Sambalpur is a beautiful city in the western part of Odisha state. It is also known as district administrative of Sambalpur and is famous as an educational hub. The town is filled with famous historic temples, ancient buildings, and even beautiful parks. The longest dam in the world - Hirakud - is located in this city. After independence, the Government tried to set up many establishments in and around Sambalpur. It became the headquarters of a major railway junction in Odisha. Since 1992 Sambalpur is the headquarters of Mahanadi coalfields Limited and subsidiary Coal India Limited.
The name Sambalpur is derived from the name of the famous Goddess here in Sambalpur, Maa Samalei. Historically, it was also known as Sambalaka. The place is also known as Hirakhanda because it explores demand during ancient times.
An ancient district in the state of Odisha is Sambalpur. The city survived the age of prehistoric. The pages of history are still vague regarding the foundation and the existence of Sambalpur in the political history of the state of Odisha. In the books of Ptolemy by Claudius Ptolemaeus, Sambalpur is mentioned as Sambalaka. The city is situated on the bank river Manada, now famous as Mahanadi. Other references can be seen in the records of Xuanzang. It is also mentioned in the literature of the renowned King Indrabhuti of Samabalaka. It was a kingdom in the Oddiyan or Odra Desha.
He is one of the ancient kings of Sambalpur. He is also the founder of Lamaism and Vijayan Buddhism.
French merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) in his travel account Lex six Voyages en Turquie, en Perse et aux Indes (1676-77) wrote about the numerous diamond mines of Sumepur or Semelpur, the present-day Sambalpur. He accounts that at the time of his visit about 8000 people were working in these mines.
In 1540 AD the Chauhan Rajput dynasty ruled over the kingdom of Phase. The Narasingh Deva ruled the southern part of the Ang River. The northern side of the river was ruled by Balarama Deva received, which was known as the kingdom of Huma. Then they ordered Sambalpur. The Chauhan dynasty ruled over Sambalpur till 1800. The kingdom also got recognition as Hirakud, and with its capital at Sambalpur. Sambalpur came under the Bhonsle of Nagpur when Marakas conquered Sambalpur in 1800. The British Government gave back Sambalpur to the Chuhan King, Jayant Singh in 1817, after 3rd Anglo-Maratha war The King lost authority over the princely states.
Lieutenant-General Sir Walker Raleigh Gilbert was the political agent on the south-west frontier. He had his headquarters at Sambalpur. In 1849 When the King of Sambalpur died without an heir. He was the last King as the British colonized the state under the doctrine of lapse policy. Sambalpur was still under the south-west frontier agency. During 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, the mutineers escaped from the prison at Hazaribagh. It was the prison that had imprisoned Veer Surrender Sai. In Sambalpur Veer Surrender Sai fought against the East Indian Company. In 1858 Sambalpur was shifted to Cuttack division, was it was clear of mutiny. The official language of Sambalpur status was given to Odia.
In 1862 the princely states of the Western Odisha including Sambalpur were merged to the newly formed division of Chhattisgarh of the Central province.
In 1905, the British Government occupied the amalgamation of Sambalpur to Odisha under the Bengal presidency in 1912, and on 1 April 1936 became the separate province of Odisha. Buddha raja is worshipped by the tribal community, which is another name for Lord Buddha, which is why there is a small hill by the name of Budharaja at the heart of the city of Sambalpur.
Sambalpur Lok Mahotsav is an annual cultural manifestation to preserve the age-old tradition of the region. It depicts the integrity of the culture, music, and lifestyle of Western Odisha. Sitalsasthi is a major festival here. It is the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. A carnival is set up during the festival where a vast population participates. The colorful extravaganza witness the fold dance and music. Nua Khai is another major ceremony. Nua Khai bhet ghat is something every Sambalpuria waits for. Sambalpuri dance and music have gained recognition all over the world. 'Rangabati' is one such song that holds many records. Tribal dances have beautiful traditional songs. Folk dances and music are very colorful. Dalkhai dance, Karma dance, Koisabadi dance, Humo, and Bauli are some significant ones. The magnificent architecture of the place is depicted in its temple.
Sambalpuri handloom fabrics are of high demand all over the world. Mostly they are tusser silk or cotton. Since time immemorial indigenous weaving have been doing this work. The unique design, pattern, dye, and quality of the fabric is what makes it famous. Bamboo crafts and Barna or golden grass crafts are also remarkable. They are used to make household products or decorative. Terracotta and brass metal works display the cultural value of the region.
Pakhala Bhat or water rice served with roasted vegetables such as Brinjal, Spinach and potato are savored in almost every household. Sarsaria is a sweet delicacy that is popular in this region. Chaula bara or Vada made out of rice batter is another delicious snack of the area. One can find a range of cuisine here. Brooks hill, Celebration Restaurant, and Kathi restaurant are some decent places.
Ghanteswari Temple: It is an ancient temple located near Hirakud One can find several bells in the temple, so it got its name from it. The temple is situated on the Mahanadi river and beautiful sight for the devotees.
Budharaja Temple: It is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has 108 stairs. The temple becomes a center of celebration during Dusshera and Mahashivaratri.
Samaleswari Temple: She is the presiding deity of the city of Sambalpur. It is dedicated to the mother goddess who is worshipped on the banks of Mahanadi.
Huma: It is a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is leaning towards the north-east at a degree of 5 to 6. The other small temples around the primary temple lean in another direction.
Hirakud Dam: It is the longest dam in the world which is made up of soil. It is a symbol of the architectural significance of Odisha.
Gudguda Waterfall: An aesthetic that will refresh your mind. A perfect picnic spot.
Sambalpur is an amiable city promising an enjoyable experience. The best time to visit the place is from September to March. It will take you around three days to roam around the city. The bag packers can have a budget of 2-2.5 thousand to have a suitable stay. The midrange travelers can have around 3.5-4 thousand to have decent accommodation. For luxury travelers, it will be around 5-6 thousand. They can have a transportation service for the entire stay for their convenience.