| Balasore Baleshwar |
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| Country |  India |
| State | Orissa |
| District(s) | Baleshwar |
| Population | 106,032 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 16 m (52 ft) |
Balasore (also known as Baleswar or Baleshwar) is a strategically located city in the state of Orissa in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore District. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also the site of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program's Integrated Test Range, located 70 km. south of Chandipur. The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed many different missiles such as Nag, Brahmos, Agni missile among others here. The lingua franca is Oriya.
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History
The English settlement of Balasore, formed in 1642, was an early trading port for British, French and Dutch ships in the early age of Enlightenment and became a colonial part of first Danish India, later British India.
In 1763 Balasore became a Danish possession, governed from Tranquebar, as part of Danish India. Due to the shallowness of its bay, the trading post was abandoned, leaving behind only a small settlement in the area. On 7 November 1845, all Danish India was sold to the British, who made it part of British India. Since the beginning of the 20th century Balasore, as a strategic point, interested revolutionaries[citation needed].
Geography
Balsore is a city in the North of Orissa. It is located at the south eastern part of the India. The city is surrounded by West Bengal in the north,and the Bay of Bengal to the East. Balasore is located at 21°30`N, 86°56`E. Balasore surrounds an area of 3076 km2.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[1], Baleshwar had a population of 106,032. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Baleshwar has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. It is the most literate town of Odisha.
Overview
Balasore is a place of scenic beauty and a major tourist attraction, also because of its historical monuments, such as various temples in the area. There are a few hill ranges in the region too. It is 212 km north-east of Bhubaneswar by road.
Balasore has been in use from 1989, but unlike Sriharikota, it is not used for launching satellites. The rocket launching site at Balasore is situated in a place named Chandipur. Chandipur is located on the Bay of Bengal. The Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Balasore is responsible for carrying out tests for various missiles such as Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, etc.
Economy
Balasore is the main town in the District of Balasore. The primary occupation of people in the district of Balasore is cultivation. Balasore district is mostly known for cultivation of paddy, since rice is the staple cereal of the local people.
Transport
Balasore Railway Station falls en route on the main line connecting Chennai to Kolkata. National Highway-5 runs through Balasore, and National Highway-60, which connects Balasore to Kolkata, is a four lane express way.
Places of interest
Khirochora Gopinath Temple, situated at Remuna, approximately 7 km from the main town of Balsore, was built by the Great King Langula Narasimha Dev who also built the notable Temple at Konark. Khirochora Gopinath Temple is notable for its mythological story about how it was built there. The "Biranchi Narayana", "AstaDurga", "Bhudhar Chandi" are some other temples located in that region.
Chandipur-on-sea is a sea resort famous for its mile long shallow beaches. It is a unique beach where the tide comes to the shore only four times a day, at fixed intervals. At a distance of 30 k.m. south-west, there lies 'Panchalingeswara', a scenic spot high on a mountain. The presiding Siva there can't be seen, rather, one has to feel by touching the statue which is submerged under the flowing fountain. About 33 km south-west of Balasore, there is 'Santaragadia' is a semi town where 'Biseswar temple' is situated in the hill, covered by hills on its sides. Near to this place, there is 'Khulia Village' which is a settlement of aboriginal peoples staying in a scenic village surrounded by hills and fountains from all sides. Around 30 km south-east of Balasore, there is a port named 'Dhamra'.
Birth place of linguist and novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati, who created Oriya script apart from being an eminent freedom fighter against the British Raj. Also birth place of Oriya poet Kabibar Radhanath Ray, who is noted for his poems on the beauty of famous Chilika Lake apart from being an eminent freedom fighter against the British Raj. He is born in Kedarpur (soro) near to village Budei. Among the best shopping destinations in Balasore, Kusum Saree House and Shree Mandir are one of the most reputed saree shops in the area.
Education
Colleges and universities
- [[1]]
- No-1 Tally Accounting Training Center
- Academy of Business Administration
- Fakir Mohan Autonomous College
- Kuntala Kumari Sabat Mahabidyalaya
Schools
- Public High School
- Modern Public School
- St.Vincent's Convent School
- Maharshi Vidya Mandir
- kendriya vidyalaya balasore
- Balasore Zilla High School
Politics
Current MLA from Balasore Assembly Constituency is Jiban Pradeep Dash of BJD, who won the seat in State elections of 2009. He won this seat earlier as an BJP candidate in 2000. Other previous MLAs from this seat were Arun Dey (NCP) who won this seat in 2004, Gopa Narayan Das of INC in 1985, and Kartik Chandra Rout of JNP in 1977.[2] Balasore is part of Balasore (Lok Sabha constituency).[3]
See also
- Rocket launch sites
- Indian Space Research Organisation
- Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station
- Chandipur
- Chandipur travel guide from Wikitravel
- PanchaLingeswar travel guide from Wikitravel
References
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparision for 14-Balasore Constituency of ORISSA". Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/March2004/pollupd/ac/states/s18/Partycomp14.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Orissa" (PDF). Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2000/background/S18/Orissa_AC_Dist_PC.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
External links
- Online Information Center of Balasore
- Baleswar District website
- Balasore at Encyclopedia Astronautica
"Balasore". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.- Architectural Planning, Quality Control, survey Work and Civil Consultancy
- Hotel Barjorjis Banjara/Bhojan website
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