Sambalpur (Odia: ; About this sound Sambalpur (helpinfo)) is in the eastern state of Odisha in India, is one of the largest and oldest city in Odisha. It is the headquarters of Northern Revenue Division and of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited (MCL). It is situated about 300 km west of state capital Bhubaneswar, 550 km west of Kolkata in West Bengal and 278 km east of Raipur in Chhattisgarh. It is also on the bank of Mahanadi River. In the year 1883, Sambalpur was established as a municipality. In 2013, Sambalpur got the municipal corporation status. Sambalpur Municipal Corporation includes Burla, Hirakud and neighbouring 12 Gram panchayats. The total population of Sambalpur Metropolitan Area is 3,35,761.Sambalpur is the Western Odisha region's administrative, commercial and educational hub. The city contains many famous temples,historic buildings and parks.Sambalpur is famous for some of premier educational institutes like Sambalpur University, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Gangadhar Meher University, Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur and Odisha State Open University (OSOU). Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in the world and the largest artificial lake of Asia is at Hirakud.[1] After the independence of India, many commercial and government establishments sprung up in and around Sambalpur. Sambalpur is one of the major railway junctions in Odisha with the headquarters of Sambalpur Railway Division under East-Coast Railway Zone of Indian Railways.National Highway 6, National Highway 42 and State Highway 10 pass through the city.[2] Sambalpur is also the headquarters of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited[3] since 1992, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. Sambalpur is famous for Hirakud Dam, Sambalpuri Saree, Sambalpuri songs, Sambalpuri Dance, the Sitalsasthi Carnival,[4][5] and Gandhi temple.[6] Sambalpuri is the native language of the place. The locals are usually referred as Sambalpuriya. In 1849,Sambalpur State came under the British rule by the application of Doctrine of lapse after the death of last Maharaja Narayan Singh.Veer Surendra Sai of Sambalpur played a very important role in the freedom struggle.He led a revolution against the British East India Company even before Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.He is known as Lion Of Odisha. Sambalpur has its own unique identity in-terms of its language, handloom, dance, cuisine, culture, festivals, temples, heritage, songs, drama and music. This uniqueness has been there since centuries and its time tested aroma can be savoured in its daily life.
