Angul district

Angul is a district of Orissa state in India. The city of Angul is the district headquarters. Angul is considered the industrial capital of Orissa.

Overview

Angul, situated at the heart of the Orissa is an integral part of the state contributing towards the rich culture, tradition and socio-economic development of the state of Orissa. This district was formally formed out of the former undivided [Dhenkanal] district on the date of April 1, 1993 by the late Chief Minister of Orissa, Mr. Biju Patnaik . Angul district is located in the center of the state of Orissa and lies between 20° 31 N & 21° 40 N latitude and 84° 15 E & 85° 23 E longitude. The attitude is between 564 to 1187 mtrs.The district has a total area of 6232 sq. km. with a population of 11, 39,341 as per 2001 census(Males - 5, 86,903, Females - 5, 52,438) with a population density of 179 per sq. km. It is bounded by Dhenkanal and Cuttack districts in the east, Deogarh, Kendujhar and Sundargarh in north, Sambalpur and Sonepur in west and Bauda and Nayagarh in the south side.The district is abundant with natural resources, which ultimately help the district to contribute maximum amount of revenues to the state government. Angul, The district headquarters is about 150 kilometers from the state capital Bhubaneswar. It is situated on the National Highway No 42, making it well accessible from all parts of the state.

History

Angul is like a bridge between western and coastal areas of Orissa where the prehistoric and protohistoric relics are found in village Bhimakund, Kankili, Kulei, Samal, Sanakerjang , Kaliakata, Paranga, Kerjang,Ogi, Tikarapara and Pallahara. The geographical location of Angul made the Bhanjas of Angulaka-pattana, the Sulkis of Kodalaka Mandala, the Nandodbhavas of Airavatta Mandala,the Tungas of Yamagartta Mandala rule over it. But all through the rules of different dynasties, Angul has retained her cultural identity which is much more prominent than its political establishments.

The Bhaumakaras declined by the middle of the 10th Century A.D. when the eastern part of Orissa including the Dhenkanal region passed to the hands of the Somavamsis of South Kosala. The Somavamsis in their turn, were ousted by the Gangas and Orissa was occupied by Chodagangadedva some time before 1112 A.D. The Ganga rule lasted as long as till 1435 A.D. when a new Solar dynasty founded by Kapilendradeva came to power. About the year 1533-34, Govinda Vidyadhar put an end to the Suryavamsi rule and started the rule of Bhoi dynasty, which lasted up to 1559 when Mukundadeva, belonging to the Chalukya family, forcibly occupied the throne. In 1568, the Afghans of Bengal invaded Orissa, and defeated and killed Mukundadeva after which Orissa came under their occupation. During all this period of dynastic changes, Angul played no remarkable role in history and this territory simply passed from one political authority to the other. During the rule of Suryavamsis and the Bhois & subsequently some new feudal states developed as self-contained political units. These are Angul, Talcher, Pallahara and Athamallik.Somanath Singh was the last king of Angul and he ruled for a long period of 33 years from 1814 to 1847 when he was deposed by Government.He was a spirited and a head-strong ruler and although ruled his territory with considerable efficiency, he incurred displeasure nor only among the neighbouring Feudatory Chiefs of Dhenkanal, Hindol, Daspalla, Baudh, and Athmallik but also among the British Officers by his head-strong dealings and outspoken nature.His State was confiscated by the Government in their Resolution, dated 16th September, 1948. Angul thus passed under the direct rule of the British and was administered by the Superintendent of the Tributary Mahals, through the agency of an officer known as Tehsildar, who collected revenue and administered justice, until in 1891 when Angul was constituted a separate district.

Administrative Divisions

Angul district is divided into a number of Blocks, Tehsils and subdivisions to ease in administration. They are:

Blocks
* Angul Sadar
* Athamalik Sadar
* Chhendipada
* Talcher Sadar
* Pallahada Sadar
* Banarpal
* Kishorenagar
* Kanhia

Tehsils
* Angul
* Athamalik
* Talcher
* Pallahada
* Chendipada

Subdivisions
* Angul
* Athamalik
* Talcher
* Pallahada

Major Industries

NALCO : This is a blue chip company in the Indian Aluminium sector. National Aluminium Company Limited is the largest integrated Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium complex in Asia. Nalco's 2.18 lac tpa capacity Aluminium Smelter and its 720 MW Captive Power Plant are located in Angul. Nalco's Smelter came up in 1984 and since then the district has developed economically and socially.Nalco's manufacturing plants and township called Nalco Nagar are located at 5 km from Angul town, by the side of National Highway NH-42.Nalco manufactures primary Aluminium metal in the form of Ingots, Wire Rods, Sow moulds, Billets and strips. Nalco's Aluminium is exported to over 30 countries around the world and it also has a share of 30% of the domestic Aluminium market.

