Baripada

Baripada ବାରିପଦା
city
Baripada
Coordinates: 21°56′N 86°43′E / 21.94°N 86.72°E / 21.94; 86.72Coordinates: 21°56′N 86°43′E / 21.94°N 86.72°E / 21.94; 86.72
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Mayurbhanj
Elevation	36 m (118 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• city	110,058
• Metro[2]	116,874
Languages
• Official	Oriya
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	757 0xx
Telephone code	06792-25xxxx/ 06792-26xxxx
Vehicle registration	OR11-X-XXXX/ OD11-XXXX
Website	www.mayurbhanj.nic.in

Baripada (ବାରିପଦା) is a city and a municipality in Mayurbhanj district in the state of Odisha, India. Baripada is the district headquarters. It is a place to stay and tour the Mayurbhanj region. This region is home to Similipal, one of the most important wildlife parks of India. The national park comprises lush valleys, forest lands and scores of ancient temples.

Rathyatra (Chariot Festival) is one of the main attractions of Baripada.^[3] Baripada also hosts the second most popular Rath Yatra of Odisha after Puri. Baripada is also the home of the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance, an ancient martial dance form. The 5th Battalion of OSAP (Odisha State Armed Police) is situated at Rangamatia.

Geography

Baripada is located at 21°56′N 86°43′E / 21.94°N 86.72°E / 21.94; 86.72.^[4] It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 feet).

Education

Baripada is the seat for North Orissa University at Takhatpur. It is also home to the Maharaja Purna Chandra College and to the MPC Autonomous College. The erstwhile Mayurbhanj Palace building houses are Maharaja Purna Chandra College with more than 2,000 students and Government Women's College with about 500 students.^[5] The oldest high school is Maharaja Krushna Chandra High School, built during 1889, had observed its centennial. The town also has two Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. There are various English medium schools, viz - St. Anne's Convent School, St. Mary's Convent School, Satya Sai Vidya Vihar, etc. The other schools are Sarat Chandra Vidyapitha, Policeline High School, Bhanjpur High School, Bhanjpur Girls' High School. It also has Maharaja Purnachandra Junior and Autonomous college for providing intermediate, graduate and postgraduate level academics in various disciplines ranging from Science to Arts and many specializations. One of the other schools include Maharani Premakumari Girls High school situated at Lalbazar that is exclusively for girls secondary and higher secondary education. The engineering college named Seemanta Engineering College, affiliated to BPUT is situated near Jharpokharia which is 35 km away from Baripada. Mayurbhanj Law College (established in 1978), B.Ed College, Ayurvedic College and Homeopathy colleges are also situated in Baripada.

Transportation

Baripada railway station was one of the earliest railway stations in Odisha. The then ruler of Mayurbhanj, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Bhanjdeo, connected Baripada by a narrow-gauge rail network to the Howrah-Chennai railway corridor. The first ever airport during the British Raj in Odisha also stands onto this date at sites of Rajabasa (16 km from city) and Rasgovindpur (60 km from the city) with their 2 km-long runways which were constructed during World War II.

Now a broad gauge railway line has replaced it which has benefited over 150,000 of this city's population. As of now, a Baripada - Rupsa - Balasore DEMU Pgr. train and a Superfast Express train from this city to the state capital Bhubaneswar have begun their operations. A new train to Kolkata (Shalimar) from Baripada has been running since 2010–11. There is a demand for a direct express train from Baripada to Puri.

Regarding road transport, luxury A/C buses are a popular means of transportation between the cities. There is connectivity to Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Balasore, Angul, Bolangir, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jamshedpur (144 km), Jhargram, Kharagpur, Ranchi and Kolkata (228 km) from here. The city is 30 km from the starting point of N.H. 5 which goes to Chennai. Also this starting point named Jharpokharia is the meeting point of NH 5 (now NH 18) and NH 6 (Kolkata-Mumbai). There are a wide range of taxis are available for sight seeing and tours. Similipal National Park is a national park, an Elephant Reserve and a Tiger Reserve situated only 30 km from Baripada.

Culture

Baripada is popular for its art and culture. Many famous stars of Ollywood (Oriya Film Industry) are from Baripada. Baripada is famous for the Chhau dance form, famous all over the world. The Chaitra Parva celebrated in mid-April recognizes the local talents. Uttarsahi and Dakshinsahi are two main groups which perform in this festival along with many other participants. Jhumar Song is popular in Baripada.

