Balasore

This article is about the municipality in Orissa, India. For its namesake district, see Balasore district.

Balasore Sand City Of India
—  city  —
Balasore Location of Balasore in Orissa and India
Coordinates	21°29′N 86°56′E
Country	India
State	Orissa
District(s)	Balasore
Population	20,23,000 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 16 metres (52 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 756001 • Telephone • +06782 • Vehicle • OR/01

Balasore (Oriya: ବାଲେଶ୍ଵର) (also known as Baleshwar) is a strategically located city in the state of Orissa, about 194 kilometres (121 mi) north of the state capital Bhubaneswar, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also the site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program's Integrated Test Range, located 18 km. south of Balasore. The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed many different missiles such as Nag, Brahmos, Agni missile among others here. The lingua franca is Oriya.

History

The English settlement of Balasore, formed in 1642, was an early trading port for British, French and Dutch ships in the early age of Enlightenment and became a colonial part of first Danish India, later British India.

In 1763 Balasore became a Danish possession, governed from Tranquebar, as part of Danish India. Due to the shallowness of its bay, the trading post was abandoned, leaving behind only a small settlement in the area. On 7 November 1845, all Danish India was sold to the British, who made it part of British India. Since the beginning of the 20th century Balasore, as a strategic point, interested revolutionaries^{[citation needed]}.

Geography

Balasore is a city in the North of Orissa. It is located at the south eastern part of the India. The city is surrounded by West Bengal in the north, and the Bay of Bengal to the East. Balasore is located at 21°30`N, 86°56`E. Balasore surrounds an area of 3076 km².

Geographically, Balasore or Baleshwar comprises three distinct regions of North-Western Hill ranges, Coastal Area and inner alluvial belt.

Balasore is also known " The city of Land on Sea Shore" or " City of Sand"

Balasore is famous for its forests and mines. This district is noted for the Budhabalanga River and 3824 Feet high Mountain Mahagiri.

Balasore, the coastal district of Orissa is crisscrossed with perennial and estuarine rivers because of its proximity to the sea. Two important rivers of Orissa, namely :- Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha pass through this district from west to east before surging into the Bay of Bengal. The irrigation system in Balasore district is very much widespread.

Demographics

Balasore Station Square

The population in 2011 is 156430 and is the 7th most populous city in Orissa. As of 2001 India census, Balasore had a population of 106,032. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Balasore has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. It is the most literate town of Orissa.

See also: List of cities in Orissa

Overview

Balasore is a place of scenic beauty and a major tourist attraction, also because of its historical monuments, such as various temples in the area. There are a few hill ranges in the region too. It is 207 km north-east of Bhubaneswar by road.

Balasore Town has some good Hotels which provide decent accommodation with all Luxrious Facilities/amenities. (Hotel Hari Plaza, Barjorjis Bhojan, Sawarnachuda, Kalinga, Panchjania, Panthaniwas, Draupadi, Toronto, Ramya, Suraj, Dk Lodge and many more projects are in pipe line)

People in Balasore usually prefer spicy and juicy food. The speciality of Balasore is an Indian Curry that is only available in Balasore its called (Chandini). People visiting Balasore should try this dish in any of the good restaurants available in the town. Visitors can also try the Kashmiri Nan and Chena Puru/Chena Muri.

Balasore has been in use from 1989, but unlike Sriharikota, it is not used for launching satellites. The rocket launching site at Balasore is situated in a place named Chandipur. Chandipur is located on the Bay of Bengal. The Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Balasore is responsible for carrying out tests for various missiles such as Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, etc.

Economy

Balasore is the main town in the District of Balasore. The primary occupation of people in the district of Balasore is cultivation. Balasore district is mostly known for cultivation of paddy, since rice is the staple cereal of the local people. The district has four major revenue sources. Industries, Agriculture, fishing and Tourism.

The main market of Balasore is Nua Bazar, Motiganj, FM Square, Vivekanand Marg, Station Square, ITI Chakh, Kachehri Road, Town Hall and Nua Shahi. Multiple projects for Shopping malls are also in pipeline.

