Banpur

 town, marketplace, taluka headquarter

Tehsil Banapur, District Khorda (Khorda), Odisha, Bharat

Banpur( ବାଣପୁର )is a Town , Block & Tahasil (taluka )and a notified area council in Khurda (khordha)district in the state of Orissa( Odisha ), India. Banpur is a small town situated . 42 km from Rambha ,13 km from Barakul and 5 km from Balugaon,infact it is very near to lake Chilika . Geographically Banpur town situated in 85 degree 10'E and 19 degree 47'N in the south-west of Khurda.Banpur is famous for the shrine of Bhagabati.The town is named after the King Banasura of Lord Krishna age.Banasura, a demon-king who is said to have ruled over this place. The place was under the control of a line of feudal lords, the ancestors of the Rajas of Parikud, till 18th century. The old fort of Banpur was destroyed under orders of the East India Company during its early years of occupation. Major point of attraction here is the temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagabati, the presiding deity of Banpur. It is one of the famous Shaktipithas of Orissa. The temple stands on the edge of a deep pool within a high enclosure wall. The temple is managed by a committee appointed by the Commissioner of Endowments, Orissa. The Sebayats of the temple have been given landed property to perpetuate their service in the temple. Very ancient Temple Dakshya Prajapati is the historical temple of banpur In Odisha History. The temple of "Dakshya Prajapati" is a fine specimen of extraordinary artistic excellence of Orissan art.The ancient Daksheswar or Dakshya Prajapati Temple situated at the entrance of town features fine specimens of Orissan architecture and sculpture. At a distance of about 14 km. to the west of Banpur the Salia Dam has been constructed amidst a picturesque site. Here one can enjoy the beauty of the nature. The total length of the river is about 30 miles. The dam has been constructed in the catchment area which is about 69,000 acres connecting two hills on both sides and serves as a minor irrigation project. Balugaon Railway Station is the nearest railhead (5 km). Banpur can be accessed by buses and autorikshas from Balugaon. In point of fact Banpur and balugaon is the bank town of lake chilika. Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 square kilometres (420 sq mi) is a great attraction for the tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating. In winter, Chilika attracts thousands of indigenous and migratory birds.
Banpur is the biggest Block and good Tahasil(taluka ) among in the 10 blocks & 10 Tahasils of Khurda district .It is also a Number One Notified Area Committe ( NAC ) .It belongs to Chilika Assembly Constituency and Puri Parliamentary( Lok Sabha ) Constituency.Banpur PIN code is 752031 , there is 16 postoffices uncluding the Head office Banpur .
• Antarkiari ,• Badasereipur ,• Badhantuad, • Balidihi ,• Banpur ,• Bheteswar ,• Bhimpur ,• Dibyasinghpur
• Godabaris Mahavidyalaya ,• Kumaranga ,• Narendrapur ,• Pratap ,• Punjiama Sasan ,• Sahaspur ,• Saliadam
• Sanahantuad
There is 13 Gram Panchayat in consist of 311 village in Banpur Block .( Bheteswar, Bishnu Dihi, Damiabarabara , Deogaon, Galua, Gamharimunda, Kamarangasasan, Kulei , Nachuni, Nandapur, Narendrapur, Niladriprasad , Tumuraput )
Other names: Banapur,Banpur( ବଣପୁର , ବାଣପୁର )
Previously Banpur was well-known as a Killas (Gadas). Raja Ram Chandra Dev had received the rank of commander of 3500 soldiers and under his control placed 31 Zamindars and with 129 Killas (Gadas) like Banki, Dampada, Ranapur, Banapur, Kodala, Chikiti, Sergarh, Chilika etc. The British followed a new revenue system which infuriated the “Paikas” (the warriors) who enjoyed the land in lieu of their services were asked to pay rent and taxes at the same rate as cultivators. At the same time the British also introduced salt monopoly which give birth the Paika Bidroha under the leadership of Buxi Jagabandhu and Madhab Ch. Routray Dal Behera of Tapanga, Krutibas Pattasani (the brave son of Shyam Sundar Patasani ) of Banapur, Pindiki Bahubalendra of Daruthenga. The Paika Bidroh (Rebellion) last for one and half year and completely stamped out in September, 1818. The heroic leadership of Krutibas Patsani with Panchu Nayak in Banapur Rebellion (in attackings police station of Banapur ) by declaring independence in 1836 and finally facing death bravely are really the tragic and brave episodes in the history of anti-colonial movement of Orissa led by great Oriya warriors.



