Hirakud means Island of Diamond near Sambalpur !!! Where a Dam has been costructed on the river Mahanadi for Multipurpose activities

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Hirakud means Island of Diamond !!! Where a Dam has been costructed on the river Mahanadi for Multipurpose activities . Hardly 20 minutes drive from Sambalpur is the dam. Photography of the dam is not allowed from security point of view,

The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. It is the longest major earthen dam in the world measuring 24 km including dykes, standing across the river Mahanadi. The main dam has an overall length of 4.8 km spanning between two hills; the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by 21km long earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the ajoining hills. The dam and dykes together measure 25.8 km. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with a reservoir holding 743 km² at full capacity with a shoreline of over 640km.

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Cattle Island exists in one of the extreme point of Hirakud Reservoir, a natural wonder. It is near Kumarbandh village of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur. By motor launch from Hirakud Dam, it is closer by 10 km via the river. The island is nothing but a submerged hill, and prior to Hirakud Dam construction, it was a developed village. Only cattle inhabit the island. During the resettlement period, villagers left some of their cows and bulls behind; when the dam construction was over the cattle settled down on the hill-top. By the passage of time the nearby area filled up with the reservoir water, turning the hill-top to an island. Being away from mankind, the cattle are now wild, very swift and not easily caught. Living on a hilltop with dense forest, they are larger than tame cattle. Almost all are white in colour. Nearby residents attempt to hunt these animals from time to time, but these hunts are rarely successful. Though descended from tame cattle, these animals provide a contrasting picture of this breed of animal returning to life in the wild.

See Video Cattle Island

Near to Dam : Debrigarh Wild Life Sanctuary 

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Cattle Island exists in Hirakud Reservoir, near Kumarbandh village of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur.

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Chipilima Hydro Power Station and Ghanteswari Temple on the Bank of the River Mahanadi Near Sambalapur, Odisha, India

If you are interested to visit Sambalpur District, the main destinations are Samalai Temple at Sambalpur, Hirakud Dam at Burla, Bakra Mandir or Tilted Temple of Huma See Video , Ghanteswari Temple at Chiplima, Chipilima Water Fall, See Video Ushakothi and Gudguda etc may be visited.

Ghanteswari Temple:

Ghanteswari Temple is situated at the foot of Lamei Dunguri means Lamei a name of a hill, near Chipilima Hydro Electric Power Station, about 33 KM away from Sambalapur in south west direction on the bank of the River Mahanadi. It is famous and attracts lakhs of devotees, picnic parties, excursion groups and visitors to enjoy the beauty.

Name signifies that Ghanteswari means Goddess of “Ghants” means bells and you can also find bells all around the temple where ever you can see.

It is said there were some big bells on the spot and were creating sounds when wind blew strongly to alert navigators about the danger in River Mahanadi, as the river is confluence of three streams of water and forming a whirlpool and creating a danger of drowning of boats there, but after construction of Hirakud Dam the situation of current became safer now.The Calm and serene atmosphere of the place along with cackle sound of the river water is enhancing the attraction of the spot to the lakhs Visitors.

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A Popular Folklore:

You can listen about a popular folklore there from the local people that a peasant named Hara Behera of neighboring village Tihikipali has established the temple perhaps during 1650-1670. And the folklore behind it is that the said Hara Behera used to go in to the river to collect black sand from the water with his wife Laxmi. One day he got a rounded stone there and brought it to home. At night he see a dream of a Goddess who came and disclosed that she was the royal hereditary deity of Biru’s estate of Chhota Nagpur, and interested to be established in same place near Mahanadi. And as per instruction of Goddess the Hara Behera established her at Badhiyal Grave under Simuli Lata a creaper near Bakbira Vllage and worshipped as Gramadevi means Village Deity of Jharua Keuta and Dumal communities.

Mode Of Visit: The place is only 12 away from the National Highway from Sambalapur to Bargarh route in left to the NH. You can find Rented Cars from Sambalapur or Bargarh to visit the place easily and economically. And both the Sambalapur and Bargarh is well connected with National High Ways and Railways.

