Koraput
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| ?Koraput Orissa • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 870 m (2,854 ft) |
| District(s) | Koraput |
| Population | 39,523 (2001) |
Coordinates: Koraput is a town and a notified area committee in Koraput District in the Indian state of Orissa.
HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a defence enterprise of the Government of India) is only 15 km from Koraput town. The HAL factory makes military aircraft engines for MIG and expanding for Sukoi assembly line. The HAL factory and township is surrounded by hills and forest. It employs 6000 engineers and technicians, all are staying in the township next to the factory. Nearby Semliguda is developed to cater this population for marketing as well as entertainment. Semliguda is mostly inhabited by trading community. These traders and contractors are doing business in HAL, Sunabeda and NALCO, Damanjodi.
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[edit] History
The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of Koraput. In ancient times when the Nalas were ruling over this tract, Pushkari near modern Umarkot was the capital city. In the medieval period Nandapur developed as the capital under the Silavamsi kings and sometimes under the kings of the Solar dynasty. Viravikrama Deo of the Solar dynasty shifted his headquarters to Jeypore about the middle of the 17th century and this town prospered as the capital. Koraput was chosen by the British in 1870 for better health prospects. The origin of the name of Koraput is obscure. There are several theories, none of which is convincing.
Accroding to Mr. R.C.S.Bell the name of the town is ‘Kora-Putti’ or”the hamlet of the nux-vomica” and it is derived presumably from a tree or trees that must at one time have been prominent near the site. But today not a singly tree of nux-vomica is to be found near about the town of Koraput and so the assumption or Mr. Bell is open to question.
Accroding to second theory, Koraput is corrupted form of ‘Karaka pentho’ Karaka literally mans ‘hail-stone’. It is also believed that one ‘Khora Naiko’ laid foundation of the village during the time of Nandapur kings. He hailed probably from Ranpur and served under the Nandapur kings in the Militia, and for his faithful and meritorious services he has permitted to establish this village which was named after him as Khora Putu, and later on the name has been abbreviated to ‘Koraput’.
[edit] Tribal Identity
This district is the epicentre of why south Orissa is called as tribal belt. Maximum landmass was under thick forest cover few years ago. Many aboriginal tribes aboard is in this district. But due to deforestation & industrialisation and friendly tribal government schemes these tribals have almost come to modernity and are adopting new ways of life.
[edit] Sabara Srikhetra
Koraput is mostly famous for its Jagannath Temple which is also known as Sabara Srikhetra. Srikhetra is normally referred to Puri Jagannath, but the unique identity of koraput temple is for it tribal & lowly community's association. Sabara Srikhetra was founded with the blesings Of Lord Jagannatha by Many young persons.Some of them are Sri Abhaya Chandra Mohapatra ,the then Public Relation Officer of Government Of Orissa ,Sri Krushna Chandra Panigrahy,the Present Secretary Of Sabara Srikhetra Temple and Dr Nirod Gochhayat. Thousands flock to the temple everyday for darshan. The Temple trust has built huge accommodation centres for pilgrims and is an important force behind the growing number of tourist arrivals. The trust also runs COATS (Council of Analytical Tribal Studies), an university like educational institute is a successful attempt to restore and educate tribal way of life, customs, tradition, medicine, language, social structure and the history.
[edit] Geography
Koraput is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 870 metres (2854 feet).
[edit] Hill Stations
Being at the heart of tribal belt in south orissa, it has also many hill station tourist attractions though not that famous as other hill stations of India. Places like Machkund, Onukadelli, Jalaput, Chindri, Hatipathar, etc are places to be visited for its scenic beauty.
[edit] Transport
Koraput is having well linkage with other parts of the state as well as some major cities of neighboring states, by means of rail and road. National highway number 43 passes through the town which connects it with Raipur and Vishakapatnam. Buses are a plenty from Vishakhatanam and Vizianagar to Koraput. Buses to Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Umerkote also passes through Koraput.
By Rail, it is well connected with Rayagada, Howrah and Bhubaneswar.
[edit] Educational Facilities
In Koraput education is reasonably good only up to matriculation. The major government and privately owned schools include :
- Govt. High School (Earlier it was Govt. Boys High School)
- Police High School
- J.E.L.C High School
- Govt Girls High School
- Sri Aurobindo Purnanga Shikhsakendra
- Saraswati Vidya Mandir
- Public School
- Central School
As far as higher studies are concerned, Koraput has got one Women's College and a D.A.V College, both of which are affiliated to the Berhampur University. The quality of higher education in Koraput is still under question.
Apart from traditional courses, Koraput now also provides facilities for professional courses like engineering and pharmacy. There is a demand from the people of Koraput to establish a medical college in the district which has not been entertained by the Government.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census[2], Koraput had a population of 39,523. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Koraput has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 59%. In Koraput, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Koraput
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
Koraput: area: 8807 Sq Km Population is : 1180637 Males: 590743 Female: 589894
[edit] External links
- Road Map of Koraput District
- Official website of Koraput district
- Unofficial website maintained by M.H.Mohapatra
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