As of 2001India census,Banpur had a population of 16,437. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Banpur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
As the town is situated in the coastal area there you cannot feel too hot in summer or too cold in winter. The rail fall is sound and suitable for agriculture.
The town is enriched with cultural heritage and is famous for its unique cane made art-crafts such as sofa set,hanging chair, TV stand etc. The ancient Daksheswar or Dakshya Prajapati Temple situated at the entrance of town features fine specimens of Oriya architecture and sculpture. As in Oriya proverb bara masa tera parva i.e., in 12 months 13 festivals,the people of Orissa celebrate 13 festival in 12 months. Here in Banpur you can find such culture also.Among all the festivals the most famous one is panchudola-the 5th day after holi/dola purnima, where you can find the gathering of 72 god and goddess in a large ground. This festival is carried out for 2-3 days. The Banpur Mahotsav concluding on every year @ Khasmal Padia. with full of cultural programmes and get together of politicians and literary persons.
The Nehru Sewa Sangh came into existence in 1946 when India was on the threshold of independence. It is situated on the banks of Chilka lake, about 100 km south of Bhubaneshwar, the state capital of Orissa. The Sangh has many activities like- orphanages, schools and training centres for blind, deaf and mentally retarded, eye care, welfare of scheduled castes and tribes etc. It has schools for both blind and deaf.
Sense International (India) is supporting Nehru Sewa Sangh in implementing a Home based programme for deafblind children in Banpur and its surrounding villages.
More than 60% of the town population are educated(male-55% and female-45%). There are more than 15 primary schools and 10 high schools in the town. Some of the best high schools are as follows-
• Boys' High School(govt), Banpur(NAC).
• Godavarish Bidyapitha(govt), Banpur.
• Balugaon High School(govt), Balugaon(NAC).
• Girls' High School (govt), Banpur(NAC).
• Banambar Academy (semi govt),Bhimpur.
• Saraswati Sisumandir, Bhagabati Vihar, Bisarpatana, Banpur(NAC)
• Nilakantheswar Vidyapitha,Kumaranga,Banpur(NAC)
There is also the scope of higher education in general studies like Bachelor and Master in Humanities as well as in Science and only Bachelor in Commerce.
The town has two colleges and they are:
~Godavarish Mahavidyalaya, Banpur
~Balugaon college, Balugaon.
There is a govt hospital for general public. Famous for the time honoured temple of Goddess Bhagabati, Banpur has earned celebrity as a center of religious activities. Once it was the capital of Sailodvaba dynasty, responsible for the construction of the early group of temples in Bhubaneswar. The large number of Buddhist images discovered at Banpur relate the place to the Vajrayan cult of Buddhism. The temple of "Dakshya Prajapati" is a fine specimen of extraordinary artistic excellence of Orissan art.
There is some Eminent Personalities as result bapur has been created a speciall place in Orissa . Banapur, the historic and heroic soil of Orissa ,like –କୃତିବାସ ପାଟ୍ଟଶାଣୀ, ପଣ୍ଡିତ ଗୋଦାବରୀଶ ମିଶ୍ର , ଗୋଦାବରୀଶ ମହାପାତ୍ର , କୃଶ୍ନ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ତ୍ରିପାଠୀ, ପର୍ଶୁରାମ ହରିଚନ୍ଦନ, ହରି ହର ରାମ୍
• Krutibas Pattasani ,Leader of Paika Bidroha against the British.(The Crusader of Banpur Rebellion of 1836 ,A Beacon Light of Freedom
• Godavaris Mishra-freedom fighter,stateman, writer, teacher.
• Godavarish Mohapatra- Critic ,editor, writer.
• Krusna Chandra Tripathy- poet
• Parsuram Harichandan - famous nationalist dramatist
• HariHar Ram- Founder Nehru Sewa Sangh


I proud to say that I born in Banpur,where important is goddess Maa Bhagati ,the poet like Godavaris mishra,Krushna chndra tripathy ,Godavarish mohapatra {who edited Niankhunta (Burning Pastle)} mountain like ghantasila,Vidya Mandir like G.Vidyapitha school and college G.Mahavidyalaya .
Delineated by -Deepak Basti , Automobile Engineer –KSA