Gajapati Pincodes

The Indian state of Odisha has the district known as Gajapati. On October 2, 1992, Ganjam District gave rise to it. The Gajapati district bears the name of Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, the first Prime Minister of Orissa and the King of the Paralakhemundi estate. He is renowned for his role in the creation of a distinct state and the incorporation of his estate into Odisha. The district headquarters, previously known as a Zamindari, are grouped together around the geometric center of Paralakhemundi, about five kilometers in radius. The Red Corridor includes the District. After Debagarh and Boudh, it is the third-least populated district in Odisha as of 2011.

History

The Paralakhemundi kingdom is where the Gajapati district’s history begins. It belonged to Odisha’s Gajapati Kingdom. In the 12th century, Paralakhemundi was a part of the state of Khemundi. Khemundi was divided into the three states of Bada Khemundi, Sana Khemundi, and Paralakhemundi under Mukunda Dev’s rule. Subhalinga Bhanu took over as the Paralakhemundi’s ruler following the split. Throughout the Mughal Maratha dynasty in Odisha, this line of kings ruled Paralakhemundi. Gajapati Jagannatha Narayanadev’s rule over Parala in 1767 turned it into a feudal state under British rule, prior to the British taking over control of Odisha.

Geography

The Gajapati district is situated in the southeast of Odisha, between the latitudes of 18° 44’N and 19° 39’N and the longitudes of 84° 32’E and 83° 47’E. Via it flows the Mahendratanaya River. The district shares borders with the districts of Ganjam to the east, Rayagada to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the south, and Kandhamala to the north. The district is situated in the Eastern Ghats, a steep area. This district is home to the mountain Mahendragiri, which is a part of the Eastern Ghats.

Climate

There is a lot of humidity and a subtropical climate. The summertime heatwave, which lasts from March to mid-June, reaches temperatures as high as 46 °C. The mild winter months of November through February can see lows of 9 °C. The southwest monsoons are the main source of the around 1000 mm of rainfall that fall throughout the rainy season, which runs from mid-June to mid-October.

Demography

The population of the Gajapati district, as per the 2023 census, is 803,166, roughly equivalent to the population of the US state of North Dakota or the nation of Bhutan. As a result, it is ranked 573rd in India. There are 133 people living in the district per square kilometer. Between 2001 and 2011, the population growth rate was 10.99%. Gajapati has a 54.29% literacy rate and a sex ratio of 1042 females for every 1000 males. The population residing in urban areas is 12.23%. 54.29% of people are Scheduled Tribes, and 6.78% of people are Scheduled Castes.

Culture

Mahendragiri, a mountain in Paralakhemundi, is part of the Eastern Ghats. According to legend, it is the location of Lord Parashurama, a Chiranjeevi who lived there forever and practiced tapasya. There are Pandava temples visible. Shivaratri, the worship of Shiva, the guru or percepter of Lord Parashurama, is the primary celebration here.