Surada
Surada is a town and a Notified Area Council in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha. Surada is also the headquarter of Surada Block of which area is about 2663.89 km2. Surada Block consists of 25 Gram Panchayats with 364 villages and Surada as an urban administration. It is located on the bank of Rushikulya.
Geography
Surada is located at. It has an average elevation of. It is situated at the North-Western side of Ganjam district.Demographics
India census, Surada had a population of 14,867. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Surada has an average literacy rate of 68.7%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 55.6%, and female literacy is 44.3%.Gram Panchayats under Surada Block
, Asurabandha, Badabadangi, Badagada, Badagochha, Borada, Borasingi, Bhagabanpur, Ekalapur, Gajalabadi, Gangapur, Genja, Gochha, Gopalpur Sasan, Goudagotha, Hinjalakuda, Hukuma, Kulangi, Lathipada, Merrikota, Nuagada, Palakatu, Raibandha, Sarabadi, Sidhapur, Suramani.History
Surada is a Sanskrit word which means The place of Devas. It was established by the 1st king of Surada dynasty Raja Sandhadhanu Singh in 1476. When Britishers had ruled Surada they took this Zamindari along with undivided Ganjam district into Madras Presidency which is mentioned in List of zamindari estates in Madras Presidency.This place was earlier known as Surada Gada under Khidisingi kingdom which includes Surada, Dharakote, Sheragada block of Ganjam district of present date. In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi kingdom into four different states among his four sons;
- Badagada – Raja Daman Singh
- Dharakote – Raja Hadu Singh
- Surada – Raja Sandhadhanu Singh
- Sheragada – Raja Parsuram Singh .
Kings of Khidisingi
- Bera Patta Mallik
- Raja Sobha Chandra Singh
- Raja Purusottama Singh
- Raja Krushna Singh
- Raja Rai Singh
- Raja Preeti Singh
- Raja Kirti Singh
- Raja Padmanabha Singh
- Raja Bikram Singh
- Raja Baliar Singh
Kings of Surada Dynasty">Soroda dynasty">Surada Dynasty
- Raja Sandhadhanu Singh a.k.a. Abhaya Pratap
- Raja Bhagaban Singh
- Raja Harihara Singh
- Raja Krushna Singh
- Raja Gopal Singh
- Raja Rai Singh
- Raja Shyamasundara Singh
- Raja Gadadhara Singh
- Raja Kunjabihari Singh
- Rani Radhamani Devi
- Raja Upendra Singh
- Raja Shyamasundara Singh
- Raja Radhacharana Singh
- Raja Laxminarayan Singh
- Raja Janardana Singh
Religious Places
Hinduism
- Jagannath Temple;
- * There was probably a Dadhi Bamana statue prior to the temple exist now. In the second half of the 18th century, Raja Kunjabihari Singh built the present Jagannath temple in the periphery of his palace.
- Gopinath Temple
- Raghunath Temple
- Panchanan Temple
- * There are 5 Shiva lingas in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. There has been a saying that Lingas were consecrated by Lord Rama while going to Lanka. The present temple built by Raja Narendra Dhabala.
- Chandra Kalpeswara Temple
- Dakhineswara Temple
- * The Shiva linga was at the village which is now under Surada Dam. So, the linga was then transferred to Surada near Rushikulya river in 18th century.
- Gopeswara Temple;
- Balukeswara Temple
- Mukteswara Temple
- Brudha Lingeswara Temple - built by Khindirisrunga king Raja Bhimasen Dev.
- Purakeswara Temple;
- Lord Nrusinghnath Temple - There are 3 nos of Nrusinghnath Temple at Baradi, Matha Sahi and Sana Surada.
- Sri Laxmi Nrusinghnath Temple
- Sri Chaitanya Temple
- Maa Kandhuni Devi Temple
- Maa Khunteswari Temple - situated at the hilltop of Khunteswari Hill.
- Siddheswara Temple - situated in the periphery to the Khunteswari temple.
- Maa Giri Shobhini Temple
- Kanaka Durga Temple
- Krushnalila Kalika Temple
- Ramalila Kalika Temple
- Gramyalila Kalika Temple
- Ganesh Temple
- Maa Santhoshi Temple
- Lord Hanuman Temple
- Lord Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple
Islam
- Mosque
- *In the 17th century some Muslims had come to Surada. Nawab Zafer Ali built a mosque in Surada at that time. That old mosque had collapsed. So, in that place a new mosque was built. It is now at Gani Chowk of Surada.
Christianity
- Roman Catholic Church
- *Christians had come to Surada around 1853. The Roman Catholic Church was built in between 1916-1919. The sound of the church bell can be heard in 5 km. radius around Surada. Surrounding the church, there are four missionary schools. The Father of the Church is head of these institutions. The Bollywood Movie Bheegi Palkein starring Raj Babbar and Smita Patil was filmed here.
