Phulbani is a municipality and administrative headquarters of

Kandhamal district Kandhamal district also known as Phulbani district is a district in the state of Odisha, India. The District headquarters is the city of Phulbani. It is a district full with natural beauties includes wild animals and birds. Kandhamal is famous ...

in the state of

Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Geography

Phulbani is located at . It has an average elevation of 485 metres (1591 feet). It is located 211 km from

Bhubaneshwar Bhubaneswar () is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. It is located in the Khordha district. The suburban region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Chakra Khetra'' and ''Ekamra Khetra'' ( ...

, the

capital Capital and its variations may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** Capital region, a metropolitan region containing the capital ** List of national capitals * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Econom ...

and 165 km from

Berhampur Berhampur (; also known as Brahmapur) is a city on the eastern coastline of Odisha, India. Known as the "Silk City" it is the headquarter of Ganjam district, Ganjam district and home to Odisha's one of the major and the oldest railway station ...

, the major city of South Odisha. Nearest railway station is

Rairakhol Redhakhol or Rairakhol is a town and a Notified Area Council in Sambalpur district in the Indian state of Odisha. Redhakhol town, which is the Sub-Divisional headquarter of Rairakhol Sub-division surrounded by a green belt of reserve forest, ...

around 100 km from here. The region around Phulbani has a variety of

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

and

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

. It is a place surrounded by hills and has a lot of small and big waterfalls around it. Katramal Waterfall, the most spectacular of the lot is situated at a distance of about 31 km from Phulbani. Putudi Waterfall, a hot spot among the local people is situated at a distance of about 18 km from Phulbani. Pakdajhar waterfall is situated at a distance of about 3–5 km from Sudrukumpa, a small village which is situated about 19 km from the main city of Phulbani. Last but not the least, there is Urmagarh waterfall, which is close to 21 km from Phulbani. Phulbani is surrounded by River Salunki.

Climate

Demographics

India

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

, Phulbani had a population of 37,371, with 53% males and 47% females. Phulbani has an average literacy rate of 76%, marginally higher than the national average of 74.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 68%. In Phulbani, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Overview

Phulbani once associated with its virgin forests and peaceful tribal people. Major landmarks in Phulbani are Jagannath Temple, Madikunda Chaka, Govt. College, FCI, Stadium, Govt. Hospital (Medical), Collecterate office and Gopabandhu field (Coronation ground) for hosting annual events. Phulbani also has a Barrack for Odisha Reserve Police near river salunki. In 2012 there was a speculation of phulbani town name being changed to Boudh-kandhamal and that was even confirmed by district administrative magistrate. This created a feeling of resentment among the phulbani peoples. Although it is claimed that name of Phulbani was changed to ‘Boudh-Kandhamal' according to public demand, residents of Kandhamal district say they are ignorant about this demand and do not know who made this demand. Even reports were out, of peoples planning to throw huge protests if name was to be changed.

Economy

Phulbani also has a Farm for research activities of Odisha

horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

and research on silk moths. The farm hosts a varied collection of

Guava Guava ( ), also known as the 'guava-pear', is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava '' Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), nativ ...

Plants found rarely elsewhere. It is famous for the production of good quality turmeric. River Pila Salunki is heart of this regions agriculture, but due to lack of water this region has never been a success with agriculture. Mostly the economy is centered on wild plants and herbs. In the last major flood was in 1981. The dam a pilasalunki has been successful in arresting sudden gauss of rain water in rainy season. The dam at pilasalunki is also a great place for picnics.

Education

The town has a Government college for intermediate, under graduate and post graduate studies. Some of the well known schools AJO High School (Estd.: 1904), Govt. Girls High School, Police High School, Sri Satya Sai High School, Public School (English Medium), Kendriya Vidyalaya, Carmel English Medium School, Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandira and Sri Aurobindo Integral Education & Research Centre. Carmel school is founded by Carmelite sisters of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

. Phulbani's oldest school AJO (Alfred James Olenbatch) High school was a jail for central Odisha region during the British rule and was converted to a school soon after India got independent. Recently, Kendriya Vidyalaya has availed the full-fledged building of its own made near Narayani temple and has facility for accommodating 12 standard students as well. The results of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kandhamal in recent standard 10th & 12th exam has set up new bench mark with students securing good marks. Technical Institutions Available:- 1. Govt. I.T.I, Phulnbani Intake Capacity of Courses 2. Govt. Polytechnic, Phulabani (http://gpkandhamal.pe.hu/) Intake Capacity of Courses 3. Biju Patnaik Institute of Technology (BPIT), Phulbani (http://www.bpitphulbani.ac.in/) Intake Capacity of Courses RabanaPodi PLB

Politics

Phulbani is part of

Kandhamal (Lok Sabha constituency) Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha state in eastern India. This constituency came into existence in 2008, following the implementation of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies based on t ...

. Current MLA from Phulbani (ST) Assembly Constituency is Sri. Angad Kanhar of BJD, who won the seat in State elections in 2019. Other previous MLAs from this seat were Mr. Debendra Kanhar in 2009 Mr. Padmanabha Behera in 1990 and 2004, Bishnu Priya Behera who won this seat representing BJD in 2000, independent candidate Dasarathi Behera in 1995, Abhimanyu Behera of INC in 1985, Chandra Sekhar Behera of INC(I) in 1980 and Prahallad Behera of JNP in 1977.

References

{{Authority control Cities and towns in Kandhamal district