Ganjam District
Encyclopedia
Ganjam district is a district in the India
n state
of Orissa
located on the border of Andhra Pradesh
. Ganjam's total area is 8,070 km² (3,116 mi²). Its population is approximately 2,704,056.Ganjam is known for its beaches bordering the Bay of Bengal
, the most famous ones being Gopalpur
(a famous tourist destination) and Dhavaleshwar. The most populous city in Ganjam, Berhampur
, is famous for silver filigree
and silk sarees woven with gold and silver threads.
The district headquarters is Chhatrapur
. Ganjam is divided into three subdivisions Chhatrapur, Berhampur
, and Bhanjanagar
. The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908 lists Ganjam, along with the Thanjavur
and South Canara
districts, as the three districts of the Madras Presidency
where Brahmins were most numerous.
As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Orissa (out of 30
).
of Andhra Pradesh
before 1950. In 1950, Srikakulam district
was organised by separating Srikakulam
and Tekkali
areas from Ganjam
district and Palakonda
area from Visakhapatnam district
. In 1992, Paralakhemundi
, Kasinagar and Ramagiri Udayagiri areas were separated from Ganjam district and organised as Gajapati district
. At first, Gopalpur-on-Sea
has been headquarter of Ganjam district and later it Chhatrapur
was made as head quarter.
The district is currently a part of the Red Corridor
.
, Hinjilicut
, Sheragada, Chhatrapur
, Aska
, Polasara
, Jagannath Prasad, B.D.Pur (Sasan), Bellaguntha
, Sorada, Buguda
, Polasara
, Kalamba
, Kodala
, Khalikote
, Dharakote
, Ganjam
, Kabisuryanagar, Purusottampur
, Bhanjanagar
, Digapahandi
, Kukudakhandi, Chikitigarh, Patrapur
, Sanakhemundi, Sergarhmakarjhola, Rambha, keshpur,Gangapur
named Ganjam one of the country's 250 most backward districts
(out of a total of 640
). It is one of the 19 districts in Orissa currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
The Divine Life Society of Bhanjanagar which was established in 1950 is in front of Shri raghunath Temple , main Road, Bhanjanagar, Ganjam.
has a population
of 3,520,151 , roughly equal to the nation of Lithuania
or the US state of Connecticut
. This gives it a ranking of 83rd in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 429 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.37 %. Ganjam has a sex ratio
of 981 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 71.88 %.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
located on the border of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. Ganjam's total area is 8,070 km² (3,116 mi²). Its population is approximately 2,704,056.Ganjam is known for its beaches bordering the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, the most famous ones being Gopalpur
Gopalpur-on-Sea
Gopalpur is a town and notified area in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa. Gopalpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 1 metres ....
(a famous tourist destination) and Dhavaleshwar. The most populous city in Ganjam, Berhampur
Berhampur
Brahmapur , nicknamed "The Silk City", is a city located in the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Orissa, about south to state capital, Bhubaneswar.It is also dubbed as "The Dance City" of Orissa after Prince Dance Group and Harihar Das made the state famous in India's...
, is famous for silver filigree
Filigree
Filigree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver or stitching of the same curving motifs. It often suggests lace, and in recent centuries remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork, and French from 1660 to the late 19th century...
and silk sarees woven with gold and silver threads.
The district headquarters is Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam District in the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarter town of Ganjam District. There are two railway stations in Chhatrapur. They are Chhatrapur station and Chhatrapur court station.-Geography:Chhatrapur is located at...
. Ganjam is divided into three subdivisions Chhatrapur, Berhampur
Berhampur
Brahmapur , nicknamed "The Silk City", is a city located in the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Orissa, about south to state capital, Bhubaneswar.It is also dubbed as "The Dance City" of Orissa after Prince Dance Group and Harihar Das made the state famous in India's...
, and Bhanjanagar
Bhanjanagar
Bhanjanagar is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India. The city, earlier named as Rasulkonda, is renamed later after Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja. Bhanjanagar is a planned and beautiful town situated in confluence of river Loharakhandi and Badanadi. It...
. The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908 lists Ganjam, along with the Thanjavur
Thanjavur District
Thanjavur District is one of the 32 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in southeastern India. Its headquarters is Thanjavur.-Geography:...
and South Canara
South Canara
South Canara was a district under the British empire, located at . It was bifurcated in 1859 from Canara district. It was the undivided Dakshina Kannada district...
districts, as the three districts of the Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
where Brahmins were most numerous.
As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Orissa (out of 30
Districts of Orissa
Orissa, a state on the eastern coast of India, is divided into a number of administrative geographical units called districts. Currently , Orissa consists of the following 30 districts:...
).
