin towns of Rourkela and Fertilizer Township as well as their developed periphery are located in areas that were once covered by dense forests. According to the census report of 2001 the population of Rourkela is 4,84,292. As recently as 1921, the population as per the census record was only 382. The then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali. The literal meaning of Rourkela according to the language of Sadri is your home. An alternate story has it that an indigenous community called Raulia was living in the area and the present name is derived from their name for their village.
When India obtained independence, a priority for the government was the industrialization of the country. A basic necessity was the production of iron and steel, and after a search for a suitable location, a steel plant was finally ear-marked for the Rourkela region.
[edit] Geography
Rourkela is located at 84.54E longitude and 22.12N latitude in Sundergarh district of Orissa at an elevation of about 219 meters above mean sea level. The area of Rourkela is 200 square kilometers approximately. Red and laterite soils are found here which are quite rich in minerals. The area near Rourkela is rich in iron-ore hence a steel plant is situated in Rourkela. Rourkela is situated in a hilly region which adds to the natural beauty of the city. The Koel and Sankha rivers meet at Vedvyas, Rourkela and flow as a single river called Brahmani. Hence Rourkela is the confluence of Koel, Sankha and Brahmani.
"The Hands of Steel" [2], designed by Mr J A Acquila, is one of the well known landmarks of Rourkela.
[edit] Layout
The 23 kilometers long Ring Road, connecting 18 sectors and some other parts of the steel city including old Rourkela is perhaps its most important landmark. Rourkela is broadly divided in Steel Township and Civil Township.
Steel Township is one of the best designed industrial township. With broad roads, open spaces for trees and playgrounds it has one of the best social infrasturcture in place. There is adequate health clinics, some of the best schools, well designed markets and parks. The Telephone Bhawan, Ispat Stadium are located in Sector-6, Indira Gandhi Park in Sector-2, Jubilee Park in Sector-8, Max Mueller Bhawan in Sector-2, Ispat Supermarket (also called Ambagan), Nehru Maidan, Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Sector-19, Ispat College in Sector-16.
Civil Township is very commercial area and hub to the business of Western Orissa. The good residential areas being Basanti Colony, Area 7 & 8, Koelnagar and Chennd Colony.
[edit] Climate
Rourkela has a tropical climate and receives high rainfall during Southwest monsoon (June-September) and retreating Northeast monsoon (December-January). Average annual rainfall ranges between 160-200 cm. The minimum and maximum temperatures are in the range of 11 C to 44 C with a mean minimum and maximum temperature range of 14.3 C to 39.2 C during coldest and hottest months. Thirty six percent of the geographical area of the district has semi-evergreen or tropical dry deciduous forest.[3]
[edit] Economy
[edit] Industries
Rourkela is the industrial capital of Orissa. It has industries of all sizes. The city is known internationally for iron & steel trades. Recent upspurt in iron & steel pricing has seen a lot of industries of all sizes coming in and around Rourkela. The city is near to the source of Raw Materials. Major Industries
- Rourkela Steel Plant
- Fertiliser Plant
- Orind
- IDL Limited (now merged to Gulf Oil Corporation Limited)
- Bondamunda Marshalling Yard
- Sponge Iron Plants
- STPI Rourkela
- Adhunik Metalliks,Kuarmaunada,Rourkela
- Grasim Industries Ltd. (Sundargarh Cement Project)
[edit] Tourism
Rourkela also acts as a hub for tourism to Orissa.
