Chhatrapur
It is the capital (sadara mahakuma) of Ganjam.
| Chatrapur ଛତ୍ରପୁର छत्रपुर | |
|---|---|
| town | |
|
Chatrapur railway station | |
  Chatrapur Location in Odisha, India | |
| Coordinates: 19°21′N 84°59′E / 19.35°N 84.98°ECoordinates: 19°21′N 84°59′E / 19.35°N 84.98°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Odisha |
| District | Ganjam |
| Government | |
| • Type | NAC |
| • Body | NAC |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10 km2 (4 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 1st |
| Elevation | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 138,288 |
| • Rank | 100 |
| • Density | 14,000/km2 (36,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Oriya |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 761020[1] |
| Telephone code | 06811 |
| Vehicle registration | OR-07/ OD-07 |
Chatrapur (also spelt as Chhatrapur) is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam District in the state of Odisha, India. It is the headquarters town of Ganjam District. There are two railway stations in Chatrapur; they are Chatrapur Station and Chatrapur Court Station.
Geography
Chatrapur is located at 19°21′N 84°59′E / 19.35°N 84.98°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 17 m (56 ft).
Etymology
The city's official name is Chatrapur (Hindi :छत्रपुर ), literally meaning "Home of Lord Kali". "Chatrapur" is the anglicised form of the city's name, commonly used in and after the British era. The anglicised form is still used unofficially by people.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[3] Chhatrapur had a population of 20,288 (fourth biggest city in the district of Ganjam after Brahmapur, Hinjilicut and Asika). Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Chhatrapur has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 85% and female literacy of 73%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Industries
Indian Rare Earths Limited (OSCOM) which is a public sector undertaking under the Dept. of Atomic Energy is situated near Chatrapur which benficiates different minerals from the beachsands of the Bay of Bengal. Different products such as zircon, ilmenite, sillimanite, Rutile are extracted. It also houses a thorium extraction plant. There is a huge chain of cashewnut factories situated in or near Chatrapur. A Joint Venture between Saraf Agencies of Kolkalta and The Russian Federation has been signed to start a Titanium slag and pig iron manufacturing plant. However, Chatrapur, despite being on NH-5, the Chennai-Howrah Main railway line and with ample land and water has not been able to attract any largescale Industry which could potentially change the geo-economic scenario of the region.
Transport
Chatrapur is the commercial capital of state and gateway to south Odisha, and has a well-developed transportation network.
Road
Chatrapur city is connected with National Highways NH-5 (Chennai – Kolkata), NH-59 (Gopalpur – Ahmedabad) and NH-217 (Gopalpur – Raipur) and other cities and towns of Odisha. The three-wheeler auto taxis are the most important mode of transportation in this city. Taxis also ply on the city's roads. The Ganjam Urban Transport Services Limited (GUTSL) with joint partnership with Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) have come up with an agreement, valid for one year, to run a city-bus service for Berhampur to Chatrapur and urban centres on its periphery (Gopalpur, and Hinjli) on February 27, 2014.[4][5]
Rail
Chatrapur railway station is situated on the East coast railway line which is a major route connecting the two metros Kolkata and Chennai of India. It is directly connected to New Delhi, Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Chennai, Cuttack, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Puri, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Raipur, Sambalpur and many more cities of India. Bhubaneswar – Chatrapur connectivity (DMU) is popular connectivity to reach capital city Bhubaneswar.
Sea
The city is served by two ports, Gopalpur Port one of the Oldest Port and upcoming satellite port at the Bahuda Mouth (Muhan) by Paradip Port Trust (PPT).
Festivals
Chatrapur celebrates most festivals including Thakurani Yatra, Dola Purnima, Durga Puja, Ganesh Puja, Sarswati puja and Mahakali puja. Thakurani Yatra is a popular festival celebrated in the city once in every two years.
Nearby attractions
TAMPARA LAKE
"Tampara lake" An evening scene Just About 2 km from City Centre[lower Bus stand] A beautiful fresh water natural lake also one of the major tourist attraction of the town. Usually people of these surrounding camping here for boating and excursion purpose. An Ideal place for jungle trek after crossing it by motor boat or manual boat about 1 km. The lake sprawling over about 8 km Long And 1 to 2 km Width.
The Entrance point to Jetty station
POTTAGADA An wreckaged Old Francis fort also places of interest to be seen, On Just About 8 km Distant from Chatrapur towards Ganjam Town. It is Near by the JAYASREE CHEMICAL Complex and Just On the Bank of River Rushikulya Mouth.
