Kendrapara


Kendrapara is a town and a Municipality in Kendrapara district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of Kendrapara district.

Geography

Kendrapara is located at. It has an average elevation of. It is surrounded by Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts and Bay of Bengal in the east.
The river Chitroptala is flowing out side of Kendrapara district.
The other rivers of Kendrapara are Luna, Karandia, Gobari, Brahamani, Birupa, Kani,Hansua, Baitarani, Kharasrota & Paika
This district has 9 blocks named as Aul, Derabish, Garadpur, Mahakalapada, Marshaghai, Kendrapara, Rajanagar, Rajkanika, Pattamundai.

Transport

Kendrapara is 58 km from Cuttack. To reach Kendrapara one can go via Jagatpur-Salipur state high way SH9A or on the National Highway No.16 and 53, crossing at Chandikhol Via Chatta towards Paradip. Kendrapara is just two and half hour drive from Bhubaneswar Airport on the National Highway 16 and State Highway 9A. The Nearest Railway station is at Cuttack which is 54 kilometre from Kendrapara town on State Highway 9A.

Demography

As of the 2011 Indian census, Kendrapara district has a population of 1,439,891, roughly equal to the nation of Swaziland or the US state of Hawaii. This gives it a ranking of 344th in India. The district has a population density of 545 inhabitants per square kilometre . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 10.59%. Kendrapara has a sex ratio of 1006 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 85.93%. The mother tongue of most of the people here is Oriya ; there is a sizable number of Bangla and Urdu speaking people. Hindi and English is also widely understood.
Hindus form the dominant majority of the population. There is a substantial Muslim minority.

Culture

The Baladevjew Temple is located in Kendrapara. A Car Festival or Rath Yatra is held in the month of Ashadha every year, the car of Lord Baladevjew is known as Brahma Taladhwaja and considered as the biggest car of its type in whole world. The Gajalaxmi puja on Kojaagari Purnima or Kumar Purnima Durga Pujaat Amruta manohi village is celebrated in the month of October and Kartikeya Puja in November and Maa Kali Puja at Olaver are held each year. Gajalaxmi puja is a big festival here and is celebrated for 7 days. Maa Basanti Durga Puja in Basupur is one of the famous festivals in the region over 80 years. Maa Kali Puja in Olaver is one of the famous festivals in the region. The Oriya sweet dish, Rasabali, originated from Kendrapara. Kendrapara is also known as Tulasi Ksherta and Gupta Kshetra. Different types of prasad prepared and used in Baladevjew Temple are Rasabali, Potali Pitha, Magaja Ladoo, Kakaraa, Khaja, Karanji, Chhena Kheeri, Ghanabrata, Dahipakhala, Khiri, Puri etc.
Most of the people here are farmers and some do business and some do fishing in the river and the bay of Bengal. growing prawn near sea shore is a profitable business. Many small-scale industries are coming up so people are now getting more opportunity there.
One of most popular Kartikaswar Puja held on River bank of Luna at Kalapada Kendrapada. It is also known as Kendrapada Boita Bandhana Utchav ingratiation every year from 2005.