History
Undivided Ganjam district included present Gajapati district and also parts of Srikakulam districtSrikakulam district
Srikakulam District , formerly known as Chicacole, is the extreme northeastern District of Andhra Pradesh, situated within the geographic co-ordinates of 18°-20’ and 19°-10’ N and 83°-50’ and 84°-50’ E...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
before 1950. In 1950, Srikakulam district
Srikakulam district
Srikakulam District , formerly known as Chicacole, is the extreme northeastern District of Andhra Pradesh, situated within the geographic co-ordinates of 18°-20’ and 19°-10’ N and 83°-50’ and 84°-50’ E...
was organised by separating Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
and Tekkali
Tekkali
Tekkali is a Town, Revenue Division and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Tekkali is also called Raghunathapuram in memory of Raghunath Deo, an ancient proprietor of the Tekkali estate.- Geography :...
areas from Ganjam
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Ganjam is located at . It has an average elevation of 3 metres .-Demographics:...
district and Palakonda
Palakonda
Palakonda or Palkonda is a town, Revenue Division and a mandal in the Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Palakonda mandal is bordered by Veeraghattam, Seethampeta, Burja and Regidi Amadalavalasa mandals of Srikakulam district....
area from Visakhapatnam district
Visakhapatnam district
Visakhapatnam district , also known as Visakha Zilla, is an administrative division of Andhra Pradesh, India. The administrative headquarters of the Visakhapatnam District is Visakhapatnam.-Post-Independence:...
. In 1992, Paralakhemundi
Paralakhemundi
Parlakhemundi is a small town and a municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Orissa. The major languages spoken in this region are Oriya and Telugu.- Demographics :...
, Kasinagar and Ramagiri Udayagiri areas were separated from Ganjam district and organised as Gajapati district
Gajapati district
Gajapati is a district of Orissa, India. It was created from Ganjam District in October, 1992. Gajapati district was named after Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev, the Raja Sahib of the Paralakhemundi estate , who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate...
. At first, Gopalpur-on-Sea
Gopalpur-on-Sea
Gopalpur is a town and notified area in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa. Gopalpur is located at . It has an average elevation of 1 metres ....
has been headquarter of Ganjam district and later it Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam District in the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarter town of Ganjam District. There are two railway stations in Chhatrapur. They are Chhatrapur station and Chhatrapur court station.-Geography:Chhatrapur is located at...
was made as head quarter.
The district is currently a part of the Red Corridor
Red corridor
The Red Corridor is a term used to describe an impoverished region in the east of India that experiences considerable Naxalite communist insurgency...
.
Major towns
BrahmapurBrahmapur
Brahmapur is a semi-rural suburb of Kolkata. It is located in the southern fringes of the city and is flanked by Bansdroni to the north and west, Naktala to the east and by Boral to the south.-History:...
, Hinjilicut
Hinjilicut
Hinjilicut is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:...
, Sheragada, Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur
Chhatrapur is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam District in the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarter town of Ganjam District. There are two railway stations in Chhatrapur. They are Chhatrapur station and Chhatrapur court station.-Geography:Chhatrapur is located at...
, Aska
Aska
Aska can refer to:*ASKA , an American heavy-metal band*Aska Hundred, or Aska härad, was an hundred of Östergötland, Sweden.*Isuzu Aska, a Japanese car....
, Polasara
Polasara
Polasara is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Polasara is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres .-Demographics:...
, Jagannath Prasad, B.D.Pur (Sasan), Bellaguntha
Bellaguntha
Bellaguntha is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.- Demographics : India census, Bellaguntha had a population of 9961. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Bellaguntha has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the...
, Sorada, Buguda
Buguda
Buguda is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India. It is also situated in Ghumusara province.-Geography:Buguda is located at . It has an average elevation of 84 metres .-Demographics:...
, Polasara
Polasara
Polasara is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Polasara is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres .-Demographics:...
, Kalamba
Kalamba
Kalamba is an administrative ward in the Kondoa district of the Dodoma Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 12,770....
, Kodala
Kodala
Kodala is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Kodala is located at . It has an average elevation of 16 metres .-Demographics:...
, Khalikote
Khalikote
Khalikote is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Khalikote is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...
, Dharakote
Dharakote
Dharakote , famous for Lord Sri Jagannath temple, is a block in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is located about 12 km north-west of the river Rishikulya ASKA, Ganjam. It is just 55 km from Silk City Brahmapur,Orissa...
, Ganjam
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Ganjam is located at . It has an average elevation of 3 metres .-Demographics:...
, Kabisuryanagar, Purusottampur
Purusottampur
Purusottampur is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Purusottampur is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...
, Bhanjanagar
Bhanjanagar
Bhanjanagar is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India. The city, earlier named as Rasulkonda, is renamed later after Kavi Samrat Upendra Bhanja. Bhanjanagar is a planned and beautiful town situated in confluence of river Loharakhandi and Badanadi. It...
, Digapahandi
Digapahandi
Digapahandi is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Digapahandi is located at . It has an average elevation of 53 metres .-Demographics:...
