Jajpur

Jajpur is a district in the State of Orissa in India. It is located in between 20°30’ – 21°10’ N Latitude and 85°40’ – 86°44’ E Longitude covering an area of 2887.69 Sq km. The district derives its name from its headquarter town of the same name. It is bounded in the North by river Baitarini and the districts Keonjhar & Bhadrak. In the South lies the Cuttack district of the state and in the East Dhenkanal and in the West Kendrapara district. It has a population of 1900054.

There are ten tahsils (Jajpur, Sukinda, Dharmasala, Darpan, Binjharpur, Bari, Rasulpur, Dangadi, Vyasanagar, Dasarathapur), ten development blocks (Jajpur, Dasarathpur, Bari, Binjharpur, Badachana, Dharmasala, Rasulpur, Korei, Danagadi, Sukinda), two urban local bodies (Jajpur, Vysanagar), 280 gram panchayats, and 1781 villages excluding 39 villages under Municipalities.

History

Jajpur was founded by "JAJATI KESHARI", the Somabanshi king in ealry 10th century. However, Jajpur has been identical with Viraja or Viraja Khetra from time immemorial. The place sacred to Viraja, the symbol of Sakti(Power) on one side and Verah, the symbol of Brahma or Purusha on the other side is one of the traditional Pancha khetras in Orissa dedicated to Brahmanical Pancha Khetras.

It was once studded with scores of ancient stone temples, but suffered Vandalism of the invaders from the North, who destroyed the temples and palaces .

We have a large number of sculptures here which dates back from 4rth century.

The Paralakhemundi copper plate of Prithivi Maharaja mentions Viraja as Viranja. The date ascribed to this plate has been 6th century AD. However, the Mahabharata mentions in its Banaparva in 114th chapter about Viraja and the sacred Baitarani where the five Pandav brothers had their holy dip with Lomash the saint. The date of the origin of goddess may safely be attributed to the 3rd century.

A new political situation developed with the rise of the Bhaumakaras in 736 AD . the Bahumaker empire extended from the Ganges in the North to the Mahendra mountain on the south. The Bhaumas ruled over two centuries with their capital at Guheswar Patak in Viraja Khestra. Khijinga Mandal of the Bhaumas comprised modern Mayurbhanja, eastern part of Keonjhar, some portion of Dhenkanal and the modern Jajpur and Bhadrak districts.

The two powerful dynasties , Bhaumas and Somavansis reigned over the whole land mass of modern Orissa for almost four centuries from 8th to 11th.

The Somabansi King Jajati Keshari made Jajpur his capital performed the historic Dasaswamedh Yajna in 10th century.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

48 Binjharpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 1. BINJHARPUR BLOCK 2. Biripata, Asanpur, Palatpur, Khannagar, Kamardihi, Nizampur, Duttapur, Bihari, Gramnandipur, Thalkudi, Kayan and Chasakhanda GPs of DASARATHPUR BLOCK .

49 Bari Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Orissa - 1. Badasuar, Chhatisdebil, Erabanka, Jhalapada, Sanasuar, Rudrapur, Sahaspur and Sujanpur GPs of JAJPUR BLOCK, 2. Atalpur, Samantarapur, Routrapur, Prathamakhandi, Rajendrapur, Arthanga, Mangarajpur, Brahmabarada, Bandhadiha and Maheswarpur GPs of RASULPUR BLOCK 3. BARI BLOCK

50 Barachana Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. BARACHANA BLOCK

51 Dharmasala Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. DHARMASALA BLOCK 2. Odiso, Kalana, Singhpur, Sribantapur, Jabara, Nathuabar, Rahamba, Barabati and Rasulpur GPs of RASULPUR BLOCK .

52 Jajpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. Basudevpur, Beruda, Bhubaneswarpur, Bhuinpur, Bichitrapur, Chainipur, Jahanpur, Khairabad, Mala Anandapur, Markandapur, Nathasahi, Panasa, Maheswarpur, Shyamadaspur, Similia and Upparbaruhan GPs of JAJPUR BLOCK 2. Duduranta, Sisua, Kanikapada, Mangalpur, Akarapada, Champeipal, Chhachina, Chittalo, Dasrathpur, Gopalpur, Kasapa, Katikata, Khandara, Mallikapur, Taliha and Tarpada GPs of DASRATHPUR BLOCK 3. JAJPUR (M)

53 Korei Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. KOREI BLOCK 2. Bhotaka, Laxminagar, Pahanga, Badakainchi, Gandhan, Tikarpada, Bahadalpur, Narasinghpur and Mugupal GPs of RASULPUR BLOCK 3. VYASANAGAR (M) 4. VYASANAGAR (O.G).

54 Sukinda Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. SUKINDA BLOCK, 2. DANAGADI BLOCK.

Places of interest
Ratnagiri, Jajpur town