Raurkela, India
Region: Odisha
Geographic Coordinates: 22.249200, 84.882800
Temperature Range: 15.0°C to 40.0°C (59°F to 104°F)
Climate: Seasonal.
Population: 600000
Language: Oriya
Rourkela is a city located in the state of Odisha, India. It is situated in the northern part of the state and shares borders with Jharkhand and West Bengal. The city has a population of approximately 6 lakhs, Making it one of the largest urban settlements in Odisha. The foundation stone for Rourkela was laid by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, On 3 November 1955. It was established as an industrial township to cater to the needs of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Which operates one of its largest steel plants here.
The plant has been instrumental in shaping Rourkela’s economy and providing employment opportunities to many people. Apart from being an industrial hub, Rourkela is also known for its scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. The city boasts several parks such as Vedvyas Park, Indira Gandhi Park, And Jubilee Park which are popular among locals and tourists alike. These parks offer recreational facilities like boating, Jogging tracks, And children’s play areas. Rourkela is also home to some famous temples such as Vaishno Devi Temple, Hanuman Vatika Temple Complex, And Jagannath Temple which attract devotees from all over Odisha.
Additionally, There are several museums like Regional Science Centre & Planetarium that showcase science exhibits along with other historical artifacts. The city has a thriving art scene with various events like dance performances by local artists being held throughout the year. Furthermore, Rourkela hosts several festivals including Durga Puja which attracts visitors from all over India. In terms of education facilities available in Raurkela include National Institute Of Technology (NIT), Biju Patnaik University Of Technology (BPUT) along with various schools affiliated to Central Board Of Secondary Education (CBSE). There are also numerous colleges offering courses across different streams.
The transportation system in the city is well-developed with a network of buses and auto-rickshaws connecting different parts of the city. The nearest airport is in Ranchi which is approximately 170 km away from Rourkela. The city also has a railway station that connects it to major cities across India. Rourkela offers a unique blend of industrial development and cultural heritage which makes it an ideal destination for tourists looking for a diverse experience. With its scenic beauty, Rich cultural heritage, And modern amenities, Rourkela is definitely worth visiting.
- Steel Industry: Raurkela has one of the largest steel plants in India operated by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The plant produces various steel products such as flat products, long products, and special steels.
- Power Generation: Several thermal power plants are located near Raurkela that generate electricity for the region.
- Mining: Companies like Tata Steel and Jindal Steel & Power mine iron ore and coal deposits around Raurkela.
- Cement Industry: There are several cement plants near Raurkela that produce cement for construction purposes.
- Chemical Industry: Several chemical companies operate in Raurkela producing chemicals used in industries such as textiles, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
- Automobiles Industry: Tata Motors Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Bajaj Auto Ltd., etc have set up production facilities near Rourkela to manufacture automobiles.
- Healthcare Services: Several hospitals and healthcare facilities provide quality medical services to people from all over Odisha state.
- Education Sector: Educational institutions like National Institute Of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute Of Management (IIM), Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) etc have their campuses here providing world-class education to students from all over India.
- Rourkela Steel Plant is the most notable event associated with Raurkela. The steel plant was established in 1955 and has been a significant contributor to India’s economy ever since.
- Birsa Munda, a tribal leader who fought against British rule in the late 19th century, is considered a hero among the tribal communities of Jharkhand and Odisha.
- Samaleswari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Samaleswari, believed to be the presiding deity of Raurkela.
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) was founded in 1992 by Dr Achyuta Samanta and has become one of India’s leading educational institutions.
- Sudarsan Pattnaik is a renowned sand artist from Odisha who has won several awards for his work, including the Padma Shri in 2014.
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian cricket team hails from Ranchi located near Raurkela.
- Biju Patnaik served as Chief Minister of Odisha twice and also represented Odisha in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during his political career.
- Sundargarh district where Raurkela is located has a rich history dating back to ancient times when it was part of Kalinga Kingdom ruled by Emperor Ashoka’s grandson, Samrat Kharavela.