Balasore is the pride of Orissa. Balasore is the most literate town of Orissa having a literacy rate of 99%. Balasore has some best MBA And Engineering Colleges and education is far the best in the State of Orissa.

Transport

Air

Nearest Airport from Balasore is Bhubneswar and Kolkata a ride of approximately 3 and half hours.

Rail

Balasore railway station

Balasore is an important station on the Howrah-Chennai mainline of the SouthEast Railway. A branch line to Baripada starts from Balasore. Balasore is connected to all parts of India through trains run by the Indian Railways.

Road

National Highway 5 and 60 passes through the city. A part of the Golden Quadrilateral project, this highway runs from Chennai to Kolkata. Intra city transport is primarily through Cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws. Now a days city buses ply in two routes in the city to join different places in the city. The bus terminus at Sahadev Khunta and thousands of private buses ply to hundreds of destinations everyday.

Places of interest

Missile launch in DRDO, Chandipur

Chandipur-on-sea is a sea resort famous for its mile long shallow beaches. It is a unique beach where the tide comes to the shore only four times a day, at fixed intervals. At a distance of 30 k.m. south-west, there lies Panchalingeshwar, a scenic spot high on a mountain. The presiding Siva there can't be seen, rather, one has to feel by touching the statue which is submerged under the flowing fountain. About 33 km south-west of Balasore, there is 'Santaragadia' is a semi town where 'Biseswar temple' is situated in the hill, covered by hills on its sides. Near to this place, there is 'Khulia Village' which is a settlement of aboriginal peoples staying in a scenic village surrounded by hills and fountains from all sides. Around 30 km south-east of Balasore, there is a port named 'Dhamra'.

Bhusandeswara Temple

Kshirachora Gopinatha Temple, situated at Remuna, approximately 7 km from the main town of Balsore, was built by the Great King Langula Narasimha Dev who also built the notable Temple at Konark. Khirochora Gopinath Temple is notable for its mythological story about how it was built there. The Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia, "AstaDurga", "Bhudhar Chandi" are some other temples located in that region.

Jagannatha Temple Nilagiri

There is a Jagannatha Temple in Nilagiri which is one of the prominent Jagannnath temples of Orissa. Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshiped here. Every year Ratha Yatra is observed with all the cults of the gods.

Panchalingeswara Temple

Panchalingeswara temple is scenic picnic spot in Baleswar which is located 30 km from Baleswar. This is famous both for Panchalingeswara temple and the picnic spot nearby. There is a state tourism Pantha Nivas in Panchalingeswara for the tourists coming from outside. Panchalingeswara is surrounded by thick greenery and hillocks. Branches of the natural spring flow through the hill range which add more attraction to this place.

Bhuja Khia Pir

Bhujakhia Pir, situated at sunhat at the heart of the city is the tomb of sufi saint Aasthana Sharif Hazrat Pir named as Bhujakhia Pir. The shrine of Baba Bhujakhia Pir of Balasore stands as a symbol of harmony between Muslim and Hindu. During the occasion of Urs, Crowd gathers at shrine comprises both Hindu and Muslims. This is an age-old tradition here. The legend tells that Aasthana Sharif Hazrat Pir, name afterwards as ‘Bhujakhia Pir’ had come to Orissa in the 16th century and devoted himself to the service of mankind, especially to the service of Cholera victims. The Pir was much fond of ‘Bhuja’ (Puffed rice), and he is remembered as Bhujakhia Pir. Since after his demise also he is remembered with respect and the shrine remained as place of worship for both communities since centuries.

Gandhi Smurti Bhawan

It was the birthplace of linguist and novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati, social activist Lambodar Panda, creator of Oriya script and rebel against the British Raj, and poet Kabibar Radhanath Ray, noted for his poems on the beauty of Chilika Lake and rebel against the British Raj. He is born in Kedarpur (soro) near to village Budei.

Culture and Festivals

Balasore culture is a blend of traditional festivals, food, and music . The city offers a cosmopolitan and diverse lifestyle with a variety of food, entertainment, available in a form and abundance comparable to that in other cities. Balasore residents celebrate both Western and Indian festivals. Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Navratri, Good Friday, Dussera, Moharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja and Maha Shivratri are some of the popular festivals in the city. The akhada Arts Festival during durga puja is a unique culture of balasore.

