Angul District

Angul District is a centrally located district in the state of Orissa. Angul District came into existence on 1st of April, 1993. This district covers a geographical area of 6232 sq kilometres. According to 2001 census, total population of Angul District is about 11.40 lakh. Angul city is the district headquarters located at around 150 kilometres from Bhubaneshwar. The district headquarters is situated on the National Highway No.42. Angul District is well accessible from all the corners of the state. Angul District is well discovered for its hot spring named Athamallik.

History of Angul District

Angul was politically awakened long before the rise of nationalism in India and commencement of Gandhi Era of freedom struggle. Like other ex-state areas of the district, Angul was also once a feudatory state. It is believed to have been inhabited at one time by Khond tribe. The early history of the Ruling family of Angul has remained in obscurity.

Culture of Angul District

Angul District is like a bridge between western and coastal halves of Orissa where the prehistoric and protohistoric relics are found in several villages. The geographical location of Angul made the Bhanjas of Angulaka-pattana, the Sulkis of Kodalaka Mandala, the Nandodbhavas of Airavatta Mandala, the Tungas of Yamagartta Mandala rule over it. But all through the rules of different dynasties, Angul has retained her cultural identity which is much more prominent than its political establishments. Angul District is not only a land of magnificent hill ranges, old monuments, virgin and long river beds, downy flakes melodious jungle streams, healing hot springs, luxuriant forests, picturesque landscape, industrial houses but also a land of exciting and exuberant fasts and festivals. All the seasons of the year are marked with a variety of colourful celebrations. The traditions and customs, rites and rituals, dances and delicacies of the district are just precipitous. The fasts and festivals of Angul District are mostly of two types namely Sarbajanina or community based and Gharoi or family based. The Sarbajanina festivals are celebrated with pump and ceremony by the people in general at the community level. The language used by the people is Oriya language. It has many variants with slight alterations. Some of the tribal use their own language. Dances are many dimensional, such as, martial, ritualistic, ecstatic and funeral etc. Such dances are always accompanied by music which makes them enjoyable. In the tribal communities there are many types of dances. They are pigeon dance, boar dance, elephant dance, and snake dance, bear dance, etc. Angul District is a land of great writers, poets and historians. Many great authors have born in this piece of land. Famous temples and unique puppet dances signify the rich culture and tradition of this district.

Geography of Angul District

Mahanadi River and Brahmani River flows through the district of Angul making it fertile. Various natural resources are found in abundance in Angul District and make a major contribution to the maximum amount of revenues to the state government. It is because of this reason that it is considered as the most strategically advanced district.

Economy of Angul District

Angul District is the site for many big industries like National Aluminum Company (NALCO), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Heavy water Plant, Talcher, Indian Aluminium Product Ltd etc. Apart from animal husbandry and agriculture, Angul District has a flourishing mining industry as well. Angul District has around 2, 16,403 hectares of cultivable land.

Tourism in Angul District

Angul District also offers a host of tourist attractions covered with lush green forests and rocky hills. Among them, the most popular ones are Bhimkund, Baranpal, Bulajhara, Binikei, Pitha, Hingula, Khuludi, Talcher, Rengali and Tikarapara. The place called Talcher is situated at a distance of 65 kilometres and is famous for coalmines, thermal power project, and heavy water project and fertilizer factory. In the region of Bhimkund, one can see the sleeping statue of Lord Vishnu, which is at a distance of 28 kms from Talcher. The place called NALCO is famous for the aluminum factory. The hot spring, which forms one of the major tourist attractions in Angul District, is known as Deulijhar and is situated at a distance of 5 kilometres from Athagarh. Another very famous tourist spot is Tikarapada, which is situated at a distance of 60 kilometres from Angul District. One can visit the famous Gharial Crocodile Sanctuary and Satakosia George of River Mahanadi amidst the evergreen woodlands.

Being the central landmark of Orissa, Angul District continues to enthrall the tourists with its charm and beauty.

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