Udala
ଉଦଳା | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Clockwise from Top: Sub-divisional head office, Sub-divisional Judicial Office, Sub-divisional Medical, Devkund waterfall, Kalo Dam | |
  Udala Location in Odisha, India  Udala Udala (India) | |
| Coordinates: 21°34′N 86°34′E / 21.57°N 86.57°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Odisha |
| District | Mayurbhanj |
| Established | 1950[1] |
| Named for | Udalaka |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality Government |
| • Body | Municipality |
| • Chairperson | Pramila Panda (BJP) |
| • Executive officer | Bidyadhar Dandapat |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.89 km2 (3.05 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 57 m (187 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 13,152 |
| • Density | 1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi) |
| Language | |
| • Official | Odia and English |
| • Local | Santali, Ho, Bhumij, Bengali |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 757041 |
| Vehicle registration | OD 11x-xxxx (formerly OR 11x-xxxx) |
| Website | www |
Udala is a town and headquarter of Kaptipada subdivision of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. It is also a NAC of Mayurbhanj district.
Etymology
The name 'Udala' is believed to have been derived from the sage Uddalaka, whose adherents used to practice religious asceticism adjacent to the Sono river.
History
Udala was historically a small village within the Taldandi pir of Kaptipada estate. The estate was restructured as a subdivision of the Mayurbhanj district in 1950, with the administrative center being relocated from Kaptipada to Udala, the approximate center of the subdivision after Independence of India.[2] It was grownup into a town and declared Notified Area Council (NAC) in 1973, covering an area of 7.89 square kilometers by composing six villages: Udala, Mendhakhai, Jantrida, Nagbani, Jirida, and Jagannathi, organized into 12 wards.[3][4]
Geography
Udala is located at 21°34′N 86°34′E / 21.57°N 86.57°E.[5] It has an average elevation of 57 metres (187 feet). The place is situated about 45 km from Baripada the district headquarters of Mayurbhanj. This is situated near the great waterfalls of Similipal.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7,136 | — |
| 1991 | 11,289 | +58.2% |
| 2001 | 11,712 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 13,152 | +12.3% |
| Source: Census of India[6] | ||
According to the 1931 census, Udala town area was a part of the Taldandi territory, which encompassed an area of 12.31 square miles (31.9 km2), including present-day Badbisol, Badgudugudia, and Bhimtali panchayat. It was home to 5,603 people residing in 1,038 households across 18 villages. Out of the total population, there were 3208 Odia speakers, 1869 Santali speakers, 253 Bhumij speakers, 121 Ho and Bengali speakers each, 23 Urdu speakers, 6 Karmali speakers, and 2 Hindi speakers. Religiously, the population was predominantly Hindu, with the exception of 23 individuals who identified as Muslim.
As of 2011 Census of India, Udala Notified Area Council (NAC) is the smallest town in terms of population and area within the Mayurbhanj district, with a total population of 13,152 and an area of 7.89 square kilometers. The population density is 1667 people per square kilometer, and the gender ratio is 963 females for every 1,000 males. The population comprises 7.49% Scheduled Castes and 25.11% Scheduled Tribes, while the remaining 67.4%, belongs to other communities. The literacy rate is 87.79%, with a modest gender gap in literacy of 8.8%. The workforce participation rate stands at 37.86%, with 77.81% as main workers and 22.19% as marginal workers.
Communication
Udala town utilizes both print and digital media to disseminate state or country updates, while the tribal-dominated rural areas of Kaptipada subdivision rely on Radio Baghajatin Station, a community radio in Udala, for local news and cultural discussions.[8] The radio station plays a significant role in these remote regions, complemented by broader information from the All India Radio Station based in Baripada, the district headquarters.
Places of interest
Devkund: Devkund is a scenic spot, found at a distance of 65 km from Baripada and 110 km from Balasore. This place is a tourist attraction, owing to its waterfalls and natural environment. Perched on a hill, Maa Ambika Temple is a shrine of Devkund.[9]
Samibrukhya: Samibrukhya is a single vertical stone which is also a major tourist attraction. The size of the vertical stone is around 500ft. It is the place where Pandavas kept their weapons during their exile according to Mahabharata. A big festival is organised during Makara Sankranti.[10]
Jhinkeswar Temple: Jhinkeswar temple is an abode of Lord Shiva. It is a place for the Udbhaba Linga (where the linga has appeared from the ground), so the sanctum of the temple is below the ground level. There is a small pond attached to the temple and an old and deep well located in the premise of the temple. Jhinkeswar Shiva temple was built by Sadashiva Kar many years ago. Every year on Shivaratri the Jagara Yatra is conducted in the village jhinkpada. Merchants from far away places gather here to sell their commodities. This Yatra is conducted for about 15 days.
Mouda Temple: Mouda temple is a Shiva temple located on the top of the Mouda hill located near Radho. Every year on Shivaratri the hill is decorated with lights and offerings are made to Lord Shiva by the people.
Tarini Temple: This Tarini temple is located atop a small hilltop in Udala.
Kalo and Sunei: These are irrigation project dams and located in Kaptipada. These are popular places for picnicking and boating. Currently boating facilities available only in Kalo dam.
Politics
Udala Town is part of the Udala Assembly Constituency and the Mayurbhanj Parliament Constituency in Odisha.[11] The current member of the legislative assembly (MLA) from Udala Assembly Constituency is Bhaskar Madhei of BJP. He won election in 2004 and 2000. The previous MLA from this seat was Srinath Soren of BJD, who won the seat in state elections in 2014. Rabaneswar Madhei who won this seat represented INC in 1995 and 1985 and represented INC(I) in 1980, Rohidas Soren of JD in 1990, and Birbhadra Singh of JNP in 1977.[12]
Notable people
Tattwa Prakash Satapathy, an Odia actor, music director, and standup comedian born in Nuasahi village of Kaptipada.
References
- ↑ The Modern Review. Prabasi Press Private, Limited. 1986. p. 212.
- ↑ Vision: Journal of the Institute of Economic & Social Studies. The Institute. 1993. p. 33.
- ↑ Taradatt, Dr; Basa, Kishor K (eds.). Odisha District Gazetteer (Mayurbhanj) (PDF). Gopabandhu Academy of Administration [Gazetters Unit], General Administration Department Government Of Odisha. pp. 265–267. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 May 2021.
- ↑ "NAC Udala: Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties". RTI Odisha.
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Udala
- ↑ "Population growth of ULBs in Orissa (1901 –2001)" (PDF). The Regional Centre for Urban & Environmental Studies (RCUES). Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ↑ "Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha". Census of India, 2011. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ↑ "ଏଣିକି ରେଡିଓରେ ଶୁଣାଯିବ ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜର କଳା, ସଂସ୍କୃତି: ଉଦଘାଟିତ ହେଲା ୮୯.୬ ରେଡିଓ ବାଘାଯତୀନ". Odisha Sambad. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ↑ "Devkund | Mayurbhanj District, Government of Odisha | India". Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ↑ Nayak, Sarat Chandra (September–October 2022). "Samibruksha : A Historical Analysis" (PDF). Orissa Review: 31–32. ISSN 0970-8669.
- ↑ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Odisha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ↑ "State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparison for 10-Udala Constituency of Odisha". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 20 September 2008.