Jharsuguda is a city and district headquarters of Jharsuguda district of Odisha, India. It is an industrial hub, consisting mainly of metallurgical industries. It is well connected to major cities of India through the rail network, and a recently inaugurated Jharsuguda Airport, now renamed as Veer Surendra Sai Airport. It is popularly known as the “Powerhouse of Odisha” due to its plentiful industry, mostly nearby thermal power plants. Jharsuguda has often been referred as “Little India” as well because of its diverse demography, language and culture.
#1Field
Jharsuguda is located at 21.85°N 84.03°E.It has an average elevation of 218 metres.It is located in Western Odisha. State highway 10 and National Highway 69 pass through this place. The Ib river flows along the Western side of Jharsuguda town and the river Bheden flows in the south. The area of the town is 70.47 km2, and has a population of 579,499.
#2Population
In 2011, Jharsuguda had population of 579,505 of which male and female were 296,690 and 282,815 respectively. In 2001 census, Jharsuguda had a population of 509,716 of which males were 261,941 and remaining 247,775 were females. Jharsuguda District population constituted 1.38 percent of total Maharashtra population. In 2001 census, this figure for Jharsuguda District was at 1.38 percent of Maharashtra population.
#3Culture of Jharsuguda
Jharsuguda has always seen a very diverse population, especially since modern times. There are a lot of festivals & events hosted in Jharsuguda like Nuakhai, Rath Yatra, Durga Puja, Ganesh Puja and Bhai Jauntia.
Jharsuguda has a very strong art and culture scene, also a centre of renowned colleges, academic institutions, important central government establishments, scientific and research institutes and organizations.
#4Education
The pre-collegiate medium of instruction in schools is predominantly English, Sambalpuri, Hindi and Odia. The medium of instruction in educational institutions after matriculation in colleges is English. Other medias of instruction also exist in Jharsuguda. Schools and colleges in Jharsuguda are mostly government-run, but schools run by private trusts and individuals also exist. The schools are affiliated with either the Odisha State Board under the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Central Board of Secondary Education or Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. After completing 10 years of schooling in secondary education, students enroll in higher secondary school, specialising in one of three streams – arts, commerce or science. In November 2016, the professional accounting body Institute of Chartered Accountants of India opened a branch at Jharsuguda.
#5Transportation
Since the Colonial era, the city has had a relatively developed transportation network. Primary modes of transport are auto rickshaws, taxi and private and state operated buses.
The Jharsuguda Airport is operational since 2019 at Durlaga. It had an airstrip since British times, which is currently upgraded to a full-fledged airport. First flight from Jharsuguda took off in September 2018 after Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated VSS Airport (Veer Surendra Sai Airport) on 22nd September, 2018.
Jharsuguda railway station is an important railway junction on the Tatanagar–Bilaspur section of the Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line and the Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line. The railway station comes under South Eastern Railway.
Jharsuguda railway station is an important railway junction on the Tatanagar–Bilaspur section of the Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line and the Jharsuguda-Vizianagaram line. The railway station comes under South Eastern Railway. Jharsuguda is connected to various towns of the states by State Highway 10 (now a part of Biju Expressway) and National Highway 49.
#6Politics
The current Member of the Legislative Assembly from Jharsuguda Assembly Constituency is Naba Kishore Das, who won the seat in 2009 and again in 2014.Jharsuguda is currently under Bargarh constituency of the Lok Sabha. This constituency came into existence in 2008 as a part of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies based on the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission of India in 2002. Jharsuguda was previously under the Deogarh constituency of the Lok Sabha. The current Member of Parliament from Bargarh is Suresh Pujari from the Bharatiya Janta Party, taking office in 2019.
#7 Flowing River
Ib river is tributary of Mahanadi river in North-Eastern Central India. It joins Mahanadi river flowing directly into the Hirakud Reservoir. The river originates in hills near Pandrapet at an elevation of 762 metres (2,500 ft). It passes through Raigarh district and Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh and Jharsuguda and Sundargarh District of Odisha and finally meets Mahanadi at Hirakud Dam in the state . Ib river valley is famous for its rich coal belt, Ib Valley Coalfield. Major portions of Mahanadi Coalfields are situated on the banks of Ib. Many industries have flourished on the banks of the river Ib. The Ib valley areas are counted as one of the most important industrial zones of Eastern India. The river runs for a distance of about 252 kilometres (157 mi) and drains an area of 12,447 square kilometres (4,806 sq mi).
#8Famous Temple
The Jhadeswar temple is located at a distance of about 1 km. from the Jharsuguda Railway station beyond the old town Purunabasti inside a small forest. There is a self appearing Sivalingam here the actual age of which is unknown.But during the reign of Govind Singh Jamindar of Jharsuguda the lingam was being worshiped inside a hut made up of leaves. In 1916 a Gujarati contractor named Mulju Jagmal erected a small temple here. The Jamindar of Jharsuguda arranged Savayats for daily worship and donated agricultural lands for maintenance of the temple and puja.
#9Tourist Destination
Shree Pahadeswar Temple is placed east side of Jharsuguda Town at the peak of a small hill. It was built during the beginning of 20th century by Gujarati Contractor Lt. Bitthal Bhai Saha. It is well surrounded by Garden, Ashram and is one of the best sightseeing spots in Jharsuguda.
Koilighughar water fall is a famous holy waterfall and has Shivalingam called as ‘Maheswarnath’. It is located about 54 km away from Jharsuguda Town and here water falls from the height of 200 feet. The Shivalingam is not easily visible and is only visible during the winter and summer under the reflected light of Sun.
Reactions
Already reacted for this post.
