Baripada

History

Baripada was the capital of the Bhanj dynasty that ruled Mayurbhanj State since the 15th century. The ruins of the temples and palaces built then can be found at Haripur about 16 km southeast of Baripada. Among the ruins, the Rasikaraya temple and the Durbar hall of the Bhanja kings are the most significant and visited by tourists. The Collectorate Building, Maharaja Krushnachandra High School and the Maharaja Purnachandra College in Baripada are also great examples of Bhanja architecture.

Geography

Baripada is at 21.94°N 86.72°E / 21.94; 86.72. It has an average elevation of 36 metres (118 feet). The city lies along the Budhabalanga River.

Education

Baripada is the seat for North Orissa University at Takatpur. It is home to the Maharaja Purna Chandra Junior College and to the MPC Autonomous College. The erstwhile Mayurbhanj Palace building houses are Maharaja Purna Chandra Junior College with more than 2,000 students and Government Women's College with about 500 students. The newly built Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical college started its classes from September 2017. It is located in Rangmatia(8 kms from the main town)

The oldest high school is M.K.C High School, built during 1889. The town has two Kendriya Vidyalaya schools. There are English medium schools, viz — St. Anne's Convent School, St. Mary's Convent School, Satya Sai Vidya Vihar, etc. The other schools are Maharishi Public School, Sarat Chandra Vidyapitha, Policeline High School, Bhanjpur High School, Bhanjpur Girls' High School. It has Maharaja Purnachandra Junior and Autonomous college for providing intermediate, graduate and postgraduate level academics in disciplines ranging from Science to Arts and many specializations. One of the other schools include Maharani Premakumari Girls High school at Lalbazar that is exclusively for girls secondary and higher secondary education.

The engineering college named Seemanta Engineering College, affiliated to BPUT is near Jharpokharia which is 35 km from Baripada. Mayurbhanj Law College (established in 1978), B.Ed College, Ayurvedic College and Homeopathy colleges are in Baripada.

Diganta Vikas Residential School Baripada is situated in w.no 21 BijayramchandraPur only 200 meters to the east of the NH- 18 connecting Murgabadi & Darogadahi Golei.

Duly recognized by the Govt. of Odisha in the S & ME dept.

Schools

The following are the noted schools in the city:

Transportation

Baripada railway station was one of the earliest stations in Odisha. The ruler of Mayurbhanj, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Bhanjdeo, connected Baripada by a narrow-gauge rail network to the Howrah-Chennai railway corridor. The first ever airport during the British Raj in Odisha stands to this date at sites of Rajabasa (16 km from city) and Rasgovindpur (60 km from the city) with their 2 km-long runways which were constructed during World War II.

Now a broad gauge railway line has replaced it which has benefited over 150,000 of this city's population. As of now, a Baripada — Rupsa — Balasore DEMU Pgr. train and a superfast express train from this city to the state capital Bhubaneswar have begun operation. A new train to Kolkata from Baripada has been running since 2010. There is demand for a direct express train from Baripada to Puri.

Regarding road transport, luxury A/C buses are a popular means of transportation between the cities. There is connectivity to Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Keonjhar, Balasore, Angul, Bolangir, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jamshedpur, Kharagpur, Ranchi and Kolkata from here. The city is 30 km from the starting point of N.H. 5 which goes to Chennai. There are a wide range of taxis are for sightseeing and tours.

Similipal National Park is an elephant and tiger reserve only 30 km from Baripada.

Culture

Baripada is popular for its art and culture. Many famous stars of Ollywood (Oriya film industry) are from Baripada. Baripada is famous for the Chhau dance form, famous all over the world. The Chaitra Parva celebrated in mid-April recognizes the local talents. Uttarsahi and Dakshinsahi are two main groups who perform in this festival with many other participants. Jhumar Song is popular in Baripada.

Baripada is the second place, after Puri, where the tradition of Ratha Yatra (Car festival of Lord Jagannath) began. Hence Baripada is called 'Dwitiya Srikhetra' (second Puri). Baripada's Ratha Yatra is popular for its unique culture. The unique tradition of only women pulling the Ratha of Maa Subhadra started in Baripada.

Maa Ambika Temple is one of the chief temples and Maa Ambika is a highly revered deity in this region. It is in Badabazar, 1 km from Baripada bus stand.

Jagadhatri Mela at Bhanjpur is the next biggest mela. It is the festival of Maa Jagadhatri, Goddess of the whole world. There is a 10–15 days mela known as mini Bali Jatra (named after Cuttack's Bali Jatra) which takes place at Jagadhatri Mela grounds, near the Bhanjpur railway Station during October–November. It is celebrated on Gosthastami.

Khiching

The Kichakeswari temple at Khiching is built entirely of chlorite slabs and is unique in India. There are a set of temples nearby that's used in active worship. There is a small museum that contains important historical specimens on art and sculpture.

Debakunda

Debakunda is a waterfall and tank. The Ambika temple is on the hilltop near the falls. Debakunda is at a distance of 60 km from Baripada and 85 km from Balasore.

Similipal

Similipal National Park is an evergreen forest having varied flora and fauna, served with a network of perennial streams. This is a habitat for tropical birds and animals like elephants, tigers, leopards, sambar, and deer. The landscape comprises Sal forests, grasslands, peaks and waterfalls.

Similipal is the richest watershed in Orissa, giving rise to many perennial rivers. The Budhabalanga, the Khadkei, the West Deo, the East Deo, the Salandi and the Sanjo are the major ones. Barehipani (400 m) and Joranda (150 m) waterfalls are visitor attractions, and the Ramtirtha Crocodile Rearing Centre is located in nearby Jashipur.

