Sambalpur is a city and district located in the western part of Odisha, India. Known for its cultural heritage and historical significance, Sambalpur is famous for its traditional Sambalpuri sarees and textile industry. The district is also known for its rich handicrafts, including ikat weaving. Sambalpur is home to several natural attractions, such as the Hirakud Dam, one of the longest earthen dams in the world, and the Maa Samaleswari Temple, dedicated to the goddess Samaleswari, a prominent religious site. The district`s economy is primarily based on agriculture, particularly rice and paddy cultivation, along with industries related to power and mining. Sambalpur has a tropical climate with hot summers, a monsoon season, and mild winters. The city is well-connected by road and rail, making it an important commercial and administrative center in western Odisha.
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The Hirakud Dam, located across the Mahanadi River near Sambalpur in the state of Odisha, India, holds the distinction of being the longest earthen dam in the world. It is a significant achievement in India`s post-independence infrastructure development. The dam`s construction began in 1946, and the Hirakud Reservoir, which extends for 55 kilometers (34 miles), was created as a result of the project. The reservoir was designated as a Ramsar site on October 12, 2021, recognizing its importance for biodiversity conservation and water management.
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Maa Ghanteshwari temple is a temple located in Chiplima which is 30 km from Sambalpur city via NH 6 in Odisha, India as of now. A bridge is constructed (called Chaurpur bridge) at Mundoghat a strategically important place between Sambalpur and Chiplima. As of December 2018, it is fully functional. It has halved the distance between Maa Ghanteswari Temple and Sambalpur.
As the name suggests there are bells everywhere. People offer bells to the goddess Ghanteswari or the Deity of Bells, after fulfillment of their wishes. Many pilgrims from across the state visit the temple. It is known as the lighthouse without light, built by the early sailors, for whom the bells served as warning against heavy winds. The special significance of this place lies in the great number of small bells hanging all around.
Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Sambalpur, Odisha, India, dedicated to the goddess known as Samaleswari, also known among the natives as samalei maa, meaning Mother Samaleswari. Shree Shree Samaleswari, the revived presiding deity of Sambalpur, holds a profound religious significance across western Odisha and Chhattisgarh in India. Situated on the banks of the sacred Mahanadi River, Goddess Samaleswari has been worshipped since ancient times as Jagat Janani (Mother of the Universe), Durga, Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati, and Adishakti. After Lord Jagannath, she is the only deity in Odisha who presides over such a vast region, encompassing all of western Odisha, and extending into parts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
The region in which the temple is situated has a rich cultural heritage. Sambalpur region is popularly known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. Ptolemy has described the place as Sambalaka, according to French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier and English historian Edward Gibbon, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