NTPC : The National Themal Power Corporation, India's leader in power generation has it's 1500 MW super thermal power station at Kanhia, in Angul. The capacity has been planned to be raised to 3000 MW in coming days. The beneficiary states from the power generation are Orissa, Bihar, Sikkim, Damodar Valley Corporation, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Southern States. Coal for the power generation is sourced from the Talcher Coal Field and water for the thermal power is taken from Samal Barrage Reservoir. The location of NTPC, Talcher is at Kanhia which is 60 km from Angul. NTPC Kanhia has its own township for its 1500 employees.

MCL : Mahanadi Coal Field Limited is located in Talcher (20 km from Angul), a well known mining centre of coal. A unit of Coal India Limited, MCL was previously under SECL (South Eastern Coal Field Ltd.). The major mines under MCL are the Dera colliery & Balanda colliery.

FCI : The Fertilizer Corporation of India has its unit in Talcher, Angul. One of the oldest industries of this area, FCI Talcher has faced problems in its viable operation. Hence, the plant has faced a closure since 1998. The township & plants do exist, waiting for much needed revival. As per a recent report RCF (Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers) plans to revive the FCI plant in Talcher with an capital outlay of about Rs. 3000 crores.

HWP : The Heavy Water Plant is located in Talcher (20 km from Angul), is a Govt.of India organisation under the ageis of Ministry of Atomic Power & Energy.This plant is involved in production of Organic Solvents like TBP, D2EFHA, TAPO & TOPO etc and other allied chemicals required as a part of the Nuclear Power Programme of the country.

TTPS : Talcher Thermal Power Station was the one of the oldest power generation plant of the Govt. of Orissa. with a capacity of 460 MW power generation and it is located in Talcher. Coal for the power generation is sourced from the Talcher Coal Field and water for the thermal power is taken from nearby Brahmani river.It faced problems in its operations and was in the reds. The company was taken over by NTPC and it's operation has once again become economically viable. The power plant is run effeciently by NTPC since 1998.

JSPL : Jindal Steel and Power Ltd is another major industry which has come up in Angul distrct with a capital investment of Rs. 20,000.00 crores for setting a steel producing facility and a 1500 MW power generation unit. JSPL plans to commission the first phase of its 6 million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Angul district by October 2010. In the first phase, it will have a capacity of 3 mtpa.

BSSL : Bhushan Steel and Strips Ltd is in the process of setting up a power plant and an advanced hot rolling plant on 1,618 acres at Angul, at a cost of Rs. 5,200 crores. It is also in talks with the State Government for the allotment of additional 3,500 acres to enable it to triple the planned capacity of 2.2 million tonnes (mt) in about five years. The Angul plant has already started producing 110 MW, sponge iron and billets production is close to 0.5 million tonnes

Places of Worship

Anugul - Budhi Thakurani Temple built on a small hill.Recently a huge Jagannatha Temple known as Saila Srikhetra has also been built near the Budhi Thakurani temple. This Jagannath Temple is the exact replica of Puri Jagannath Temple and has been built over a small hill very popular all over the state.

Tikarapada

Location : It is about 60 kilometers from the district headquarter and about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar. Regular bus services are available from Angul to Tikarapada, via Badakera and Jaganathpur. Besides one can take a taxi service from Angul to Tikarapada, via village Ogi, Tainsi, and Jaganathpur and probably this is a comfortable route,This is probably the most "important wildlife tourist attraction" of the district. This place is famous for the Gharial Crocodile Sanctuary, which is situated on the bank of River Mahanadi. Wildlife lovers can have a chance to watch Tiger, leopard, elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, nilagai, four-horned antelope and sloth bear. Wild dogs used to be sighted often. Many resident birds frequent this place. Reptiles like the gharial, mugger crocodile, fresh water turtle and poisonous and non-poisonous snakes can also be sighted. Besides, this is also very much popular among the tourists as a "trekking hotspot". Tikarapada is also famous for the Satakoshia George of river Mahanadi around lush green forest.

Bhimkund

This is another tourist place of Angul district, situated about 28 kilometers from the town of Talcher. One can see the sleeping statue of Lord Vishnu on the river bed of Bramhani.