[edit] Hotels
- Hotel AASTHA,station road,A Palace of luxury
- Hotel Radhika, Madhusudan Marg, Near Railway Station
- Hotel Apsara, Near Railway Station
- Hotel Chanderlok, Near Razak Cinema, Old Rourkela
- Hotel Deepti, Ring Road
- Hotel Sukhsagar, Madhusudan Marg
- Hotel MAYFAIR Rourkela, Panposh Road. The most luxury hotel in rourkela
- OTDC Panthanivas Tourist Bungalow, Sector-5 bypass road
- Hotel Maurya Residency
- Hotel Aashirvad, Near Rail Station
- Hotel Surya, G.T.Lane
- Hotel Anurag, Madhusudan Marg
- Hotel Solan, Station Road
- Hotel Tridev, Panposh
- Hotel Brindaban,Luxurios Hotel Near Railway Station, Bisra Road
- Hotel Shyam, Near Railway Station, Bisra Road
[edit] Hanuman Vatika
The city houses the Hanuman Vatika, which is a major attraction for the locals and visitors to the town. A 75 feet (23 m) tall full-fledged Hanuman statue welcomes the visitors to the steel city. Sri Laxmana Swami was the architect behind the statue. The Hanuman Vatika Trust Board has made a temple complex on 13 acres (53,000 m²) of land. The Bata Mangala Mandira, Binayaka Mandira and Manas Parayana Sharala have been established to the entrance of the Hanuman Vatika. The Koili Baikuntha, the kitchen, the Kalyan Mandap and the Bhajan Mandap lie close to the Jagannath temple.
[edit] Vedavyas
A place of natural beauty also considered a 'Tirtha', is situated 9 km away on the confluence of the rivers Shankha, Koel and Saraswati. There is also a Vedic Ashram and a Gurukula system school here. It is at this site that the epic Mahabharata was purported to have been put down on paper by Maharishi Vyas.
[edit] Mandira Dam
Mandira Dam is situated about 25 km from the city. The reservoir is almost as old as the Steel Plant in Rourkela. It was built to support the irrigation requirements of about 50 surrounding villages. But as of today, it is the source of water to nearly 250 villages around Rourkela. There is so much water that it is said that at the lowest level, if the dam were breached, the water would drown almost 100 villages[citation needed].
Additional about Vedvyas.
Lovers of Vyasadeva have started 7 day long "Vyasa Mahatsav" from 2007 to commemorate the glorious birth of legendary Krisna Dwisampayan Vyas from 6th to 13th of March 2008. The Vedic Gurukula Ashram has been established by late Pujya Shri Brahmanada Saraswati (who later became His Holiness the Sankaracharya)in 1948, much before the industrial city was conceived. Here, all including adivasi children are taught about Vedic literature.
[edit] Khandadhar
The 244 m High Khandadhar is 114 km from Rourkela via Bonaigarh. It is formed by the perennial Korapani Nala which flows here throughout the year. It is the highest waterfall in Orissa and the 4th highest in India.This waterfall is having such a height that it is visible from a distance of about 5 kilometres.The scenery is breathetaking.Reaching to the top of the waterfall is quite adventurus.
[edit] Darjeeng
Darjeeng is a picnic spot on the river Brahmani. Nearby is Deodhar, a gorge on the river. It is 51 km from Rourkela on National Highway No. 23. About 180 km from Rourkela, Junagarh has a fort of historical and archaeological importance with ancient caves. Another haunt of the tourists is the Mirig Khog Waterfall, a picnic spot, 111 km from Rourkela.
[edit] Maa Vaishno Devi Temple
It is situated on the top of the small hill with a beautiful environment of green tree and fresh air through the day. It is also visible from the Railway Station. The images of Maa Kali, Maa Lakshmi and Maa Saraswati were found on the hill in the year 2000. then Maa Vaishnu Devi Temple Trust was formed in the year 2000. The Temple was constructed and completed in the year 2003. Proper stairs were made and water tanks were arranged for drinking water. Maa Durga Temple is another attraction near the cave to be worthy seen.
[edit] Laxmi Narayan Mandir
Situated in Sector-14 on a small hillock this is a place to attend complete peace of mind, away from the hustle and bustle of city. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Mata.
[edit] Pitamahal Dam
It is one of the papular picnic spot in rourkela. It is 16km far from Vedvyas.It is so nearer to Kaluga.
[edit] Civic administration
The steel city is divided mainly into two sections: Old Rourkela (sections of the city near the railway station that were settled prior to RSP coming up) and the much larger Steel township. The Steel township till 1999, was divided into 18 Sectors, Sector 6 being the largest of them.
The Steel township & Fertilizer Township(Sector-22) are under the Steel Plant Administration while the other sections of the city are under the Rourkela Municipal Committee. Some rural areas of South Rourkela are managed by the Jalda Panchayat.