Baripada is the second place, after Puri, where the tradition of Ratha Yatra (Car festival of Lord Jagannath) began. Hence Baripada is called as Dwitiya Srikhetra (2^nd Puri). Baripada's Ratha Yatra is popular for its unique culture. The unique tradition of only women pulling the Ratha of Maa Subhadra started in Baripada.

Maa Ambika Temple which is situated at the heart of the town, is one of the oldest temple of baripada and the goddess Maa Ambika is a highly revered deity in this region.

Jagadhatri Mela at Bhanjpur is the next biggest mela of Baripada. It is the festival of Maa Jagadhatri, Goddess of the whole world. There is a 10-15 days mela known as mini Bali Jatra (named after Cuttack's Bali Jatra) which takes place at Jagadhatri Mela grounds, Bhanjpur, near the Bhanjpur railway Station during the month of October–November. It is celebrated on Gosthastami.

Tourist spots

Khiching

The Kichakeswari temple at Khiching is built entirely of chlorite slabs and is unique of its kind in India. There are a set of temples nearby that's still used in active worship. There is a small museum that contains important historical specimens on sculpture and art.

Deokund

It is a beautiful scenic spot amidst green forests and has picturesque waterfall. The temple of Goddess Ambika is located on the hill top and is a special attraction of the place.

Similipal

This is famous for the Similipal National Park, which is a vast evergreen forest having varied flora and fauna, served with a network of perennial streams. This is an ideal habitat for tropical birds and animals like elephant, tiger, leopard, sambar, and deer. The landscape comprises Sal forests, expansive grassy lands, soaring peaks and waterfalls.

Bhimkund

There is a sacred pool near the river Vaitarani. As per legend Bhima, the second Pandava used to take his bath in this pool when the Pandavas were passing their incognito life in Birat Nagar (presumed to be the present location of Kaptipada). The Vaitarani river flows through a gorge in steps and flows down to the ‘’Bhimkund’’ pool. During ‘’Makar’’ festival held during the month of January, thousands of people gather here to take a holy dip.

Manatri

It is famous for the shrine of Kakharua Baidyanath (Temple of Lord Shiva). It is surrounded on three sides by the water channels of from the Gangahar River. The temple is based on the Orissa's temple architecture. During the occasion of Shivaratri festival thousands of devotees gather there. Per legend, the king of Somavanshi dynasty was afflicted with leucoderma and his whole body resembled with white patches like in a water melon (Kakharu in Oriya). It is believed that he was cured by the grace of the deity. Some Oriya inscriptions of Mayurbhanj royal family are seen on the temple walls. To the west of temple in about 1 km are the remains of an ancient fort and 8 km to the east are the ruins of Kuradiha Gada.

Haripur

Haripur earlier known as Hariharpur, was founded by Maharaja Harihar Bhanj in the year 1400 CE and remained as the capital of Bhanja Dynasty before it shifted to Baripada. Baidyanath Bhaanj, another ruler of the dynasty built a magnificent brick temple in honour of his tutelary God Rasika-raya. Though currently in a dilapidated condition, it has earned the distinction of being unique among the brick temples of Orissa. Towards the north to the courtyard of Rasikaraya temple lies the ruins of Ranihanspur (the inner apartment of the queen). Radhamohan temple is a brick-built rectangular temple which is located nearby.

Lulung

This place is noted for its scenic beauty and surrounded on three sides by hills of Similipal range. It is a popular place for picnicking, and tourists can purchase the stone utensil that is native to this place.

Devagram

Also known as Deogan, the river Sono flows close to the village. There are several ruins of old temples on the bank of the river. It is presumed that a change in the course of the river might have caused this destruction. The images of Ganesh and Parvati with Shiva Lingam and the eight-armed Chamunda on a heap of stone are found here. The sculptural beauty of the Goddess and the pedestal around reveal excellent workmanship. Fragments of stone supposed to be parts of the ruins of Chamunda temple are still lying in the river bed.

Samibruksha

Samibruksha is peak in the hillock and is about 500 ft high. There are five caves on the western side. Legend has it that the five Pandavas hid their arms in these five caves before proceeding to the court of the king Virata. The pilgrims take their sacred bath in the nearby stream on Baruni day which falls in the month of Chaitra. Makar Sankranti, which falls in mid-January is the most important festival of this place.

Simla

Simla, located on the banks of river Burhabalanga is famous for housing the shrine of Simileswar Siva. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the shrine every day and this place is famous with picnickers. A big fair is held during the Shivaratri day which continues for a week.