- Rourkela Steel Plant
- Hanuman Vatika
- Vedvyas Temple
- Mandira Dam
- Indira Gandhi Park
- Vaishno Devi Temple, Rourkela
- Khandadhar Waterfall
- Ispat Nehru Park
- Darjeeng Picnic Spot
- Rourkela Museum and Art Gallery
- Cricket – It is highly likely that there are several cricket teams and leagues operating in Raurkela as it is the most popular sport in India with a huge following all over the country.
- Football – Football has a growing fan base across the country and there may be several football clubs operating in Raurkela.
- Kabaddi – Kabaddi is a traditional Indian sport that has gained popularity over recent years due to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and there may be kabaddi teams operating in Raurkela.
- Hockey – Although hockey has lost its popularity over recent years due to lack of success at international levels, there still may be hockey teams operating in Raurkela as it is the national sport of India.
It’s important to note that my knowledge on local sports team histories might not be up-to-date or accurate as it keeps changing with time and requires constant updates from reliable sources for accuracy purposes.
- Rourkela Mahotsav is a popular festival celebrated in Raurkela every year in January. It is a cultural extravaganza that showcases the rich heritage and tradition of the city.
- Dola Yatra is a spring festival celebrated in Raurkela during March or April. It involves carrying idols of Lord Krishna and Radha on chariots, accompanied by music and dance.
- Karam Parva is a tribal festival celebrated by the people of Raurkela in September or October to worship their deity, Karam Devta. The festival involves singing, dancing, and feasting.
- Nuakhai is an agricultural festival celebrated by the people of western Odisha including Raurkela where farmers offer their first harvest to Goddess Samaleswari.
- Bhai Juntia is a unique fasting ritual observed by women for long life and prosperity for their brothers which falls on eighth day after Dussehra.
- Rajo Festival marks the beginning of monsoon season with prayers offered to Mother Earth (Bhumi Puja), girls swing on decorated swings called “Doli”and enjoy traditional food.
- Christmas celebrations are also held at various churches across town with carols singing, nativity plays etc.
- Chhappan Bhog: A vegetarian restaurant that serves authentic Indian cuisine, including North Indian and South Indian dishes.
- Haveli: A fine-dining restaurant that serves Indian, Chinese, and Continental cuisines.
- The Yellow Chilli: A chain of restaurants by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor that offers a fusion of traditional and modern Indian cuisine.
- Kalinga Restaurant: A popular restaurant that serves Odia (Oriya) cuisine, including seafood dishes like prawn curry and fish fry.
- Dosa Plaza: A chain of restaurants that specializes in various types of dosas (South Indian pancakes), as well as other South Indian dishes like idli and vada.
- Biryani Box: A fast-food joint that offers different varieties of biryani (spiced rice dish with meat or vegetables).
- Sagar Ratna: Another chain of vegetarian restaurants that serve South Indian food like dosas, idlis, uttapams etc.
- Pizza Hut & Domino’s Pizza – Popular pizza chains located in the city center area
- Hanuman Vatika: It is a popular park with a large statue of Lord Hanuman, boating facilities, and an amusement park.
- Indira Gandhi Park: This park has a walking track, children’s play area, and beautiful gardens.
- Jubilee Park: It is one of the largest parks in Raurkela with many attractions like musical fountain show, toy train ride, and boating facilities.
- Vedavyas Temple: The temple is situated on the bank of river Brahmani which offers a serene environment for visitors to relax.
- Khandadhar Waterfall: It is located 104 km from Raurkela and offers breathtaking views of the waterfall surrounded by lush green forests.
- Mandira Dam: Located 30 km from Raurkela this dam provides boating facilities for tourists to enjoy the scenic beauty around it.
- Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary: Located 140 km from Raurkela this wildlife sanctuary offers jeep safaris to watch tigers, elephants, deer & other wildlife species in their natural habitat.
- Maa Vaishno Devi Temple: A popular temple situated on top of a hill offering scenic views of the surrounding area along with religious significance for devotees visiting here.
