Country India District Kalahandi PIN 766014 Area 20 km² Population 19,820 (2011) Area code 06672 | State Odisha Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Telephone code 06672 Elevation 248 m Local time Wednesday 9:42 PM | |
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Weather 24°C, Wind E at 3 km/h, 39% Humidity | ||
Junagarh is a town and a notified area council in Kalahandi district in the Indian state of Odisha. It was the capital of the former state of Kalahandi. Junagarh is 26 km from Bhawanipatna, connecting National Highway 201.This highway recently has been termed as National Highway 26.
Contents
- Map of Junagarh Odisha 766014
- Demographics
- Education
- Festivals
- Lakes
- River
- Hospitals
- Transport
- Politics
- References
Map of Junagarh, Odisha 766014
Junagarh was a well-built fort. The fortified area has a number of temples with Oriya inscriptions. This is a place which has sculptural evidence of the sati rite, which was prevalent in medieval India, and was stopped during the British Raj by Lord William Bentinck. The sculptures are identified as sati pillars Junagarh was famous for its lakes and fruit garden"'chha kodi bandha naa kodi tota'", means 120 ponds and 180 orchard. Junagarh is also famous for its temples. It is also known as temple city of Kalahandi.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, Junagarh had a population of 15,759. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Junagarh has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 66%, and female literacy is 44%. In Junagarh, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education
Schools
(S.A.I.E.C.)
Colleges
Festivals
Maa Lankeshwari is the principal deity of the Naga clan at Junagarh. The deity is still revered by the king and his descendants. The descendants of the king perform puja in the temple of Lankeshwari on the auspicious day of Mulashtami as KHANDABASA
‘Khandabasa’ festival was observed at Goddess Lankeswari temple at Junagarh with the congregation of a large numbers of devotees.After performing the traditional rituals, the swords of Goddess Lankeswari and Bhairav were placed on the two sides of the Goddess Lankeswari altar by a representative of the royal family in standing position over a heap of rice.Goddess Lankeswari is treated as a war Goddess as thus the significance of the practice of ‘Khandabasa’. Tradition has it that during the rule of Chindakanaga, Ganga, Kalachuri and Naga dynasties the traditional sword of Goddess Lankeswari was worshipped to seek her blessings before going to a war.
Durga Puja and gajalaxmi puja are also important festival. Various pandals are constructed throughout the town.
Lakes
River
Hospitals
A 50 bedded government hospital is present in the town. Recently a medical college [Sardar Raja Medical College and hospital] is being constructed near the town. The hospital has already been started a year ago. A multi specialty clinic named as Bharati health foundation is present near the block office which caters both Medical and Dental facilities.
Hospitals Nearby
Transport
A new railway station for Junagarh has been opened for service and was inaugurated on 2 March, 2014.
Politics
Current MLA from Junagarh Assembly Constituency is dibya shankar mishra of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2014. Previous MLAs from this seat include Himansu Sekhar Meher who won this seat in 2004 and also in 2000 as BJP candidate, Late Bikram Keshari Deo who won this seat in 1995 and 1990 as BJP candidate and also in 1985 as JNP candidate, Maheswar Barad who won this representing INC(I) in 1980 and as INC candidate in 1977.
Junagarh is part of Kalahandi (Lok Sabha constituency).