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See Hirakuda Dam and Power Station

Burla near Sambalpur a Small Town but Vidyanagari / Centre of Institutions of Orissa / Odisha

Entrance to Burla Town from NH. The Square is named as Santh Kabi Bhima Bhoi Chhaka , the Great Saint Poet Bhima Bhoi

Burla a small town but having three Great  Institution like VSS Medical College, Engineering College, and Sambalpur University making a core to Education.

VSS Medical College & Hospital , Burla , Sambalpur , Orissa , India

Hirakud Dam :  A longest  Dam in Asia is Used for HydroEclectricity and Irrigation

Famous Places of Sambalpur Districtof Odisha ( Orissa) See Word Famous Dam on River Mahanadi, Ancient Temples, Historical Places, Wild Life Sanctuary

Map of Sambalpur district of Orissa

Sambalpur District

Sambalpur has a total area of 6,657 sq km. As per the 2001 census, the district has a total population of 9,35,613 and a sex ratio of 969 females for every 1000 males. With an agro-climatic condition the district earns revenue from farming activities. Hirakund Dam Project is one of the prominent developments in the agricultural sector of Sambalpur. Hirakund Dam, Cattle Island, leaning temple of Lord shiva and Hatibari is considered as some of the major appeals of the district.

Sambalpur: The Gateway to Western Orissa, World Famous Sambalpuri Songs, Tye and Dye Art of Weaving Style on Sambalpuri Saree and many more unique life style. Visit Sambalpur

Visit Samaleswari Temple See Video

Burla : A small Town but core to Education

Hirakud: 15 km. from Sambalpur. The world's longest multi-purpose Dam is situated here. Gandhi minar and Jawahar minar are constructed on the top of two hills.


Huma: It is situated at a distance of 21 km from Sambalpur. It is famous for Shiva temple and its architectral exalency as its a leaning Temple of Orissa.


Samaleswari Temple: Maa Samaleswari temple is the famous temple of Sambalpur town as well as state. The temples of are like Liakhai, Madanmohan, Satyabadi, Bariha, Brahampura, Dadhibamana, Timini and Gopalji Revals the influence of Vaishnava tradition in Sambalpur.


Ushakothi: 45km from Sambalpur town is Ushakothi wildlife sanctuary. Rock cut paintings can be seen in the Ushakothi cave.


Bells Galore,

Ghanteshwari: 33 kms from Sambalpur and on the bank of river Mahanadi, the temple of Goddess Ghanteswari is situated here. The specialty of this temple area is, thousands of bells hanging all around, the only place of its kind in Orissa. This temple is situated near Chiplima Hydro Power Station in Sambalpur district. Visit Ghanteswariissa Tourism, Jobs in Sambalpur, Real Estate in Sambalpur, Hotels in Sambalpur, Sambalpusa, Chiplima: A combination of both Hirakud Dam and Huma Temple is Chiplima, about 37 Kms from Sambalpur. Natural fall (24.38 meters In height) is worth a visit.See Video

Visit Sambalpur a Gate way to Western Orissa, Enriched with World famous Hirakud Dam and Hills Forests Temples Wild Life with Sambalapuri Textile Wor

Sambalpur is one of the important and famous cities in Western Orissa, the head quarter of Sambalpur District. Sambalpur derives its name from Goddess Samleswari who is regarded as the reigning deity of the entire western Orissa.

Sambalpur, situated on the east bank of the Mahanadi River, It is at about 321 km away from Bhubaneswar in west, the state capital of Orissa. It is an ancient centre for the diamond trade, and now it is famous for its internationally renowned textiles locally known as Sambalapuri Pata with Bandha Kama or design of tie and die Or Bandha Silpa (Cottage Industries).

The district is rich in tribal heritage and plenty of forestlands. Sambalpur is easily accessible by rail and road.Oriya is the main language spoken in this region.The Oriya spoken in the district slightly differs from the spoken form in the costal districts of Orissa. It is generally known as Sambalpuri Oriya and is spoken in western parts of Orissa. Hindi is also one of the other languages prevalently spoken in the district, mostly in the urban areas.