Deulajhari

One more important place from both religious and natural beauty point of view is Deulajhari, better known as the "ancient citadel of Saivism". The legacy of traditions and worships in the temple mirrors a heritage in its past and present flowing in to eternity. The temple has been consecrated amidst lush indigenous-jasmine forest (locally known as Kiabana) that stands as the high walls. To the south of the temple flows the sacred river Chitrotpala, and in the north stands the towering hills of Panchadhara. The uniqueness of the place lies in its hot springs that surround the temple. As per the ancient records, there were eighty-four such hot springs in and around the place. But as of now there are as many as twenty-four springs still active. Among these springs, the most popular are "Agnikunda, Taptakunda, Himakunda, Amrutakunda and Labakusakunda". The temperature of water in these springs varies from 40 degrees Celsius to 62 degrees Celsius. In some old historical records the temperature was recorded as high as 134 degrees Celsius (273 °F). The scientific survey reveals that the underneath sulphur layer of earth make the water hot. In front of the temple there are two such twin springs containing the hot and cold water. This twin spring is a mystery of the nature. There is constant inter-flow of water between them. But the temperature of both the springs remains constant.The temple complex covers an area of twenty-four acres of land. The presiding deity Sidheswar Baba adores the main temple. The other important temples in the complex are Kedareswar Baba, Enkari Mata Maa Mahaswari, Sri Maheswar Baba, Sri Jogeswar baba and Maa Khambeswari. Mythlogically, the place is related to the age of Tretaya in which the lord Rama along with Sita Devi and the younger brother Laxman worshiped the Lord Shiva at this place in course of their fourteen years of exile life. In the world of spiritualism the place is also viewed as the Adipitha of Lord Jagannath. But how and when this pitha became the saivic place of worship is yet a topic of research among the spiritual fathers. Historical records show that the presently standing main temple was built by the King Kishore Chandra Deo of Kadamba Dynasty in the year 1936. Subsequently adjacent temples in the premises were built by other benevolent persons and devotees.Fasts and festivals throughout the year keep the temple and its surroundings lively. The appearance of many saints, sadhus and preceptors at many times fills the atmosphere with divine reverence. In each Amavasya (new moon) and Sankranti (1st day of the month, as per Oriya Calendar) people from far off villages gather here to offer rituals to Sidheswarbaba, the sylvan deity of the temple.

The important festivals are Panasankranti, Sitalasasthi, Kartika Purnima, Makaramela, & Sivaratri. The other significant feature of this place is Barunisnahanayoga ^[1] . The Jagannath Calendar ^[2] is the prevalent Calendar of the temple. As per this panjika in the year 1971 there was a Barunisnahanyoga at this place. The devotees take holy bath in the Baruni stream that flows near the temple. From the viewpoint of medical science the place bears a great importance. The silent nature with its lackadaisical posters gives a healing touch to the persons suffering from many mental and neurological problems. The water of the hot spring cures skin and nerve diseases. The place also offers many interesting features for Botanical research. The soil and water of the region is not suitable for the growth of normal trees. Yet the place is full of with shrub, greenery and flowers. This geo-climatic condition is a fertile ground for many medical as well as botanical researches.

Ogi-Para

It is situated near National Highway No 42, just 2 kilometers from the highway near village Kanjara. It is 27 kilometers from the district headquarters of Angul. Regular bus services are available for Ogi-Para from Angul.These are two adjacent villages divided by river Lingara and popular for the Budha Thakura Temple and Agara Fair or Phalguna Fair ^[3] .Besides, there is a small temple in the village of Ogi, where the idol of Goddess Budha Thakura is kept. The Agara Jatra ^[4] is one of the oldest festivals of its kind in the area. One can also visit these places just to have first hand experiences of village life. Besides, one can experience the life of mud thatched houses, without electricity, drinking water and proper roads and close to dense forest. The inhabitants do cultivation for living.

'Kanjara is a big village situated 20km from Angul'The important festivals are dol yatra ,Rath yatra , dand yatra , chandan yatra ,ramnavami .

[1] Similar to the Kumbha Mela in the Local Language translates to The baruni (the River) snana (to Bathe) yoga ( auspicious time) [2] panjika in Oriya language means Calendar - giving historical and astronomical data. [3] , [4] jatra in oriya Language means A village Fair - generally held annually and is attended and enjoyed with pomp and show. The Ferris Wheel and Merry-go-round forms a part of the festival.

External links

* [http://angul.nic.in/ Angul District official website]
* [http://angul.nic.in/deulajhari.htm Deulajhari]
* [http://www.access-india.com/orissa-wildlife-tikarpadasanctuary.htm Tikarapada]
* [http://www.angul.nic.in/ Angul]