| Balasore | |
| Other Name: | Baleswar |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | India Odisha#India#Asia |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Odisha, India |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Odisha |
| Subdivision Name2: | Balasore |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Governing Body: | Balasore Municipality |
| Leader Title1: | Member of Parliament |
| Leader Name1: | Pratap Chandra Sarangi (BJP) |
| Leader Title2: | Member of Legislative Assembly |
| Leader Name2: | Swarup Kumar Das (BJD) |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 17.48 |
| Elevation M: | 16 |
| Population Total: | 144373 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Metro: | 177557 |
| Population Rank: | India 409th, Odisha 7th |
| Population Demonym: | Baleswaria |
| Demographics Type1: | Language |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Odia[2] |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 756001–756xxx |
| Area Code: | 06782 |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Registration Plate: | OD – 01 (previously OR – 01) |
| Blank Name Sec1: | UN/LOCODE |
| Blank Info Sec1: | IN BLS |
Balasore, also known as Baleswar,[3] is a city in the state of Odisha, about from the state capital Bhubaneswar and from Kolkata, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district and the largest city as well as health and educational hub of northern Odisha. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also called 'missile city'.[4] [5] The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme's Integrated Test Range is located 18 km south of Balasore.
Excavation at villages nearby by Balasore has given evidence for three distinct cultural phases of human settlements, viz., Chalcolithic (2000–1000 BCE), Iron Age (1000–400 BCE) and early historic period (400–200 BCE).[6]
Baleswara district was part of the ancient Kalinga kingdom which later became a territory of Utkal, till the death of Mukunda Deva. It was annexed by the Mughal Empire in 1568 and remained as a part of their suzerainty up until the 1700s.
The British East India Company (EIC) established a factory at Balasore in 1633. In 1719, the Trieste Company merchants established a trading post there.[7] As Calcutta rose in importance, Balasore became the center for river pilot services for vessels seeking to ascend the Hooghli River. The city was bombarded by forces of the East India Company during the Anglo-Mughal War in 1686 however the company was repulsed by the Mughal forces.
The old Pipili port was located near Baliapal north of Balasore along the coast near Subarnarekha.[8] The Portuguese arrived for trade and commerce, exporting Orissa products like rice, cotton and butter from Malaysia to Borneo, and bringing Chinese products and spices from Indonesia.
The Marathas then occupied this part of Odisha and it became a part of the dominion of the Bhonsle Maratha Rajas of Nagpur. They ceded this part through the Treaty of Deogaon in 1803 and it became a part of British Bengal Presidency until 1912.
Balasore as a separate district was created in October 1828 under the Bengal Presidency. On 7 November 1845, all of Danish India was sold to the British to form a part of British India.
With the creation of Bihar Province, Odisha, along with Balasore district, was transferred from Bengal to Bihar. But with the creation of Odisha as a separate state on 1 April 1936, Balasore became an integral part of Odisha State. The national movement of independence surged ahead with the visit of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Similarly Praja Andolan was initiated against the ruler of Nilagiri State. The state of Nilagiri merged with state of Odisha in January 1948 and became a part of Balasore district. On 3 April 1993, Bhadrak sub-division became a separate district and from this day Balasore remains a district of Odisha with two Sub-divisions namely Balasore and Nilagiri having eight Tehsils, namely Balasore, Soro, Simulia, Nilagiri, Jaleswara, Basta, Baliapal and Remuna and 12 blocks namely Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal, Basta, Balasore, Remuna, Nilagiri, Oupada, Khaira, Soro and Bahanaga. The name of the district is being derived from the name of the town.
Balasore is where the famous Indian independence activist Jatindranath Mukherjee, also known as Bagha Jatin, was injured and died fighting the British.[9]
Balasore, located in the Indian state of Odisha, has a tropical climate characterised by high humidity and hot temperatures throughout the year. The summers, which last from March to May, are particularly hot, with temperatures often reaching up to 40 °C. May is typically the hottest month of the year in Balasore.
The winter season, which runs from December to February, is relatively cooler with an average temperature range of 16 °C to 27 °C. This period is the most comfortable time to visit Balasore as the weather is relatively mild and pleasant.