Festivals

• Dusshera, the festival of goddess Durga, is very popular in Balasore. Idols are worshipped in many streets and localities. In this city, Dussehra is famous for its , with localities trying to outsmart each other by constructing more attractive idols. Indeed, the whole city comes to a standstill on Astami, Navami and in Dashami burning of effigy of the demon Ravana (the eighth, ninth and tenth days of Dussehra) as people travel all over the city appreciating all the idols put forth by the neighbourhoods.

• Kali puja, Just after Durga puja gets over, balasore gear up with all their vigour to celebrate Kali puja. On the auspicious day of Diwali amidst the bursting of firecrackers.

• Kartikeshwar puja: The organized puja committees incharge of carrying out the worship of the deity of Balasore get ready for Kartikeswar Puja. Kartikeshwar is the eldest son of Lord Shiva.

• Kite flying is also celebrated with much enthusiasm and energy in the city. Kite-flying culminates with the Makar Sankranti, with kite-flying competitions being held all over the city.

• All the other regular Indian festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Vasant Panchami, Holi, Id, Good Friday, Rath Yatra, Diwali, Christmas and the numerous Hindu festivals are also celebrated.

Education

Balasore is the education hub of Northern Orissa with many Engineering Schools and the famous Fakir Mohan University, named after the renowned novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati, who hails from this town of Orissa.

Enginnering college

• Balasore college of enginnering & technology
• Satya sai engineering college
• Modren engineering & management studies
• Srinix engineering college
• Vijyanjali college of engineering

Colleges and universities

• Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore
• Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore
• Kuntala Kumari Sabat Mahavidyalaya
• Balasore Law College
• Nilakantheswar Mahavidyalaya

Schools

• Christian High School
• St. Vincent's Convent School
• Balasore Zilla High School
• DAV Public School
• Public High School
• Balasore Police High School
• Town High School
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Balasore
• St. Vincent's Convent School
• Maharshi Vidya Mandir
• Sovarampur High School
• Modern Public School
• Modern Industrial Training Center, Sunhat
• Sahada High School, Sahada
• Remuna High School, Remuna
• Remuna Govt. Girls High School
• Durgadevi High School, Durgadevi
• Bhimeswar High School, Bhimeswar

Sports and Entertainment

Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. Due to a shortage of grounds, various modified versions are played everywhere. The city is also represented by the Balasore Baghas in the Odisha Premier League.

• Theaters

Balasore has several movie theatres playing movie in Oriya, Hindi, and English languages. Some of the well-known theatres are Balasore Talkies, Narmada , Oden , etc.

• Parks

Sand park at Gandhi smruti Bhawan and Bhagajatin park at Phuladi is quite a large and nice park for spending your afternoons and evenings. Its also a popular destination for a mini-picnic.

Nurshing Homes and Hospitals in Balasore

Industrial and infrastructural development has boosted the healthcare market in Balasore and attracted healthcare corporate houses to setup base in the city. Balasore goverement hospital was the city's first hospital. The other healthcare facilities of repute are Jyoti hospital, Kaushalaya Memorial hospital , Durga Nurshing home, etc.

Politics

Mr. Girish Chandra Dash is president of Balasore Zilla Parishd. Current MLA from Balasore Assembly Constituency is Jiban Pradeep Dash of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2009. He won this seat earlier as an BJP candidate in 2000. Other previous MLAs from this seat were Arun Dey (NCP) who won this seat in 2004, Gopa Narayan Das of INC in 1985, and Kartik Chandra Rout of JNP in 1977. Balasore is part of Balasore (Lok Sabha constituency).

See also

• Rocket launch sites
• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
• Chandipur
• Chandipur travel guide from Wikitravel
• PanchaLingeswar travel guide from Wikitravel

External links

• Online Information Center of Balasore
• Baleswar District website
• Balasore at Encyclopedia Astronautica
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Balasore". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• Architectural Planning, Quality Control, survey Work and Civil Consultancy
• Hotel Barjorjis Banjara/Bhojan website

Panchalingeswara Temple