Damanjodi

Damanjodi
Industrial Town Damanjodi
Damanjodi Location in Odisha, India Damanjodi Damanjodi (India)
Coordinates: 18.82°N 82.72°E / 18.82; 82.72
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Koraput
Population  (2001)
• Total	8,469
Languages
• Official	Odia
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	OD 10
Website	odisha.gov.in

Damanjodi is a town located in the Koraput district of the Indian state of Odisha. Located in the hilly region over the scenic Eastern Ghats, the city has a sparse population. The town was born as a residential area for employees of NALCO, which was established to harness the rich bauxite deposits of the Panchatmali Range. Today, Damanjodi contains the NALCO Township, a residential area for employees of the firm, Mathalput, a semi-urban neighborhood with shops, and Bhejaput, a shopping complex. The population is considered cosmopolitan in nature with employees from all over India, locals from the tribal region, and tourists on business.

Geography

Damanjodi is located on the foothills of the Panchapatmali mountain range, providing a scenic view of the valleys of the Eastern Ghats. The town is lush with greenery and a wide array of flora and fauna. The soil is rich with bauxite and has a reddish appearance which contributes to the mountain type shrubs and trees. Locals can experience a range of weather conditions over the year. Though the climate is best suited from November to February for tourism, one can still plan a trip in any part of the year aside from the heavy rainfall season. The topography is mountainous, though lakes, streams, waterfalls and rocky hills allow for ample sights for dwellers and visitors. In addition, the river Kerandi flows near the area, serving as a source of clean water for the residents.

Locals have multiple cropping seasons over the year, with the agrarian community producing rice, millets, vegetables, and mustard.

Nalco Township

The heart of Damanjodi is the Nalco township, comprising of three sectors and one tertiary duplex sector. These sectors contain housing quarters for the employees of the firm. Facilities include a systematic water supply and treatment plant, NALCO's uninterrupted captive power supply, a hospital, banks with networked ATMs, three large co-operative stores, two market complexes, clubs, community centers, temples, a church, and a Mosque. In addition, the firm has some tertiary colonies around the township limits for displaced persons of the complex. Parks, avenues, walking tracks, gardens, plantations, and waterfalls are located within the community for the enjoyment of its residents.

Demographics

As per the 2001 Indian census, Damanjodi has a population of 8475. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Damanjodi has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 85% while female literacy is 81%. In Damanjodi, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religious Attractions

Damanjodi has a cosmopolitan culture and has been influenced by major religions. The township has a number of temples, a church and a mosque as places of religious importance.

Shri Jagannath Temple

Situated at the top of a hillock, Shri Jagannath Temple is a major temple complex for locals and tourists alike. The complex also includes the Mausi Maa Temple, which serves as the center of attention during the annual Rath Yatra festival. All major annual festivals and occasions are celebrated in the temple in accordance with the Shrimandir at Puri.

Maa Kantabausini Temple

Located near one of the main entrance gates of the township, the Maa Kantabausini Temple is a major tourist location for the people around Odisha. The presiding deity of Damanjodi Maa Kantabaunsini dwells in the natural sacred grove of bamboo trees.

Shri Shiridi Sai Baba Temple

The town's newest temple comprises of the Dwarka Mayi and Shiridi Temple. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape, the temple hosts all major festivals and rituals in accordance with the Sai Baba temple at Shiridi.

Shri Hanuman temple

The Shri Hanuman temple is the major place for all devotees around India to come visit with it's beautifully constructed 108 ft tall statue of Lord Hanuman. The complex also includes a temple with a astadhatu idol of Lord Hanuman. One can easily get a glimpse of Lord Hanuman from any part of the town.

Shri Satya Sai Baba Temple

Located at the foothills near Sabari Lake, the temple is a place of worship for all devotees. All major festivals are celebrated with incredible pomp and show.

Union Church

Created for the Christian community, Union Church is situated over a small hillock near the Ambedkar Stadium and serves as a religious center for the community.