- Bi-Annual Thakurani Yatra – The Festival of the Goddess : This welcomes the goddess Budhi Thakurani to her temporary abode for the biannual Thakurani Jatra (festival) late at night. The hereditary head of the festival, who is also regarded as the head of the weaver Dera community of the city, Desibehera, dressed in his traditional attire, visits the Budhi Maa Thakurani temple to invite the goddess to her parental abode at his home on Saturday afternoon. His wife also accompanies him, and they make offerings at the Kalika temple. Rituals to welcome the deity for the festival started at the temporary temple built at Desibehera street from evening with the Changudi Puja. After these rituals, flowers are carried from Desibehera's house to the Budhi Thakurani temple. Fallen flowers are carried as representative of the deity to Desibehera Street in a large decorated procession at night. The Thakurani Yatra is celebrated in different parts of Ganjam district. One such major biennial Thakurani Yatra is Lanjipalli Thakurani Yatra.
- Gopalpur Beach : This is 16 km from the city and the Gopalpur is a retreat for sun, sea and sand lovers. At one time it was a busy seaport and it still displays the crumbling walls and pillars of the jetty. There are various town buses that run from Old Bus stand to Gopalpur. It is quite convenient to drive to Gopalpur on ones personal vehicle. Gopalpur once used to be a bustling place with tourists. There are many good hotels like Oberoi Palm Beach resort. It is a lesser known fact that, Oberoi Palm Beach resort was the first property to be acquired under the Oberoi Group brand. Gopalpur has an old light house, and a small fisherman's cove. The Gopalpur Beach Festival is also held here.
- See also:
Gopalpur-on-sea travel guide from Wikivoyage - Taratarini Temple – The Shakti Pitha
- This is one of the oldest pilgrimage place of mother goddess and amongst the four major ancient Adi Shakti centers in India. The mythological texts recognize four major Shakti Pithas (centers), like Bimala, Taratarini, Kamakshya and Dakhina Kalika, which originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati in the Satya Yuga.
- Rooted in the hoary past, mentioned in the Puranas, the Tantras and as the main seat of Tantric cult for thousands of years and center of Shakti worship since time immemorial, this hill Shrine is believed to be the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine of Mata Sati) and an important prehistoric religious center which bears an uninterrupted history of about 6000 years.
- Ballipadar : It is famous for black bucks.
- Sri Sri Sri Sidhibinayakya Pitha : This temple is centrally located in the city near Giri Road, which will be one of the largest Ganesh Temple in Odisha. The temple work is completed.[6]
- City Market Area : Has a host of different bazars (markets) chiefly among them being Bada bazar, Sana bazar, Hanuman bazar, Urban Bank Road etc.
- Mahurikalua : It is a forested hilly area where Goddess of Shakti Maa Thakurani is worshiped. It is about 30 km from Brahmapur. During the time of Sankranti festival people in large numbers gather to worship.
- Kalua Jatra : The Kalua jatra festival begun in Gosani Nuagaon area of the city. This festival would continue for 15 days till next full moon's day which is celebrated as Kumar Purnima in the Odisha state.
- Dhabaleshwar beach : Dhabaleswar is a quiet and secluded beach close to Gopalpur beach, with facilities for surfing, sailing, and sun-bathing. The famous pilgrim center, Dhabaleswar, with its sand-bleached Shiva temple and the Dhabaleswar island are the nearby attractions.
- The Chhatrapur Port Area
- Siddha Bhairavi: The place is named after the presiding deity goddess Maa Bhairabee at the remote village of Mantridi. Carved in crude fashion, the icon (one-legged goddess with four hands) was discovered and enshrined in a newly adorned temple in 1937. According to legend, fisherman and sailors used to worship the deity for blessings before commencement of their journey. Maa Bhairabee nowadays has become an important Shakti Pitha venerable for the fisherman community that live in nearby villages. Tourists from almost all parts of southern Odisha as well as northern Andhra Pradesh visit this holy shrine everyday. The holy days on which most of the devotees assemble before the deity to offer their prayers are on Sankranti days of the Hindu calendar and on all Tuesdays.
- Taptapani : Taptapani (Hot-Water), as the name suggests, is famous for its hot springs. Nestled at about 1,800 feet (550 m) above sea level, this spot is 56 kilometres away from the city's railway station. The sprawling Panthanivas is the only shelter for tourists at Taptapani. The cottages overlook a pristine valley, and the dining hall is strategically placed between two crests of mountain fold. A few minutes walk from here will take you to Kandimata Mandir, where the locals bathe in the spring before offering their daily prayers. There is also a deer park maintained by the forest department.