Bhimkund

There is a sacred pool near the river Vaitarani. As per legend Bhima, the second Pandava, took his bath in this pool when the Pandavas were passing their incognito life in Birat Nagar (presumed to be the present location of Kaptipada). The Vaitarani river flows through a gorge in steps and flows down to the Bhimkund pool. During the Makar festival during January, thousands of people gather here to take a holy dip.

Manatiri

It is best known for the shrine of 'Kakharua Baidyanath' (Temple of Lord Shiva). It is surrounded on three sides by water channels from the Gangahar River. The temple is based on the Orissa's temple architecture. During the Shivaratri festival thousands of devotees gather there. According to legend, the king of Somavanshi dynasty was afflicted with leucoderma and his whole body resembled with white patches like in a water melon ('kakharu' in Oriya). It is believed that he was cured by the grace of the deity. Some Oriya inscriptions of Mayurbhanj royal family are seen on the temple walls.

To the west of temple in about 1 km are the remains of an ancient fort and 8 km to the east are the ruins of Kuradiha Gada.

Haripur

Haripur, earlier known as Hariharpur, was founded by Maharaja Harihar Bhanj in 1400 CE and remained as the capital of Bhanja Dynasty before it shifted to Baripada. Baidyanath Bhaanj, another ruler of the dynasty built a magnificent brick temple in honour of his tutelary God Rasika-raya. Though currently dilapidated, it is unique among the brick temples of Orissa. Towards the north to the courtyard of Rasikaraya temple lies the ruins of Ranihanspur (the inner apartment of the queen).

Radhamohan temple is a brick-built rectangular temple nearby.

Lulung

This place is surrounded on three sides by hills of Similipal range. It is a popular place for picnicking, and tourists can purchase the stone utensils that are native to this place.

Devagram

Also known as Deogan, the river Sono flows close to the village. There are several ruins of old temples on the bank of the river. It is presumed that a change in the course of the river might have caused this destruction. The images of Ganesh and Parvati with Shiva Lingam and the eight-armed Chamunda on a heap of stone are found here. The sculpture of the Goddess and the pedestal are notable for their workmanship. Fragments of stone supposed to be parts of the ruins of Chamunda temple are still lying in the river bed.

Samibruksha

Samibruksha is a peak in the hillock and is about 500 ft high. There are five caves on the western side. Legend has it that the five Pandavas hid their arms in these caves before proceeding to the court of the king Virata. The pilgrims take their sacred bath in the nearby stream on Baruni day in the month of Chaitra. Makar Sankranti, which falls in mid-January, is the most important festival of this place.

Simla

Simla on the banks of river Burhabalanga is houses the shrine of Simileswar Shiva. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the shrine every day, and this place is famous with picnickers. A fair is held during the Shivaratri day which continues for a week.

Kuchei

This is an excavated prehistoric site and discoveries pertaining to neolithic possessions of man are being made. The pottery fragments found with Neolithic implements speak of settlements in the late Stone age in Mayurbhanj district.

Kuliana

Many paleolithic artifacts are being discovered in this region. Its very near to Bengals Medinipore.

Demographics

As of 2011 census, Baripada had a population of 110,058 and the urban agglomeration had a population of 116,874. The municipality had a sex ratio of 931 females per 1,000 males and 9% of the population were under six years old. Effective literacy was 89.31%; male literacy was 93.45% and female literacy was 84.88%.

Population

The population of Baripada has Oriyas consisting of Brahmins and Kshatriyas; the rest of the population is accounted to people of Bihar origin, Bengalis, Punjabis, Marwaris and other north Indians. Muslims and Christians constitute a minor part of the population.

The nearby villages have a major number of tribal population.

As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Baripada in 2011 is 110,058 — of which male and female are 57,008 and 53,050 respectively. Although Baripada city has population of 110,058; its urban/metropolitan population is 116,874 of which 60,535 are males and 56,339 female.

Literacy rate 2011

In education section, total literates in Baripada city are 89,421 of which 48,388 are males while 41,033 are females. Average literacy rate of Baripada city is 89.31 percent of which male and female literacy was 93.45 and 84.88.

Child population 2011

Total children (0-6) in Baripada city are 9,933 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 5,228 boys while 4,705 are girls. The child forms 9.03% of total population of Baripada City.

Sex ratio 2011

The sex ratio of Baripada city is 931 per 1000 males. Child sex ratio of girls is 900 per 1000 boys.

Economics

Baripada is home to many forest-based products such as timber, but due to heavy deforestation the sawmills were banned within a 25 km radius. Baripada is known for Sabai grass plantations, an African grass introduced to Baripada and was first planted in Hamilton Garden that grows on red volcanic soil and has strong fibres that are used for rope making known as Bubei. It has many cashew plantation fields. Khali (plates) and Duna (bowls) making, from leaves of Sal tree leaves (Shorea robusta), is another business that local men engage in.

It has many brick kilns on the banks of river Budhabalaga, which is the only perennial river flowing through the city. Timber remains one of the major sources of income for the local populace.

Politics

Current MLA from Baripada Assembly Constituency is Sananda Marandi of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2014 and 2009. Previous MLAs from this seat were

Baripada is part of Mayurbhanj (Lok Sabha constituency). The current MP of Lok Sabha (2014) is Ramachandra Hansdah of Biju Janata Dal. From 2009 election year, Baripada constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Notable persons