Birmaharajpur
Birmaharajpur (also known as B.M.Pur) is a subdivision town of Subarnapur district in the state of Odisha, India. Birmaharajpur Subdivisional Headquarter is the Birmaharajpur town. It is located 22 km towards east from district headquarter Sonepur. It is a dispersed town and located on the left bank of the river Mahanadi. It is located about 229 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
Birmaharaj pur B.M. Pur | |
|---|---|
subdistrict | |
| Country | India |
| State | Odisha |
| District | Subarnapur |
| Government | |
| • Type | Panchayat Samiti |
| Area | |
| • Total | 378.86 km2 (146.28 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 95,376 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official Regional | Odia Kosli |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 767018 |
| Vehicle registration | OD- 31 (Sonepur) |
| Nearest cities | Sonepur, Balangir, Sambalpur |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Balangir |
| Climate | Rainy, cold, and hot (Köppen) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 20 °C (68 °F) |
| Website | odisha |
Etymology
There are different origin stories to the name of Birmaharajpur. Legends says it that "the King of Sonepur Raja Jarwar Singh Deo with the help of the soldiers from the area of Birmaharajpur defeated the King of Redhakhol and brought much of Redhakhol's territory inside the Kingdom of Sonepur. Due to the help of these soldiers, the King won the war and gained a larger portion of Redhakhol so he was very much impressed by the soldiers braveness and fighting skills. The King of Sonepur called the soldiers of this location very brave and termed them brave soldiers of the King and hence the name came into life. This gave the origin to the name Biramaharajpur meaning the City of Brave King.
Another legend says that it is named after the most revolutionary and effective ruler of the Sonepur Kingdom Raja Bir Mitrodaya Singh Deo(1902-1937). He was highly praised by the British Government for his sound administration and for which they endorsed Bir Mitrodaya singh deo by giving him the title of Maharaja. This can be seen as the origin of the name of Bir Maharaj Pur which means the City of the King Bir.
History
The Birmaharaj pur is a centuries-old area. But in the past there was no particular defined area which was called as Birmaharaj pur. In the past, various rulers has ruled the area like the Bhanja's, Rajputs, Chauhan's dynasties.
Geography
Location and borders
It is located 19 km east of district headquarter Subarnapur.
Birmaharajpur subdivision is bounded by Boudh district towards South, Binika tehsil towards west, Rairakhol tehsil towards North Angul district towards east, Sonepur tehsil towards south-west. Phulabani, Balangir, Sambalpur, Burla, Anugul are the nearby cities to Birmaharajpur.
Climate
The climate of the subdivisional area is rainy, cold and hot. During the summer season the temperature goes up to 46° Celsius and during the winter season the temperature falls to as low as Celsius.
Administrative divisions
Birmharaj pur subdivision has administrative control over 13 gram panchayats and its 181 villages based on the 2011 census data.
It is at 160 metres (520 ft) elevation (altitude). The main places of this sub-division are Kenjhiriapali,Amarpali, Bagbar, deulmunda, Dantapali, Tithipali, Hillung, Jatesingha, Kalapathar,Khandahata, Kumarkeli, Luthurpank, Pitamahul, Ulunda, Dharmasala, Mursundhi, Champamal, Kendupali, Kamalpur, Deulmunda, and Nuagarh Subalaya.[1]
Culture and Traditions
The majority of the population in Birmaharajpur are Hindus who celebrate festivals like Holi, Diwali, Dussehra.
Nuakhai
The most famous of the festivals is the Nuakhai which is a tradional festival of the Western Odisha.
Holi
Holi is a popularly celebrated festival of this town where thousands of people come from nearby rural areas to view the Kirtan functions which goes on in the Kirtan Mandap near the main market area for few days. A big Mela(Carnival)also known by the local folks as (phagun puni jatra) is organised during this festival which is visited by thousands of people. Other events such as Bhajan mandali and a cultural procession are held during this festival. The milan (meet) of the gods in the early morning hours on the Holi day is celebrated by hundreds of devotees by use of musical instruments and procession followed by astonishing fireworks.
Dussehra
It is a major Hindu festival which celebrates the Lord Rama's victory of the Demon KIng Ravana. In Birmaharapur town lots of Durga Pandals are organised by different trusts which erect the statue of Godess Durga and different Hindu gods. One of the main Durga Pandal is organised in the Tribeni Chhak area where cultural events are also organised which includes dance and singing events. It ends in the Ravan podi with wonderful fireworks.
Educational institutions
- Birmaharaj Pur Boys High School
- Birmaharaj Pur Girls High School
- Anchalik Uchha Vidya Pitha, Kenjhiriapali
- Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir School, B.M.Pur
- AIIMS Public School, B.M.Pur
- Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya, B.M.Pur
- Satyabadi Bidyapitha Kalapathar
- Subalaya High School
- Indira Gandhi High school Khandahata
- Rabindra nath junior college Khandahata
- Dharmasala High School
- Ulunda High School
- Birmaharajpur College
- Staybadi Higher Secondary School, Kalapathar
- Dharmasala College
- CUlunda College
- Subalaya College, Subalaya
- Parameswari College, Bhutiapali
- Umadevi Bidya Mandir, Kadodar
- Maa Umadevi Anchalik College, Kadodar
- Amarpali High School, Amarpali
- Degree College, Jaloi
- Maheswari bidyapitha uffula
- Bagbar High School, Bagbar
- Primary School Pandua
- Bapujee High School Kami
- Deulmunda Primary School
- Kendupali u.p school
- Golden Public School
- Sri Aurobinda Integral Education Centre, Ranipur, Birmaharajpur
Politics
Current MLA of Birmaharajpur is Shri Padmanav Behera of the BJD Party. He was re-elected as the MLA for the Birmaharajpur area in 2019.[2]
Birmaharajpur is a part of Balangir Lok Sabha constituency. The Member of Parliament is Sangeeta Singh Deo of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She was elected as the Member of Parliament in the year 2019.