In past, Sambalpur was famous for diamond trade. and mine as it is learned from famous books that many famous diamonds mines were there at Sumelpur (Semelpur) present day Sambalpur (also know as Hirakhand or Hirakuda) which states that 8000 people were at work in those mines at the time of auther’s visit, during beginning of February.

You Can find the world famous Hirakud Dam as Longest one is about 15 KM from sambalapur in west, its lake with the foreign birds as visitors from Siberia, leaning Temple of Huma and the wildlife Sanctuary at Badrama (Ushakuthi), Khalasuni and Debrigadh (wildlife sanctuary in the Barapahad mountain range - Chourasimal), Budharaja Temple at Budharaja Hill, Gudguda waterfall, Ghanteswari Temple near Chipilima Hydro Electric Project attract tousands of visitor Picnicer or tourists to the sambalpur. Near by places like the Narsinghnath Temple and Mountain (Baragarh) and Harishankar Temple and Mountain famous for for trekking and Medicinal Plants and also well know as Gandhamardhan Hill Range, (Bolangir) Padhanpat Water Fall (Deogarh) Hanuman Batika at Raurakela, Mandira Dam and Khandadhar Watter Fall (Rourkela) attracts tourists to its serene surroundings.

The artwork of the Sambalpuri tie and dye weavers, fascinating fabrics with enchanting designs brought its uniqueness in handlooms of the world. Sambalpuri songs and dance has also earned a unique place in the cultural arena of the would.

Things to Buy: Sambalpur is famous for its Hand Loom Textile works, popularly known as Sambalpuri Textile. It has earned international fame for its unique pattern, design and texture. Sambalpuri handloom Saree, Handkerchief, Bed Sheets and other items can be bought in the shops at Gole Bazaar including the Sambalpur Hand Loom Co-operative show rooms.

Places of interest Samaleswari, the presiding deity of this region is enshrined at 'Samalai Gudi' on the bank of Mahanadi River. The Budharaja Temple, of Lord Shiva and is perched atop the Budharaja hill. The Hirakud Dam, the longest dam of the world, is some 15 kilometers from Sambalpur and can be easily visited on a day trip.

The leaning temple at Huma about 25 km from Sambalpur, located on the banks of the Mahanadi, the 17th century temple leans at an angle of 47 degrees to the west. The temple is dedicated to Lord Bimaleswar. The special type of fish called as 'Kudo' fish, in river Mahanadi are said to be so tame that they will eat sweet lia (Fried Paddy) and other foods from the hands of devotee. During auspicious days they are called by their names and given the 'prasad' of the God. Here nobody tries to catch them as they are believed to be the assets of the God.

Ushakothi Wild Life Sanctuary is 43 km away in North-East of Sambalpur on NH.6. Stretching for more than 130 km., the Sanctuary is best habitat of Elephants, Tigers, Gours, Sambars, Black Panthers, Deer, Spotted Deer, and Wild Bears etc. There are two watching towers located near the saline tank inside the Sanctuary enable the visitors to catch a view of these animals.

How to Reach : Sambalpur is the gateway to the bewitching Western Part of Orissa, as it is the divisional head quarters of the Northern administrative division of the State - a very important commercial and Educational center and connecting city between Chhatisgarh and Orissa is wel connected with Roads and Rail Roots. It's a good place to explore the surrounding forests and spots. There are direct train connections to Kolkata (565 km, 12 h by train). New Delhi (1460 km, 26 h by train). Chennai (1010 km, 32 h by train). Bhubaneswar, the capital city of the State is connected through NH 42 (325 km, 8 h by bus or train). Ahmadabad and Mumbai are linked through Jharsuguda Junction (48 km). The nearby Airports are at Bhubaneswar (325 km) and Raipur (300 km).

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The Outlet of Chipilima Hydro Power Station is creating a Water Fall a beautiful Picnic Spot of Sambalpur district Orissa.

The Outlet of Hydro Power Station at Chipilima is creating a Water fall there to fall in to River Mahanadi, Near by the Goddess of Bell Gaghor the Goddess Ghanteswari also attracting thousands of visitor every year to the spot.

Leaning Temple of Lord Shiva at Huma, Sambalapur , Orissa

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