- Bala Kumari : The temple of Balakumari can be reached by climbing 1,240 steps and is dedicated to the Goddess Durga.
- Chilika Lake : Chilika is India's biggest inland lake, spread over 1,100 square kilometers stretching across the length of the three districts of Puri, Khurdha and Ganjam and finally joins the Bay of Bengal through a narrow mouth, forming an enormous lagoon of brackish water. Dotted with many emerald green islands with colourful names such as Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island, Chilika is home to a rich variety of aquatic fauna. It is also a sanctuary and winter resort for migratory birds, some coming from as far as Siberia.
- Biranchi Narayan Sun Temple : Buguda is a small town in Ghumusar Subdivision of Ganjam district. It is famous for the temple of Biranchinarayan. The temple was built by King Srikara Bhanja, who ascended the throne of Ghumusar in 1790 CE. The image of the God Biranchinarayan which is installed in the sanctum of the temple was recovered from the ruins of Malatigarh. The temple is built in the form of a chariot driven by seven horses and is conspicuous for its remarkable wood carvings and wall paintings. At the other end of the main road facing the temple of Biranchinarayan is a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath. The temple is built in such a manner that the devotees can see the Arati of both the temples at the same time from any of these two places.
- Kulada : Kulada is famous for the Goddess Bagh Devi. It is also said to be the birthplace of the great Oriya poet Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja. It is situated in the northwest of Ganjam District, with a ruined fort, the river Mahanadi flowing in the east, and dense forest lies on the west side of the ruined fort. The original temple is at the top of the hill known as Upar Bagh Devi, with 210 steps.
- Panchama : Panchama is a small village famous for the temple of Panchama Ganesh, or Siddhi Binayaka, as it is locally known. Tradition says that the Gajapati King Purushottamadeva (15th century) on the way to his conquest of Kanchi recovered the image in the hallow of two trees of Vara and Aswastha and paid his homage to the image after its consecration. Since then the place has become an important centre of Ganapataya worship, preserving the great tradition of Panchadevata worship of Odisha.
- Narayani : Narayani is 80 km from Brahmapur, and located on the top of the Bhalleri hills. The temple of Goddess Narayani (Durga) is surrounded by captivating natural scenery of dense sal and mango grooves. It is one of the most famous Shakti peetha and Tantra peerha of the district, situated at the border of Ganjam and Khurda district. The extension of the Bhalleri is known as Narayani khola. It is believed the top of the shrine is the seat of Devi Banadurga. As per mythology, the deity in the shrine is an aavatar of Maishamardini Maa Durga. Earlier she was worshipped by the local tribes in a natural shape inside the cave. Later, the local civic bodies arranged the puja and shaped the deity as a ten armed figure. An ex-ruler of Khallikote garh built the present shrine. The construction of the temple used a unique method of cementing the stone pieces. The green jungle surrounding the temple, with its calm and quiet environment attracts a large number people. During the winter the rush of picnickers to the spot is multiplied. The enchanting view of Chilika Lake from the top of Bhalleri hills leaves a long lasting impression in the mind of a viewer that is beyond any description. Ashokasthami is the most important festival and is celebrated for three days. Following that, every year based on Hindu calendar, Mesha Sankranti and Raja Sankranti are also important festival dates. A huge number of devotees visit the temple and worship the deity during these days every year.
- Potagarh : This is a historical fort built by Britishers in the 18th century. It is situated close to river Rusikulya and is surrounded by a moat. The remnants of majestic fort houses and a buried tunnel specks, the melody of glorious past of Ganjam city, which was cursed by a dreadful epidemic plague in the year 1815 CE. The place attracts students, scholars and history lovers. Due to its geographical location close to the confluence of Rusikulya river and Bay of Bengal, it is a favored picnic spot among the picnickers.
- Ujaleswar : The shrine of Ujjaleswar, 19 km from Digapahandi and 45 km from Brahmapur, near Ghodahada Dam, was developed from a cave temple, on a hillock which is approachable by steps. A huge stone shadowing the deity forms the back side of the temple, which has been also chiseled to steps for facilitating a circumambulating around the shrine. Before reaching the unctuous site, one would come across the pleasing surroundings of Ghodahada Dam, which has submerged a fort named Vijayanagar and its temple. The reservoir shelters a herd of elephants, crocodiles, and pythons, and provides subsoil water for a horticulture farm of tube rose.
- Aryapalli : The beach at Aryapalli is 32 km from Brahmapur and 8 km from Chhatrapur and Brahmapur.
