Quick Facts

Quick Facts

 General Information

• Location: Western Odisha, on the banks of the Mahanadi River.
• State: Odisha
• District: Sambalpur
• Coordinates: Approx. 21.47°N, 83.97°E
• Area: Around 67.99 km² (urban area)
• Official Language: Odia (Sambalpuri dialect also widely spoken)
• Population (2011 Census): ~335,000 (urban agglomeration)
• Climate: Tropical wet and dry. Very hot summers and pleasant winters.
• PIN Code: 768001

 Historical Significance

• Name Origin: Believed to be derived from "Sambalaka", mentioned in ancient texts.
• Historic Sites:
  • Hirakud Dam (world’s longest earthen dam)
  • Leaning Temple of Huma (only leaning temple in the world dedicated to Lord Shiva)
  • Ancient references in texts like Ptolemy's writings and the Ain-i-Akbari.

 Geographical Features

• Rivers: Located on the banks of Mahanadi River
• Nearby Hills: Debrigarh, Budharaja Hill
• Famous for: Natural beauty, waterfalls (Badmal, Ghanteswari), and forests

 Major Landmarks

• Hirakud Dam: Built across the Mahanadi; 25.8 km long with beautiful gardens and watch towers like Gandhi Minar.
• Huma Temple: Known for its tilted structure and floating stones.
• Budharaja Temple: On a hilltop with panoramic views of Sambalpur.

 Culture & Festivals

• Famous Dance: Dalkhai, Sambalpuri folk dances
• Festivals:
  • Nuakhai – Agrarian festival, symbolic of new rice crop worship
  • Sital Sasthi – Reenactment of Shiva-Parvati’s divine wedding
  • Rath Yatra – With local flavor and tribal influence

 Textile & Handloom

• Sambalpuri Saree:
  • World-famous for tie-and-dye (Bandha) technique
  • Known for intricate traditional motifs like shankha (shell), chakra (wheel), and phula (flower)
  • GI-tagged (Geographical Indication)

 Education

• Sambalpur University – A prominent university of Odisha
• Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) – One of the oldest engineering colleges in Odisha
• Medical College: VIMSAR (Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research)

 Transport

• Railway: Sambalpur Junction (SBP), connected to all major Indian cities
• Road: NH 53 and NH 55 pass through the city
• Air: Nearest airport – Jharsuguda Airport (~62 km), Bhubaneswar Airport (~270 km)

 Economy

• Industries:
  • Handloom industry (mainly sarees)
  • Coal mining (Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd nearby)
  • Agriculture-based trade (paddy, vegetables)
• Nearby Industrial Areas: Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar

 Nearby Attractions

• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gudia Pahad (hill picnic spot)
• Leaning Temple of Huma
• Ghanteswari Temple
• Samaleswari Temple – Major religious site in town, dedicated to Goddess Samaleswari