, Kukudakhandi, Chikitigarh, Patrapur
Patrapur
Patrapur is one of the BLOCK headquarters of Ganjam district situated south of Orissa bordering to Andhra Pradesh. It is located southwest of Berhampur and southeast of Chikiti. It is one the biggest village of Ganjam district, having more than 15,000 people....
, Sanakhemundi, Sergarhmakarjhola, Rambha, keshpur,Gangapur
Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati RajMinistry of Panchayati Raj
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is a branch of the Government of India looking after the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance in the States....
named Ganjam one of the country's 250 most backward districts
Poverty in India
Poverty is widespread in India, with the nation estimated to have a third of the world's poor. According to a 2005 World Bank estimate, 41.6% of the total Indian population falls below the international poverty line of 1.25 a day...
(out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). It is one of the 19 districts in Orissa currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Notable residents of the past
- Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja
- Kabisurya Baladev Rath
- Biju Pattnaik
- Sir Aneppu Parasuramdas Patro: Justice PartyJustice PartyJustice Party is the name of several different political parties around the world:*Indian Justice Party*Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party...
leader and Education Minister in the Raja of Panagal government who is remembered for bringing about Communal G. O. 613 which introduced caste-based communal reservations for the first time in British India. - V. V. GiriV. V. GiriVarahagiri Venkata Giri , commonly known as V. V. Giri, was the fourth President of the Republic of India from 24 August 1969 to 23 August 1974.-Early life:...
: former President of IndiaPresident of IndiaThe President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary... - Laxman Nayak
- Ranganath Dash
- Chakara Bisoyi
- Dohara Bisoyi
- Narsena Naidu
- Viswanath Dash 1st prime minister of Orissa.
Notable residents of the present
- Somanatha Rath, Politician
- Chandra Sekhar Sahu,Politician
- Niranjan Pradhan, Politician
- Padmasri Dr Kota Harinarayana, Former Director, Light Combat Aircraft & Former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Hyderabad.
- Hayagriba Tripathy, educationist, columnist, social reformer
- Suresh Chandra Dash, educationist, columnist, social reformer
- Padmasri Dr Ghanashyam Mishra, Ayurvidic Doctor
- Kalyan Kumar Rath, BDO
- Raja Madhusudan Deb, former zamindar of Tekkali and Athagarh, Advocate of Supreme Court
- Ananta Kar educationist, columnist,Winner of state governor award, poet
- Kishor Chandra Tripathy, lifetime member, The Samaja
- Bikram Keshari Arukh, Law & Rural Development Minister.
- Siddhanta Mohapatro, Film Actor, Politician
- Suresh Chandra Dash, educationist, columnist, social reformer
- Padmasri Dr Ghanashyam Mishra, Ayurvidic Doctor
- Chintamani Dyan Samantraya, Former deputy speaker of Orissa Legislative Assembly
- Rani Sungyani Kumari Devi, MLA
- Ananta Kar educationist, columnist,Winner of state governor award, poet
- Binod Chandra Mahapatra, Community Development Specialist And social activist, Worked with various International Organisations.
Places of interest
- Mausimaa TempleMausimaa TempleMausimaa Temple is an ancient shrine in Ganjam District of Orissa. The temple can be approached by road from Bhubaneswar and Chhatrapur . The nearest railway station is at Berhampur...
- Bhetanai near Aska for the famous Black Bucks
- Gopalpur on Sea
- Maa Tara Tarini Temple, Purushottampur
- Dam near Bhanjanagar
- Balunkeswar Temple, B.D Pur
- Budhakhol near Buguda
- Kalingaghati
- Dhabaleswar Temple
- Taptapani (hot spring)
- Upendranagar (Kullada, Bagdevi Temple, Fort, Jagannath Temple)
- Mahuri Kalua
- Bhairavi Temple and Sonpur beach (15 km from temple)
- Kanaka Durga Thakurani Temple at Kodola Athagarh.
- Sri Jagannath Temple at DharakoteDharakoteDharakote , famous for Lord Sri Jagannath temple, is a block in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is located about 12 km north-west of the river Rishikulya ASKA, Ganjam. It is just 55 km from Silk City Brahmapur,Orissa...
- Maa Mahamayee Thakurani Temple at (Kabisurya Nagar)
- Maa Singhasani near Polasara
- Maa Narayani Temple
- Panchama Ganesh Temple
- Maa Singhasani near PolasaraPolasaraPolasara is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Orissa.-Geography:Polasara is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres .-Demographics:...
- Malati Mountain at Keshari palli near Nimina on Aska -Bhanjanagar State Highway.
- Lord Lakshmi Nrusingh Temple,Bellaguntha
- Jaugada (Historical place of Ashok raja), at pandia.
The Divine Life Society of Bhanjanagar which was established in 1950 is in front of Shri raghunath Temple , main Road, Bhanjanagar, Ganjam.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 3,520,151 , roughly equal to the nation of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
or the US state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. This gives it a ranking of 83rd in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 429 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.37 %. Ganjam has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 981 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 71.88 %.