- Mahendragiri : The hill Mahendragiri, 5,000 feet (1,500 m) high, is in the Parlakhemundi subdivision of the district of Gajapati. It is associated with mythological stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and has interesting archaeological remains. Sivaratri is the main festival.
- Sonepur : Sonepur beach is on the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border along the river Bahuda; on the other side is the beach Pati Sonepur.
- Galleri and Baibelli : These villages belong to Ghumsar region of the Ganjam District. These villages are thought of to be the origination place for Danda Jatra. Danda Jatra are ritualistic performances held during the month of Chaitra for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. This is considered to be the one of the traditional form of worship. The performers showcase their performances in different villages. The performances are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, which are symbolically represented by a Danda (a Pole), decorated with multi-coloured clothes. The participants showcase various items from their repertoire chiefly among them being Pani Danda, Agni Danda, Dhuli Danda etc. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti.
- Bankeswari : Bankeswari is a beautiful and scenic spot located on the Kerandimala hill ranges on the Eastern Ghats. It's located about 10 km. from the junction near Digapahandi on the Brahmapur – Digapahandi highway. This is mountainous area and has a dense forest cover. The view from the hills is exotic and refreshing and has many pristine streams.
Education
Chatrapur hosts a Government Science College, Onslow Institution and some other private ones. It hosts many English medium schools which include
- Onslow Institution is one of the oldest schools of Odisha. It is established in the year 1855 by the British Govt. It is situated in between the Collector Bunglow and S.P. Office in Chatrapur, the Dist. Headquarters of Ganjam Dist. The School is having classes from VI to X. It is a non resident school. NCC, Redcross, Scout facilities are also there in this school. The school is having a big library. The strength of the teachers and students is 30 and 1400 respectively .
- Atomic Energy Central School (AECS) CBSE pattern at OSCOM/ IRE (Odisha sand complex)/ (Indian rare earth) at Matikhalo, also known as Kaliaballi[dark sand]. It locates just a 6 km distance from the main city centre Chatrapur.
- Carmel Convent School, ICSE pattern (classes from Nursery to std-10th, Chatrapur.
- Public school( CBSE pattern) Classes from Nursery to Std 10th. Located near Chatrapur stadium in front of District collector's Official residence.
- Women's college, in front of District collector's Official residence.
- PNUA (Pandit neelakantha utkal academy) at chandi mandir Square,
- Chatrapur Govt Science College
- Sri Maa Sri Aurobindo Institution of Integral Education(Purnaanga Sikshya Kendra)block colony
- Saraswati Sishu Bidya Mandir (Ram Nagar)
- prativa resident college (tadapalli street )
Politics
In 2014 MLA from Chatrapur Assembly Constituency is Dr.Priyansu Pradhan of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2014. Previous MLAs from this seat include Adikanta sethi of CPI who won this seat in 2009, Narayan Reddy of CPI who won this seat in 2004 Rama Chandra Panda of BJP who won this seat in 2000, Daitari Behera of INC in 1995, Parsuram Panda of CPI in 1990, Ashok Kumar Choudhury of INC in 1985, and Biswanath Sahu of CPI in 1980 and in 1977.[7]
in 2014
In this year five political party was standing in election of MLA in Berhampur (lok swbha constitution).[8]
- BJD-PRYANSU PRADHAN. (Won MLA in Chatrapur)
- BJP-DHERANI DHARA BEHERA
- CONG- BONAMALI SETHY
- CPI-KRUSNA CHANDRA NAYAK
- AAP-mis SETHY
MP are standing in Chatrapur
- CONG-CHANDRASAKHER SAHU
- BJD-SIDHANT MAHAPATRA (Won MP seat in Chatrapur)
- BJP-RAMA PANDA
- CPI M-ALI PATNAYAK
- APP- JANASWER MISHRA
- SWADHENA- SYAMBABU SUBUDHI
Chatrapur is part of Berhampur (Lok Sabha constituency).[9]
References
- ↑ "PinCode: CHATRAPUR, GANJAM, ORISSA, India, Pincode.net.in". pincode.net.in. 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
PinCode: 761020
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Chhatrapur
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/naveen-inaugurates-bus-service/article5732383.ece
- ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/city-bus-service-to-berhampur-urban-centres-soon/article5724831.ece
- ↑ Sidhibinayak Pitha. Sidhibinayak Pitha (2012-01-24). Retrieved on 2012-06-07.
- ↑ "State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparison for 72-Chatrapur Constituency of Odisha". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ↑ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Odisha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ↑ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Odisha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
| ||||||||||||||