Damanjodi Mosque

The Damanjodi Mosque is situated inside a small complex located in the township and serves as an example of the Muslim style and architecture. Prayers and all major festivals are celebrated in the mosque and it hosts a large gathering during the Ramzan month for the people of Muslim Community.

Places to Visit

Sabari Lake

One of the most visited places in the town, the artificial lake was originally created by NALCO for water disposal. It consists of walkways, viewpoints, gardens, sculptures and large lawn covers. The newly constructed artificial waterfall, Sudarshan Jhara, adds to the charm of the place. During winters, the lake becomes the hub of the town for picnics and leisure.

Biju Patnaik Park

One of the oldest parks in the town, the complex is close to Sabari Lake and marks its presence with a Biju Patnaik statue near its entrance. The park has lawns, floral gardens and an area devoted to children. The park also features a sector dedicated to science enthusiasts demonstrating models of scientific interest.

Nehru Sishu Udyan

A park mainly dedicated to the children, it has a large rose garden in its boundary and along with a walkway and play area for children.

Saraswati Sishu Udyan

Considered one of the busiest parks in the town and located in Saraswati Vihar, the park serves as a central area for children to play.

The NALCO Club

Serving as a place for employees and children to spend time, the club contains a canteen, swimming pool, badminton court, tennis court, skating ground, indoor games section (table tennis, carom, chess, billiards), gymnasium and book center. All major festivals are celebrated in the club's multipurpose hall including major competitions and events organised by the firm.

Nalco Community Center

A major place of public gathering in the town, the complex hosts all the major trade fairs around the year. In addition, major festivals are celebrated in the center along with competitions and events organised by the town authorities.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Stadium

The town's largest and most important stadium, it hosts all the major sporting events, including the annual Ravan Podi festival which is known as the largest gathering in the town.

Open Air Pendal

The town's amphitheater consists of a large indoor hall with ample seating and becomes the heart of the area during the annual Panchatmali Natya Mahotsav festival.

Education

The Saraswati Vidya Mandir and Delhi Public School are the two main schools within the township, providing education to most of the locals. Both institutions were set up with the help of NALCO, and provide students with a state-of-the-art education amenities.

In addition, the Sri Aurobindo Study Circle, Alumina Girls High School, and Malushanta High School, located outside the core township, serve as an alternative schooling option for the locals.

Healthcare

NALCO has a state-of-the-art hospital complex in the town to cater to the firm's employees and their family members. The complex consists of a well equipped indoor ward and outdoor ward along with an Occupational Health Centre for regular checkups and pharmacy. The Government Health facility complex is located near Mathalput and serves as the main hospital for the local people.

Transportation

Damanjodi is well connected by roads. The National Highway 26 (Visakhapatnam-Raipur) is 9 km away and connected through a service road. The District Headquarters of Koraput is 36 km away while Jeypore is 52 km away from the town. Nearby towns like Semilguda and Sunabeda are 9 km and 11 km away respectively. City bus service by the Odisha Government allows for daily service to all major towns.

The rail network includes the Koraput-Rayagada Rail link which passes through the Damanjodi railway station, connecting the town to the major East Coast Railway Division. The Railway service includes a number of trains connecting the town to Rayagada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Behrampur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Jeypore, Koraput, Raipur, Howrah, and Jagdalpur.

The public transport includes bus service to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagram, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Jagdalpur, Durg, Raipur, Bhilai, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Baragarh, Nayagarh, and Anugul.

Private cab and shared taxi services are also available from Damanjodi to all major locations across Odisha and nearby cities like Visakhapatanam, Vizianagram, Jagdalpur and Raipur. Services are also available for sightseeing and tourism around Koraput.

Air connectivity to Damanjodi is mainly through chartered helicopters by VIPs, VVIPs and security forces. Vishakapatanam International Airport (200 km away) is the nearest airport used by locals for scheduled domestic flights. Jeypore airstrip which is 54 km away is soon developing as a major air connectivity platform through the UDAN scheme.

External links

• Koraput travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Local Business and Service Providers in Damanjodi