- Dantilingi Church
- *There is another old church in Dantilingi village. Every year, a special festival is celebrated in the memory of Mother Lurdu Marry. She was very helpful to the local people while she was alive.
Others
- Sai Baba Temple
- Gayatri Temple at Gayatri Nagar
- OM Shanti Organisation
- Satsanga Kendra
Educational Institutions
- Rushikulya Degree College, Surada
- Rushikulya Higher Secondary School, Surada, Estd: 1978
- P.C.M. Women's Higher Secondary School, Surada, Estd: 1999
- Rushikulya Industrial Training Center, Tatabali, Surada, Estd: 2009
- Sashi Bhusan High School, Surada, Estd: 1920
- Technical High School, Surada, Estd: 1954
- Govt. Girl's High School, Surada, Estd: 1964
- Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, Surada, Estd: 2016
- Roman Catholic Mission U.P School, Surada, Estd: 1904
- Jagannath Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Surada, Estd: 1930
- Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandira, Surada, Estd: 1995
- R.C.M. Boy's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1854
- R.C.M. Girl's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1927
- Ex. Board Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1895
- Girl's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1914
- Mahammadiya Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1921
- Govt. Aided Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1942
- Baradi Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1959
- Block Colony Primary School, Surada, Estd:
- Vivekanand Sishu Vidya Mandir, Surada, Estd: 2012
- KMIT Computer Education, Surada, Estd: 2014
Notable people
- Sashi Bhusan Rath
Transport
Road
Surada is connected with National Highway 59 and State Highway 36 which connect Surada to other cities and towns of Odisha and India. The three-wheeler auto taxies and buses are the most important mode of transportation in this town.Rail
Nearby Brahmapur city Railway stationAir
PortFinancial Institution/banks
- State Bank of India, Surada
- Punjab National Bank, Surada
- Utkal Grameen Bank, Surada
- Aska Central Cooperative Bank Ltd., Surada
- Bank of India, Badagada
- Andhra Bank, Badagada
- Micro Leasing & Funding Ltd., Surada
- Sahara Credit Co-operative Society Ltd., Surada
Government offices
- Judicial Magistrate's Court
- Tahasil Office
- Panchayat Samiti Office
- Block Education Office
- Notified Area Council Office
- Special Planning Authority
- O.F.D.C. Office
- Sub-Divisional Office
- Sectional Office
- Lift Irrigation Office
- Asst. Executive Engineer's Office
- Asst. Executive Engineer's Office
- Junior Engineer's Office
- Public Wealth Department Office
- P.H.E.D Office
- Community Health Centre
- Child Development Project Office
- Sub-Jail
- Police Station
- Fire Station
- Forest Range Office
- Sub-Post Office
- Govt. Veterinary Hospital
- Sub-Registrar Office
- Sub-Treasury Office
- Sub-Divisional Office
- Sectional Office
- Asst. Engineer's Office
- R.I. Office, Surada
- R.I. Office, Amrutulu
Attractions
- There are 8 Shiva temples in the town. Therefore, pilgrims do the Asta Sambhu yatra in various auspicious occasions.
- Danda Nacha - Danda Nacha are ritualistic performances held during the month of Chaitra for a period of 13 days. This is considered to be the one of the traditional form of worship. The performers showcase their performances in different villages. The performances are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, which are symbolically represented by a Agni Danda. The participants showcase various items Agni Danda & a Pole decorated with multi-coloured clothes. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti which supposed to be the 1st day of Odia new year.
- Surada Dam - A Big water reservoir popularly known as Sorada Ghai, holds in its bosom a reservoir amidst uncommon scenic charm. It blends itself beautifully into an enchanting picnic spot. This dam was built in 1896. The water of Padma river is reserved in it. At times, the water of this reservoir is channelised to Rushikulya river for irrigation. There is a Children's park at the adjacent site of the dam.
- Ratha Jatra - As the land of Lord Jagannath, in every nooks and corners of Odisha Ratha Jatra is celebrated.
- Kanta Pidha Jatra - It is a very famous festival of Surada. In this festival Maa Kandhuni Devi is worshiped specially. So, every year on this occasion Maa Kandhuni Devi Mahosava is celebrated.
- Kumar Purnima - Birthday of Lord Kartika. All will wear new cloth & play cards from Dasahara to Kumar Purnami of all 5 days.
- Rushikulya River - This is a holy river for Hindus. Every year people celebrate Baruni Mohosava . It originates from Rushi Hills of Kandhamal and the mouth of this river is at Puruna Bandha, Chhatrapur of Ganjam district. It is believed that Rushikulya is 100 years elder than the holy river Ganga. Rushikulya river has mentions in many Hindu epics like Brahmanda Purana, Mahabharat etc.
Politics
Surada is part of Aska.