[edit] Transport
As Rourkela is the commercial capital of Orissa, it has a developed transportation network.
[edit] Rail
It is situated on the Kolkata-Mumbai South Eastern railway line which is a major route connecting the two metros of India. Rourkela is directly connected to Ahmedabad (www.orissa-ahm.org), Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Bilaspur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Puri, Patna, Kolkata, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Vishakhapatnam and many more cities of India. Garib Rath Express plies between Ranchi and Bhubaneswar via Rourkela.It is one of the most beautiful place in Orissa.If we all can preserve the nature and the climate then this place will be a vey nice place.
[edit] Train List
| Up | Train Name | Dn |
|---|---|---|
| 2860 | Howrah-Mumbai CST Gitanjali Superfast Express | 2859 |
| 2130 | Howrah-Pune Azad Hind Express | 2129 |
| 2810 | Howrah-Mumbai Mail | 2809 |
| 2906 | Howrah-Porbandar Aradhana Express | 2905 |
| 2871 | Howrah-Sambalpur Ispat Superfast Express | 2872 |
| 8451 | Hatia-Puri Tapaswini Express | 8452 |
| 8189 | Tata-Alleppey Express | 8190 |
| 3351 | Dhanbad-Alleppey Express | 3352 |
| 8477 | Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express | 8478 |
| 8005 | Howrah-Koraput Samaleswari Express | 8006 |
| 2834 | Howrah-Ahmedabad Express | 2833 |
| 8030 | Shalimar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express | 8029 |
| 2812 | Hatia-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express | 2811 |
| 2152 | Howrah-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Samarsata Express | 2151 |
| 2889 | Tatanagar-Yesvantpur Express | 2890 |
| 2870 | Howrah-Mumbai CST Superfast Express | 2869 |
| 2831 | Ranchi-Bhubaneswar Garib Rath Express | 2832 |
| 3288A | Danapur-Durg South Bihar Express | 3287A |
| 211 | Rourkela-Puri Passenger | 212 |
| 327 | Tata-Nagpur-Amravati Passenger | 328 |
| 321 | Tata-Bilaspur Passenger | 322 |
[edit] Road
Rourkela is connected to various towns of the state by State Highway 10 and National Highway 23. National Highway 23 connects it to the nearby city of Ranchi which is the capital of Jharkhand state. Interstate buses ply between Rourkela, Ranchi, Bhilai, Jamshedpur. Several buses ply between the major cities and towns of the state.
[edit] Local Transport
The three-wheeler auto taxis are the most important mode of transportation in the city. Taxis also ply on the city's roads. Sampark City Service buses, introduced in September 2006, connect various areas in the city.
[edit] Air
After the survey of AAI, air services have again resumed to the city. A private airliner known as Sky Airways has launched services in the city since 1st October, thus connecting the steel city with the capital city of Bhubaneswar via Barbil. Rourkela departure 9:45 a.m. daily (five days a week,except Saturday and Sunday)
[edit] Demographics
- Density of Population - 2,500 per Sq. km. Approx.
- Sex Ratio - 835 Female per 1000 male
- Per Capita income - Highest in Orissa
- Population (2001) - 4,84,292 (Township: 206,566, Rourkela:224,601)[4]
- Main Habitations in Rourkela:Basantinagar, Koelnagar, Uditnagar, Jhirpani, Jalda, Fertilizer Township(Sector-22), Civil Township, Eighteen Sectors, Chhend Colony, Shaktinagar, Panposh, Jagda, Bondamunda, Rourkela Town, Industrial Estate.
As of 2001 India census,[5] Rourkela had a population of 484,292. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Rourkela has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 69%.Also it is the highest literacy rate of Orissa. In Rourkela, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Culture
Rourkela has two recreation parks: Indira Gandhi Park in front of the Gayatri Mandir hillock, and a smaller Jubilee Park abutting Sector-8.