Tourism
- Patali Srikhetra, Kotsamalai[3]
It is also called as the 2nd Jagannath temple. Present in the soul of untouched and dense forest lies the temple of Hindu lord Shree Jagganath. Legend says that when Kala pahad attacked the Jagannath temple in puri to loot ornaments and the lords Jagannath, Balabhadra and Suvadra. The king ordered the pandas to take the lords and go hide so as to prevent the Muslims from touching and looting Hindu lords. The pandas went towards western Odisha through the river Mahanadi in a boat taking the three lords and finally stopped in Sonepur district and hide the lords in the cave of hill Trikut of kotsamalai jungle for 143 years. The festival Rath Yatra is celebrated there and on the eve fair is organized with thousands of visitors visiting on the occasion.[4]
It is surrounded by hills in all directions with mesmerizing beauty of nature. You can see various wild species of animals like deer, elephants, bears, birds. One can go there from Birmaharaj pur road or Ullunda road. It is 23 km from Birmaharaj pur.
- Thenga Dam This is a famous picnic spot located in Birmaharajpur Block on Harihara-Jora Irrigation Project. The dam site gets thousands of local visitors around the year for picnic and other recreational activities because of its natural and beautiful environment.
The water body in foot of the hills and deep forest with cool environment gives a real touch of nature. Manned boat rental is on offer. One can enjoy the sweet and charming sound of various species of birds including peacock. During the winter (November–February) this place attracts lot of foreign birds, which generally come to Chilika Lake. Sometimes it is also possible to see elephants, bears or wolves in the nearby jungle at the dam site.[5]
View Of Thenga Dam
Gates Of Thenga Dam
Hills of Thenga Dam
- Godhaneswar Temple Godhaneswar
- Badkhamar Matha:
This matha is located at the centre of a man-made forest. It is famous for the 24×7 chanting of Hare Krishna mantra or Maha Mantra ("The Great Mantra"). Head of this Math is called Maharaj. In this area, it is widely believed that a former Maharaj of this Matha had walked on the water of river Mahanadi.
Goverdhan Puja" is celebrated there in a typically big way. People from various districts of Odisha come to this place to take the blessings of lord Krishna.
- Metakani Temple, Ulunda
- Swapneswar temple sunariberni
Flora and fauna
Flora
Tal and Khajuri are seen topping the canopy. On the fields Mahua, Babul and other miscellaneous species such as Harida, Bahara are found. Besides, at the outskirts of the village the species commonly found are Tamarind, Jamun, Bel, Borokoli, Maya, Badhal, Bara and Aswatha. Flowering species commonly noticed in the district are Sunari, Chakunda, Palas, Siris, Kanchan, Kantapalasa and Krushnachuda. Amongst the flowering shrubs Dhatuli, Sefahli or Harasingar, Kurai and Madhabilata are notable in this district. Flora of economic importance in the district are Sal, Teak, Gambhari, Sisoo, Bahara, Sahaj Anla, Bhorum, Kusum simul, Girungila, Ritha, Khair, Murmuria, Siali, Sunari, Kendu, Rohan and Harida. Important grasses commonly found in the district are Dubgrass, Musial, Sukla, Panasi, Kaila, Kasa, Khas and Bambosare like Sabaigrass.
Fauna
The forests of Birmaharaj pur have various species of animals like panthers (Kalara patria), Felis chaus (Bana biradi), bear (Bhalu), mongoose (Hatia Neula), Cnon alpinus (Balia kukur), jackal (Bilua), hyaena (Gadhia), Viverricula indica (Saliapatani), Paradoxurus hermaphroditus (Katasha), porcupine (Jhinka), spotted deer (Chittal), Indian mouse-deer (Khuranta), barking deer (Kutura), black-buck antelope (Krushna Sara), Cervusnnicolor; Sambar, bison (Gayala), Bandar(Pati) and Presbytis entellus: Langur (Hanuman).
Birds found are domestic crow (Patikau), Corvus macrorhynchos (Damara kau), jungle fowl (Bana kukuda), Peacock (Mayura), Bluejoy (Bhada bhadalia), Hill Mynah (Sari), house sparrow (Chatia), Haliastur Indus (Sankhchila), Milvus migrans (Chila), vultures (Saguna),–Koyal (Koili), Kingfisher, common Mynah, Drongo, Redvental bulbul, spotted dove.
See also
- Sonepur
- Boudh
- Subalaya
- Tebhapadar
- Pitamahul
- Kenjhiriapali
References
- "Search for any cities or villages in India". IndiaStudyChannel.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- Birmaharajpur MLA
- "Patali shrikhetra". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
- "The evolution of lord Jagannath". ilts-utkal.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- Sbidyadhar (13 February 2010). "Odisha at a Glance: Visit Thengo Dam a beautiful Picnic Spot in Sonepur District of Orissa .Odisha to have a feel of healthy natural environment". orissatravel-tour.blogspot.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.