Kuchai

This is an excavated prehistoric site and discoveries pertaining to neolithic possessions of man are being made. The pottery fragments found with Neolithic implements speak of settlements in the late Stone age in Mayurbhanj district.

Kuliana

Many paleolithic artifacts are being discovered in this region.

Demographics

As of 2011 census, Baripada had a population of 110,058^[1] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 116,874.^[2] The municipality had a sex ratio of 931 females per 1,000 males and 9% of the population were under six years old.^[1] Effective literacy was 89.31%; male literacy was 93.45% and female literacy was 84.88%.^[1]

Population

The major population of Baripada are the tribals; next to them are the Oriyas consisting of Brahmins and Kshatriyas; the rest of the population is accounted to people of Bihar origin, Bengalis, Punjabis, Marwaris and other north Indians. Muslims also constitute a minor part of the population.

Economics

Baripada is home to many forest-based products such as timber but due to heavy deforestation the sawmills were banned within a 25 km radius of Baripada. Baripada is known for Sabai grass plantations, an African grass introduced to Baripada and was first planted in Hamilton Garden that grows on red volcanic soil and has strong fibres that are used for rope making known as Bubei. Also it has many cashew plantation fields. Khali (plates) and Duna (bowls) making, from leaves of Sal tree leaves (Shorea robusta), is another business that local men engage in to earn a living. Besides it has many brick kilns on the banks of river Budhabalaga, which is the only perennial river flowing through the city. Timber still remains one of the major sources of income for the local populace.

Politics

Current MLA from Baripada Assembly Constituency is Sananda Marandi of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2009. Previous MLAs from this seat were Bimal Lochan Das of JMM who won in 2004, Kishore Dash of JMM who won this seat in 2000, Prasanna Kumar Dash who won representing INC(I) in 1980 and representing INC in 1995, 1985 and 1977, and Chhatish Chandra Dhal of JD in 1990.^[6]

Baripada is part of Mayurbhanj (Lok Sabha constituency). The current MP of Lok Sabha is Laxman Tudu of BJD.^[7] From 2009 election year, Baripada constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Notable persons

• Jatin Das, an international painter^[8]
• Nandita Das, an international actress^{[citation needed]}
• Bijay Mohanty, an actor in Oriya language films
• Uttam Mohanty, an actor in Oriya language films^[9]
• Jogesh Pati, an Indian American theoretical physicist at the University of Maryland, USA
• Debabrata Das, a newly appointed judge at Orissa High Court, Cuttack^[10]

References

v t e Mayurbhanj district Constituencies Badasahi Bangriposi Baripada Jashipur Karanjia Morada Rairangpur Saraskana Udala Towns and villages Bahalda Bangriposi Baripada Betnoti Karanjia Rairangpur Jashipur Jharpokharia Thakurmunda Udala Other districts Angul Balangir Balasore Bargarh Bhadrak Boudh Cuttack Debagarh Dhenkanal Gajapati Ganjam Jagatsinghpur Jajpur Jharsuguda Kalahandi Kandhamal Kendrapara Kendujhar Khordha Koraput Malkangiri Nabarangpur Nayagarh Nuapada Puri Rayagada Sambalpur Subarnapur Sundergarh

v t e Municipalities of Odisha Municipal Corporations Bhubaneswar Brahmapur Cuttack Municipalities Anandapur Angul Barbil Balangir Balasore Bargarh Baripada Bhadrak Bhawanipatna Biramitrapur Brajarajnagar Byasanagar Choudwar Debagarh Dhenkanal Jagatsinghpur Jajpur Jatani Jeypore Jharsuguda Joda Kendrapara Kendujhar Khordha Nabarangpur Nuapada Paradip Paralakhemundi Phulbani Puri Rajgangpur Rayagada Rourkela Sonepur Sambalpur Sundergarh Talcher NAC Asika Athagad Balimela Balugaon Banapur Banki Barapali Basudebpur Baudhgarh Belaguntha Belpahar Bhanjanagar Binika Bhuban Buguda Burla Chhatrapur Chikiti Digapahandi Ganjam Gop Gopalpur Gudari Gunupur Hinjilicut Hirakud Jaleswar Junagarh Kamakshyanagar Kantabanji Karanjia Kashinagara Kabisuryanagar Kesinga Khalikote Khandapada Khariar Khariar Road Kodala Konark Koraput Kotpad Kuchinda Malkangiri Nayagarh Nilagiri Nimapada Padmapur Patnagarh Pattamundai Pipili Polasara Purusottampur Redhakhol Rairangpur Rambha Soro Sunabeda Surada Tarbha Titlagarh Umerkote