[edit] Social Organisations
- Shastriji Memorial Trust, Contact No:9437342700
- Envicare, R-18, Civil Township, Contact No:9437152503
- Utkal Giri Gobardhan Seva Sangha, Chhend colony, Contact No:9437047547
- Sanskar, Oriya sahitya Pathachakra, khariabahal, Sector-2, NIT Road, Contact No:9437100900
- Sushila, NR-19, Jagda, Contact No:9861104422
- ACID, Rourkela, Contact No:9937245458
- Lok Vikash Parishad, At/Po-Dengula, Koira, sundargarh, contact No:9437631422
- Sanjibani, Chhend Colony, Contact No:9437048499
- Utkalmani Gopabandhu Welfare Trust, Gopabandhu Nagar, Sonaparbat, Contact No:9437342533
- Social Welfare Activities for Rural Re-generation And Justice (SWARRAJ), Contact No:9438210529
- Kalakar Ekata Mancha, Chhend Colony, Contact No:9861422099
- VISSTAR, Chhend Colony, Contact No:9437212604
[edit] Festivals
Rourkela celebrates almost all festivals due to its rich cosmopolitan cultural integrity. But the most awaited festival is Durga Puja.
[edit] Entertainment
Rourkela has limited options for entertainment
[edit] Wireless Radio(F.M.)
Rourkela City has a radio station of All India Radio(A.I.R) located at Jagda.This Radio station has limited number of programs,fifty percent of which are transmitted from A.I.R Cuttack or A.I.R Delhi. But the scenario is fast changing as BIG 92.7 F.M. has been launched in the city. Every morning 5am to night 10pm the city rocks with BIG 92.7 which has the baseline "SUNO SUNAO LIFE BANAO".
Other radio Channels include Radio Chocolate 104 MHZ with the tagline , DHOOM MITHA.
Jyoti Mishra, founder of White Town was born in Rourkela.
[edit] Movie Theatres
- Konark Cinema Hall, Ring Road
- Apsara Talkies, Near Railway Station
- Razak Cinema, Old Rourkela
- Uma Talkies, Bisra Road
- Jugnu Cinema Hall, Rangila Chowk, Fertilizer Township
Oscar nominated film director Mira Nair was born here.[6]
[edit] Education
Rourkela is not only a steel city , but also the educational, technical and research hub of Western Orissa. It houses many English medium schools which provide world class education to their students. The students of these schools represent their schools in various science seminars not only at national level but also at international level. Some students of Rourkela have also got the rare opportunity to visit NASA, the famous space agency of the United States of America. Rourkela also houses one of the premier institutes of the country, NIT Rourkela.Rourkela produces the highest number of IITians in whole of Orissa.
[edit] Schools
- Aurobindo High School, Sector-5
- Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Sector-7 (Oriya Medium)
- Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Chhend (English Medium)
- City English School, near Railway Station
- Chinmay Public School, Mohini Vihar,Fertilizer Township,RKL-16
- D.A.V Public School, Basanti Colony
- Deepika English Medium School, Sector - 5
- Delhi Public School, Sector-14, Rourkela
- Desouza's E.M. School, Sector-2
- Govt. High School, Uditnagar, Rourkela-12 (Oriya Medium)
- Guru Nanak Khalsa Public High School, Near Railway Station
- Guru Nanak Khalsa Public High School, Nayabazar, Sector-21
- Indo English School, Bisra Dahar Road
- Ispat English Medium School, Fertilizer Township
- Ispat English Medium School, Sector - 20
- Ispat High School, Sector-2
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector-6
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bondamunda
- M.G.M English Medium School
- Mount Carmel Convent School, Hamirpur
- Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector-6
- Pragati Public School, Fertilizer Township
- Radha Swami English School,Bondamunda
- Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Bisra Dahar Road
- St. Gregorious Convent School, Kalunga
- St Joseph's Convent School, Hamirpur
- Saint Mary's English Medium School, Jagda-42
- St. Thomas High School, Chhend-Basantinagar
- St Paul's School, Rourkela
