Keonjhar

Keonjhar, also spelled as Kendujhar, is a city and a municipality in Kendujhar District in the northern part of Orissa. The district covers an area of 8240 sq km and lies at an altitude of 480 m. The Singhbhum District of Bihar surrounds Keonjhar in the north, Jajpur in the south, Dhenkanal and Sundargarh in the west and Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak in the east. Keonjhar is also the gateway to many other scenic destinations of India.

The district is approximately divided into two similar regions by NH-215. The eastern part of these divisions comprises the plains of Anandapur and a part of Sardar sub-division. In the west division, lie the hills that contain some of the highest peaks of Orissa like the Gandhamardan, Mankadnacha, Gonasika, and Thakurani.

Almost half of the area of this district is covered by the northern tropical deciduous type forests. The soil of the place is mostly red with few black cotton soil patches. The Keonjhar District is also rich in minerals like iron-ore, manganese and chromites.

The valleys and forests of the district are home to the tribal folk and festivals that depict Orissa’s rich past. The natural landscapes and waterfalls are also a part of the prominent attractions of Keonjhar along with its variety of flora and fauna.

Keonjhar was a part of the Khijinga territory with its headquarters at Khijinga Kota. After it became the part of a separate state, Jyoti Bhanja ruled it until 12th century A.D. Earlier it comprised only the northern half of the modern district but after the 15th century, the southern part was taken over by King Govinda Bhanja.

After this, Pratap Balabhadra Bhanja came to power, during which two small areas of Tilo and Jujhpada were added to the state. Before its merger with Orissa, the district was a part of the princely states.

The city is full of the ruins of ancient monuments that belong to the period of princely states. Apart from this, Keonjhar also has many temples like Vishnu and Jagannath Temples along with the shrines of Siddhakali and Panchabati.

The 30.5 m high Sanghagara waterfall and 61 m high Badghahara waterfall are also popular attractions in the place. The list also includes the Khandadhar waterfall and the Ghagra Falls. Keonjhar is also an ideal destination to experience the eco-tourism of Orissa.

Lord Baladev Jew Temple, Lord Dadhibaman Jew Temple, Lord Sidha Jagannath Temple, Nilakantheswar Mahesh Temple, Balunkeswar Mahesh Temple are some of the oft-visited temples in Keonjhar. The city is also well known in Orissa for its Makar Mela, which is held in mid-January every year during the time of Makar Sankranti.