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About Kalahandi

Kalahandi located in the south west part of the state of Odisha is famed for its natural beauty that includes flora and fauna of the region. This particular region is rich in terms of crafts and arts. The climate in this region is mostly dry. The hills and mountains surrounding this region give it a scenic beauty. Agriculture is one of the main occupations of the people living here. Kalahandia is the local language spoken by the people of this region which is a dialect of the Oriya language. This particular region is rich in terms of festivals and culture. Some of the popular festivals celebrated in this region include Dasara, Deepawali, Shivaratri, Holi, Janmastami, etc. This place is dotted with number of tourist destinations which attracts a great number of visitors to the city throughout the year. Along with the scenic beauty and rich culture, this place has become one amongst the various popular tourist destinations in the state of Odisha.

Brief History of Kalahandi

The region of Kalahandi has a glorious past and is of great historical significance. The history of this region has had a great contribution towards the Indian culture and the temple architecture. Various archaeological studies conducted in this region reveal the presence of the primates. The Tel river civilization which is recently getting explored has put a light towards a well civilized, cultured, urbanized people inhabiting in this very land over 2000 years ago. Kalahandi was a part of Kantara which is referred in Ramayana and Mahabharata. During the 4th century B.C. this particular area was known as Indravana where diamond and gem stones were collected for the Maurya treasury. Kalahandi was previously a part of South Kosal state which later became a part of Kalinga – Utkala Empire of Odisha. Read More...............

Geography of Kalahandi

Informations on KalahandiKalahandi lies at 20.083°N latitude and 83.2°E longitude. It occupies the south west part of the state of Odisha and is bordered by Balangir, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Boudh district. The total area of the Kalahandi district is about 8,364.89 square kilometers which ranks 7th in terms of area amongst the 30 district of the state of Odisha. The two sub divisions of Kalahandi district is Bhawanipatna and Dharamgarh. The main river flowing through this region is the Tel River. This region is mostly consists of plain land, mountains and hills. Being one third of the district covered by dense forests, the main occupation of the people here has become agriculture. Graphite and Bauxite deposits are commercially exploited in this region. Read More.................


Art and Culture in Kalahandi

The word Kalahandi literally means ‘pot of arts’. Kalahandi region is quite famous for the cultural artifacts found here. This particular name has been derived from the “Gudahandi Caves” which contains pre historic paintings of black and red colors. Kalahandi is rich in terms of craft and art. Precious stones from this region are popularly known for making jewelleries. The wood craft found here is quite famous for export and also in the domestic market. The mixture and variation of culture found in this region makes Kalahandi rich in its culture and festivals. The majority of people in this region are Hindus with a small minority following other religions. The culture tradition and language of the residents in the plain land are quite different from the people living in the hilly region. Read More.........

Tourist Places in Kalahandi

Tourist Places in KalahandiKalahandi is famous for the various tourist destinations which brings a huge amount of visitors to this region throughout the year. The hills and mountains surrounding this region give it a scenic beauty. Along with the beautiful atmosphere and climate here, which makes it a favorable tourist destination, there are also many tourist place found throughout the district of Kalahandi. Dokrichanchra near Kalhandi is famous for its Waterfall and scenic beauty. Some of the other famous tourist destinations here include the Manikeshwari Temple, Royal Palace, Thuamul Rampur, Asurgarh, Phurli Jharna, Chhatar Jatra, Karlapat, Permanji, Rabandarh and much more. Read More.........................

Festivals in Kalahandi

The major festivals celebrated are Dusshera, Deepawali, etc. During Dusshera or Durga Puja, goddess Durga is worshipped who is also known as Shakti. Most of the other Goddesses in the tribal region are inspired by this goddess and some of major goddess in Kalahandi includes Manikeswari, Denteswari, Lankeswari, Khameswari, Bhandargharen etc. Apart from Deepawali and Dusshera which are majorly celebrated throughout the country, the other important festivals celebrated in this region includes Rathajatra, Shivaratri, Holi, Ramnabami, Janmastami, Chhatar Jatra, Budharaja Jatra, Kandabasha, etc.

Transportation in Kalahandi

Kalahandi has a well maintained network of road and rail network. Two national highways that are NH 26 and NH 27 pass through Kalahandi. There are also luxury night buses available to the major cities including Bhubaneshwar, Raipur, Sambalpur, etc. Kesinga is the main geteway for Kalahandi in terms of rail connectivity which is linked directly to the major cities of India. The nearest airport to Kalahandi is located in Raipur which is about 200 to 250 km far away and daily flights to all the major cities are available from this airport. Read More.................

Shopping in Kalahandi

Shopping in Kalahandi

Kalahandi does not fall short of things when it comes to shopping. Since this region is famous for art and craft, there are a large number of handicrafts available here. Some of the handicrafts sold here include handmade jewelleries, hand painted wall hangings, pots, etc. Even textiles like the Habasipuri pattern handloom sarees are quite popular here. The various gems and precious stones available in Kalahandi make the jewellery here unique and exquisite. These jewelleries and handicrafts are a major attraction for the tourists who visit here. There are many local bazaars and markets spread throughout the city from where people can buy the various handicrafts and other shopping items. There are also many local stalls spread along the streets of the city in Kalahandi. Read More..............

Kalahandi at a glance

Country: India
State: Odisha
District: Kalahandi
Languages spoken: Kalahandia, Oriya, Hindi
Altitude: 183 meters above sea level
Winter Temperature: 80°C to 60°C
Summer Temperature: 33°C to 45°C
Location: 20.083°N 83.2°E
PIN: 766XXX


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