- Uditnagar Government High School
- Vivekananda Vidyamandir High School, Sector-18
- Sonaparbat High School, Nabakrushna Nagar
- Saraswati Shishu/Vidya Mandir, Sector-6, Rourkela-2(Oriya Medium), (High School Campus is in Sector-17)
- Saraswati Shishu/Vidya Mandir,Jagda,Rourkela-42
- Pragati vidya mandir (jagda)
[edit] Engineering & Management Colleges
- National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
- Indian Institute of Production Management, Kanshabahal
- Orissa institute of Hotel Management, Chhend
- Chinmay Technical Academy,Mohini Vihar,Fertilizer Township
- Padmanava College of Engineering, Sector-4
- Purushottam Institute of Engineering Technology,mandiakudar
- Rourkela Instiute of Management Studies
- Rourkela Institute of Technology, Kalunga
- S.K.D.A.V Khosla polytechnic
- Tapaswini Institute of Information Technology, Kanshabahl
- Utkalmani Gopabandhu Institute of Engineering
- Dr.Ambedkar Memorial Institute of Information Technology & Management Sciences (DAMITS),Jagda
- NICE, National Institute Of Computer Education, Chhend
- Industrial Training Institute,Industrial estate
city english school (near railway ststion)
[edit] General Colleges
- Rourkela Government Autonomous College, Panposh
- Ispat College,Sector-16
- Ispat Vidyamandir, Sector-19
- Rourkela Municipal College, Uditnagar
- D.A.V Women'sCollege, Sector-2
- Hrushikesh Ray College, Chhend
- Gandhi Mahavidyalaya, Deogaon
- Law College, Nayabazar,Sector-21
- Rourkela Junior College, Sector-3
- Nilasaila College, Jagda
- SR College Bisra
[edit] Medical & Pharmacy Colleges
- Kanak Manjari Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chhend
- Utkalmani Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Nayabazar,Sect-21
[edit] Universities
NOTE-:Biju Pattnaik University of Technology is located in Rourkela City not in Bhubaneswar.
[edit] Libraries
- Adarsh Paathagar, Sector-5,
- Basanti Paathagar, Basanti Nagar
- Utkalamani Gopabandhu Library, Sector-19
- Utkalamani Gopabandhu Library, Fertilizer Township
- Municipal Library, Uditnagar
- Max Mullar Bhawan, Sector-2
- Oriya Sahitya Pathachakra (a unit of Sanskar, Khariabahal, sector-2, NIT Road
- Pragati Utkal Sangha, Sector-8 (with over 40,000 books)
[edit] Rehabilitative Education
- School for Deaf, Sector-7
- S.O.S Children's Village, Bagbudi,Chhend
- Home and Hope, Sector-18
[edit] Sports
Rourkela has produced some of the best hockey players for India at the international level including present day India team captain Dilip Tirkey and deep defender Lazarus Barla. Orissa's Arjun Awardee Mrs. Minati Mohapatra is from the city. Olympians of repute like Paralympian Roshan and Rachita Mistry are from this city. Indian national cricketeer Sanjay Raul and the Under-19 world cup representative Atish Jena play from this city. Former National 'B' champion in chess and second only to Viswanathan Anand in national 'A' Mr Pabitra Mohan Mohanty is a proud sporting son of the city.
The Ispat Stadium and a beautiful astro-turf hockey stadium are located in Sector-6. There is a basketball ground, a chess hall, and a well maintained voley-ball ground in the same area. The indoor stadium hosts the badminton players and TT stars.
[edit] Stadiums
Rourkela has a hockey stadiums with synthetic astroturf. Ispat Stadium has been host for several Ranji Trophy matches.
- Sports Hostel, Chhend
- Ispat Stadium, Sector-6
- Biju Pattnaik Hockey Stadium, Sector-6
- Sports Hostel, Panposh
- IG Stadium, Fertilizer Township
[edit] See also
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[edit] References
- ^ Rourkela Reader, see "Rourkela from 1921 to 2005"
- ^ Hands of Steel
- ^ National Institute of Malaria Research
- ^ India City Population
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ Mira Nair interview with Indian Express
[edit] External links
- Rourkela on Wikimapia
- NIT Rourkela One of India's premier technology schools.
- SAIL Rourkela Steel Plant's website.