Tourist Places

Bhitara Kanika
Bhitarakanika is covered with deep mangrove forests and saline rivers. It was declared a Sanctuary on 21-04-1975. It is known for natural crocodile breeding. Other animals like deer, wild boar, monkeys, monitor, python, king cobra also found here.This national park is around area of 145 square kilometre.It is 160 kilometre away from State Capital "Bhubaneswar" via road.
Batighar is where the first lighthouse was installed on the eastern coast of India. It is situated on the other bank of river Kharinasi. The height of this light house is 125 feet. Construction of this lighthouse was started on 6 December 1836 and it was lighted on 16 October 1837.
Kanika Palace is a massive palace constructed by King of Kanika. It was constructed on an area of 4 acres of land and height of the structure is of 75 feet. It is situated in Rajkanika Block.
Aali Palace is situated near Aul township. It is an ancient palace spread over 40 acres of land.
, Aul
Lakhmi Varaha Temple is a 500-year-old Indian temple dedicated to Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu. The temple is located in Aul. The temple is about one kilometer away from the center of tehsil Aul, which is situated about 146 km from the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is 17 km from Pattamundai and 38 km from Kendrapara.
:or:ଗର୍ତ୍ତେଶ୍ବର ମହାଦେବ|Garteswar Temple is situated near Rajnagar,Kendrapara. It is an ancient Shiv temple.
Shri Dadhivaman temple, 14th century old Jaganath temple worshipped by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's forefather Krishnananda.
Sakhibata is a 500-year-old banyan tree which has been accorded tourist spot status at Sakhibata in Kendrapara district.
The large tree, spread across 1.3 acres of land with about 600 trunks and sub-trunks, has been granted the tourist spot status by the state government following visits of tourists in the area throughout the year, District Tourist Officer Bijoy Kumar Mohanty said today.
Funds have been sanctioned for building tourism infrastructure. A project has been permitted to have good road connectivity to the place. Besides a tourist cottage is being built, Mohanty said.
The banyan tree withstood the devastating 1999 super cyclone. A 200-year-old temple is still intact at the spot.
The temple is also a reminder of historic importance of the place,
Badakotha is an old building near the Kendrapara Bus stand. Once upon a time, Badakotha in Odisha only indicated to the 2 stair building of Radhashyam Narendra.
"Sri Chhualia Shakti Peeth"
One and only tourist place of Pattamundai block. Maa chhualia is the adhisthatri devi of this peeth. This shakti Peeth is situated on the bank of the river the Govari in the village of Lokanathpur. It is a same distance of 12 km far from the nearest town Kendrapara and Pattamundai. The whole place is surrounded by sahada trees. Other trees like kadamba, krushnachuda, panihenduli, ashosth are also available here. The main thing is Maa takes nonvegetarian in food offerings for instance fish. But any types of meat or wine strictly prohibited here. Dola Melan, Raja, Panchuka, Biswasanti Mahayajnya, Asta Prahar Namayajnya are the festivals of this Peeth.
Hukitola is a storm proof go-down constructed in the Jamboo island by British according to the wish of Captain Harris. It consists of 11 large size and 9 small size chambers.
Eka Kula is a unique island in KendraparAa, which can be reached via bike during tide in the day time also you can reach there via boats from Jambu.
Also There are so many picnic spots in and around Kendrapara. Paradeep is only 20–30 km drive from Kendrapara. You can see the sea beach, port, Neheru Bangala and also see the entry gate of river to Sea shore. Paradeep is also the last point of east coast of India.
Most popular Udaya Giri & Ratna Giri just 10–15 km drive from Kendrapada. Mainly Budhu Murti, Budhu pratima are conservated there. There also a picnic spot Named Sakhi Bata. It is situated near Luna River. Lord Baladev and Laxmi Mandir is there.
Lord mahaveer temple at new chandan pokhari, Ichhapur, kendrapara.
PENTHA is situated in between the great River Chitrotpala & Luna. It's only 12 km far from Kendrapara Town & 5 km from Patkura. Direct buses available from Cuttack to Pentha. It is known for the Maa Sata Bhauni Temple is situated in the middle of the village & Maa Kharakhai, Gopinathjew temple, Ram Mandir, Sarala Mandir, Tarini Temple, Hanumanjew Temple & Nilakantheswar Temple. The Sandhha Nacha at Dola Purnima. The Rama Charita Manas & Parayan Celebrated for 9 days On the occasion of Lord Hanuman's Birthday. It is also the birthplace of the poet and writer Kabibar Parida.
SIALIAA is situated in the RAJKANIKA block. The main and only attraction is that there is no doors in any houses of villagers.
MAA PATHARAKANI Temple is situated at SH-9A MainRoad Near by Gogua Market near Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kendrapara. It is situates in the middle between Kendrapara and Pattamundai.

Education

In the field of education also Kendrapara is not behind. There are so many schools and colleges which are engaged in creating well qualified professionals in all the fields. Kendrapara Autonomous College situated at Kendrapara town is the largest college of the district for higher Education along with Pattamundai College, Pattamundai.Sailendra Narayan College in Rajkanika. There are several old and new educational institutions present throughout the district. Kendrapara High School is the oldest High School of the district which is established in the year 1863. The Second oldest High school which is situated in the district is R N High School Rajkanika established in the year 1918.
Kendrapara has produced a number of well-known personalities. Like astronomer, mathematician and writer of Suskhma Sphuta Siddhanta Pandit Sri Gokulananda Routroy, Pandit Binod Behari Dash etc. Media personality like Itishree Nayak also belonging to Tripurari Pur village of Mangal Pur Gram Panchayat, Derabish Block of Kendrapara District. Another person from this area is Dr Prafulla Kumar Behera was one of the many scientists involved in the commissioning of a device called silicon pixel detector, which played a big part in the success of the Higgs-Boson experiment.

Politics

Kendrapara is part of Kendrapara.
Current Member of Parliament is Anubhav Mohanty. The major three prominent political parties in the Assembly and Parliamentary constituency of Kendrapara are Bharatiya Janata Party, Biju Janata Dal and Congress Party.
Throughout the area politics have remained with the local parties since the 1970s. Kendrapara has played a crucial role in Odisha's politics, producing leaders like Member of Parliament Mr. Rabi Ray who achieved the post of Speaker in Loksabha, and Mr. Biju Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha.
Current MLA from Kendrapara Assembly Constituency is Sashi Bhusan Behera, from BJD who won the seat in State elections of 2019. Previous MLAs from this seat were Kishore Tarai of BJD in 2014, Sipra Malick of BJD in 2009, Utkal Keshari Parida of OGP in 2004, Bed Prakash Agarwalla who won this seat in 2000 representing BJP and also earlier in 1990 representing JD and in 1977 representing JNP, Bhagabat Prasad Mohanty of INC who won in 1995 and in 1985, and Indramani Rout of INC in 1980.