Balasore

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  ?Baleshwar
Orissa • India
Map indicating the location of Baleshwar
Thumbnail map of India with Orissa highlighted
Location of Baleshwar
Coordinates: 21°18′N 86°34′E / 21.3, 86.56
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s) Baleshwar
Population 106,032 (2001)

Coordinates: 21°18′N 86°34′E / 21.3, 86.56

Balasore (also known as Baleswar or Baleshwar) is a city in Orissa state of eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore District. It is best known for Chandipur, the site of the Indian army development of different missiles such as Nag, Agni missile etc.. The lingua franca is Oriya.

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[edit] Description

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 212 km north-east of Bhubaneswar by road.

Balasore is India's most inspiring and impacting city. Balasore has been in use since 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 Interim Test Range in Chandipur, Balasore is responsible for carrying out tests for various missiles such as Agni, Prithvi, Trishul etc.

Balasore is the main town in the District of Balasore. The primary occupation of people in district of Balasore is cultivation. Balasore district is mostly known for cultivation of paddy since rice is the staple cereal of the local people. Balasore is also famous for the Khirochora Gopinath Temple situated at Remuna (about 14 kilometers from Balasore), approximately 7 km from the main town of Balsore, built by the Great King Langula Narasimha Dev who also built the world famous Temple at Konark. The "Biranchi Narayana", "AstaDurga", "Bhudhar Chandi" are some other temples located in that region.

Balasore Railway Station falls en route on the main line connecting Chennai to Kolkata. Road connectivity wise, National Highway-5 runs through Balasore.

Tourist attractions: Chandipur-on-sea is a sea resort famous for its mile long shallow beaches. You can bike deep in to the beach with a bi-cycle. It is a unique beach, the tide comes to the shore only four times a day, at determined intervals. Among other tourist attractions is the 18th century kshirochora-gopinath temple, famous for its mythological story, how the temple was built there.

Birth place of linguist and novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati famous for creating oriya script and an eminent freedom fighter against the British colony. Also birth place of famous oriya poet Kabibar Radhanath Roy (famous for describing the beauty of famous Chilika lake through his poems) and also an eminent freedom fighter against the British colony. He is born in kedarpur(soro) near to village Budei.

[edit] History

The English settlement of Balasore was 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. On 9 September 1915, while waiting for German arms and ammunition despatched as part of the Indo-German Conspiracy

[edit] Geography

Balasore is located at 21°30′N, 86°56′E.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census[1], Baleshwar had a population of 106,032. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Baleshwar 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.

[edit] Colleges

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources and external links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.