Belaguntha
Bellaguntha is a town and a Notified Area Council (N.A.C.) in Odisha, India. Which was the main market of South Odisha in the time of British India. Bellaguntha is also known as Brass Fish Town though the place is world famous for Brass Fish inventions.
Bellaguntha | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Bellaguntha | |
| Nickname(s): BLG | |
  Bellaguntha Location in Odisha, India  Bellaguntha Bellaguntha (India) | |
| Coordinates: 19.88°N 84.65°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | .png.webp){kind=small} Odisha |
| District | Ganjam |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democratic |
| • Body | Bellaguntha NAC |
| • Member of Legislative Assembly | Purna Chandra Swain(BJD) |
| • Member of Parliament | Pramila Bisoyi(BJD) |
| Elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 11,297 [1] |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Odia |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 761119 |
| Telephone code | 06821 |
| Vehicle registration | OD-32/OD-07 |
| District | Ganjam |
| Block | Bellaguntha |
| Legislative Assembly Constituency | Surada |
| Parliament Constituency | Aska |
| Website | odisha |
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Bellaguntha had a population of 9961. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Bellaguntha has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
As per folklore here, Bellaguntha was a main market place for grocery and cattle in the Ganjam district. This place is famous for Brass Fish "Pitala Macha" in the world. Nrusinghanatha temple is one of the significant temples in this region that attracts thousands of pilgrims to get a darshan of Lord Lakshmi Nrusingh. One of the Bhanja Kings from Bhanja Dynasty had established the temple during 18th century.
Bellaguntha was the business destination for people. All grocery, corns, vegetables, etc. came from Boudh and Phulbani for selling. People purchase and resale/supply to Aska and Brahmapur. It was the business hub in the region. Bellaguntha itself famous for Art and culture with brass, silver, copper, and woodwork. The world famous Brass Fish are still the main attraction of the city. There was a tale about the brass fish. The brass fishes will swim in water for several minutes to entertain the king and queen. Bellaguntha is mainly well known for its Temples, Teachers and Tanks also known as "3T". There are more than twenty temples inside the town and more than twenty five tanks inside and outskirts of the town. Bellaguntha is also the education hub in the region.
Geography
Bellaguntha is located at 19.88°N 84.65°E.[4] It has an average elevation of 59 m (194 ft).
Culture
Among festivals, Thakurani Yatra, Ratha Yatra and Danda Jatra are three festivals that makes Bellaguntha the point of attraction.
Apart from this, Dola Purnima, Durga Puja (Dussehra), Kumar Purnima, Pana Sankranti, Nurshingha Chaturthi, Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Danda Yatra, Ganesh Puja and Saraswati Puja are the other important festivals. People with brotherhood celebrating all the festivals. The daily prasad bhog to god is very famous here. It is tender and very tasteful with a different divine smell.
Kabichandra Pati was a famous poet, who had written all danda yatra poems for different gods and goddesses.
Food
Bellaguntha is also famous for some special types of sweets and local foods. Famous sweets include:
- Halua
- Medavada
- Drake
- Puli
- Arissa
- Kakara
- Desi Manda
- Satapuri etc.
Some sweets are prepared for special festivals, such as Halua and Drakhya for Ratha Yatra and Satapuri for Satapuri Amabasya.
Transport
Being a business hub in the Ganjam district, it is perfectly connected with other major cities of Odisha such as BBSR and Berhampur.
- By rail: Berhampur is the nearer railway station which is about 80 km far from Bellaguntha town.
- By air: Biju Patnaik International Airport, BBSR is about 160 km far from town.
- By bus: As mentioned above it is properly connected by road with other cities of odisha. Bhanjanagar (Sub-div. of Ganjam dist.) is the main town in the vicinity. Buses connect the city to the rest of Odisha.
Famous places
Famous places in the area include:
- Sri LaxmiNrusingh Temple - an old temple of Odisha
- Sri Jagannath Temple - Dadhibaman temple
- Sri Balunkeswara Temple - a temple made of red rocks on the bank of a large pond
- Maa Bramhanadevi Temple - goddess temple in a bamboo forest
- Sri Baidyanath Temple - a temple at Nayakpada a few kilometres away from the town
- Anikata is near Jirol Village. There is a dam at the confluence of the Loharakhandi and Bada rivers, its main purpose was irrigation and flood protection
- Sagar - ten fishery ponds excavated by Bhanja kings
- Kumarsuni Hills
- Sri Chandra Kalpeswar temple at Sasan Street.
- Lachhaman Balaji temple - an old math of monks
- Biju Pattnaik children's Park
- Top ten coaching centre, Girisola
Climate and regional setting
Maximum summer temperature is 37 °C; minimum winter temperature is 14 °C. The mean daily temperature varies from 33 °C to 38 °C. May is the hottest month; December is the coldest. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm and the region receives monsoon and torrential rainfall from July to October.
| Climate data for Belaguntha, Odisha | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
29 (84) |
34 (93) |
36 (97) |
37 (99) |
34 (93) |
31 (88) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
29 (84) |
27 (81) |
31 (88) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
18 (64) |
22 (72) |
26 (79) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
22 (72) |
18 (64) |
14 (57) |
22 (72) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 15.50 (0.61) |
17.40 (0.69) |
21.70 (0.85) |
21.00 (0.83) |
40.30 (1.59) |
156.00 (6.14) |
310.00 (12.20) |
294.50 (11.59) |
204.00 (8.03) |
96.10 (3.78) |
30.00 (1.18) |
18.60 (0.73) |
1,225.1 (48.22) |
| Source: MSM Weather | |||||||||||||
Education
As it is known as the education hub to its nearer areas, many students come here to study from nearby villages. Some institutions are:
- Bellaguntha Junior Science College
- Bellaguntha Women's College
- Sai Industrial Training Institute (ITI)
- G.T. High School, Estd: 1948
- Girls' High School
- Saraswati Sishu Bidya Bhawan
- Swami Vivekananda Sisu Bidya Mandir
- Swami Vivekananda Play School
- Smile Play School
- Saraswati Sisu Bidya Manadir
- Sri Arabinda Purnanga Sikhya Kendra
- Balidi U.P School
- Mala sahi Prathamika Bidyalaya
- Patel Road U.P School
- Bhagabata Patana UP School
- Rangani Patana Prathamika Bidyalaya
- M.E School
- Takshila English Medium School
- Odisha Public School
- Smart Learning English Medium School
Also some tremendous coaching centres for the bright future of the students.
- SHARP EDUCATION [CLASS 5 to 10][Odia Medium]
- DAS COACHING CENTRE [CLASS 5 to 10][Odia Medium]
- BRIGHT EDUCATION [CLASS 3 to 10][Odia Medium]
- LITTLE STAR [CLASS 1 to 10][Odia Medium]
- ITCT [Computer Training Centre]
References
- "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having Census 2011-2020 in Orissa". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having Census 2011-2020 in Orissa". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Belaguntha