Monsoon season starts in June and lasts until September, bringing heavy rainfall to the city. Balasore's proximity to the Bay of Bengal makes it vulnerable to cyclonic storms during the monsoon season. However, the city generally enjoys pleasant evenings with cool breeze most of the times, providing relief from the heat during the summer months.
Balasore is also known for its sand dunes, which are a common feature of the city. The region is often referred to as the "Sand City" due to the abundance of sand dunes . The average rainfall in the district is around 1568.4 mm, which is largely due to the monsoon season.
Overall, Balasore's climate can be challenging for visitors who are not used to hot and humid weather. However, the city's sand dunes, pleasant evenings, and relatively cooler winters make it an interesting destination to explore for those willing to brave the heat.
According to 2011 Indian Census, Balasore (municipality + overgrowth) had a total population of 144,373, of which 73,721 were males and 70,652 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 14,773. The total number of literates in Balasore was 113,418, which constituted 78.6% of the population with male literacy of 81.7% and female literacy of 75.3%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Balasore was 87.5%, of which male literacy rate was 91.0% and female literacy rate was 83.8%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 15,812 and 9,291 respectively. Balasore had 30460 households in 2011.[10]
The official language of Balasore is Odia which is also the most commonly spoken language of the city. It is followed by Bengali, Santali and Hindi in the descending order per the number of speakers.[11]
The MP from Balasore Parliamentary Constituency is Pratap Chandra Sarangi of BJP, who won the seat in the Indian general elections of 2019. The MLA from Balasore Vidhan Sabha Constituency is Swarup Kumar Das of BJD, who won the seat in the 2020 bye-elections. Previous MLAs from this seat were Madan Mohan Dutta (BJP), who won the seat in 2019, Jiban Pradip Das (BJD), who won this seat in 2009, Arun Dey (CPM) in 2004, Gopa Narayan Das of INC in 1985 and Kartik Chandra Rout of JNP in 1977.[12] Balasore is part of Balasore (Lok Sabha constituency).[13]
Balasore government hospital was the city's first hospital. Also, it has a newly established Government Medical College at Remuna named after Fakir Mohan Senapati (FM Medical College).[14]
Balasore is the main city in the District of Balasore. The district has four major revenue sources – industries, agriculture, fishing and tourism with its base in Chandipur.[15] Many small and large scale industries are located both within the city limits as well as the outskirts. Balasore Alloys Limited,[16] Emami Paper Mills,[17] Oriplast, and Birla Tyres are some of the major industries based in Balasore. It is one of the richest cities of Odisha. The main markets of Balasore are Nua Bazara, Motiganj, FM Square, Vivekananda Marga, Station Square, ITI Chhaka, Kachehri Road, Town Hall and Nua Shahi.
In an effort to bring industry, trade and commerce to a common meaningful platform, the Confederation of Indian Industry, with local chambers like North Orissa Chamber of Commerce and Industry,[18] serve as an interface to fight for the rights and issues concerning the industrial scenario so as to contribute to the development of the state as a whole. Members from both public and private sectors work closely with the government for the expansion of business opportunities, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness and to work on policy issues. Located in Januganj, Balasore, NOCCI is essentially a business park with a massive exhibition hall, a separate residential block with hotel and restaurant facilities and an extended building called the industry facilitation center[19] specifically for industrial training. NOCCI comprises about 100 member units and six affiliated associations of the industrial units. NOCCI is instrumental in the promoting the initiative of the Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India (GoI)[20] through a scheme of Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation.
The Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program's Integrated Test Range is located 18 km south of Balasore. The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed many different missiles such as Nag, BrahMos, Agni Missile among others here.
Balasore culture is a blend of traditional festivals, food, and music. The city offers a cosmopolitan and diverse lifestyle with a variety of food, entertainment, available in a form and abundance comparable to that in other cities.Balasore residents celebrate both Western and Indian festivals. Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Navaratri, Good Friday, Dussehra, Muharram, Ganesha Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Raja and Maha Shivaratri are some of the popular festivals in the city. The akhada Arts Festival during durga puja is a unique culture of Balasore. Wedding ceremony of Lac Coated Dolls (also known as Jaukandhei) which has a rich ethical and ritual values in maintaining peaceful conjugal relationship in the family while bringing the health, wealth and prosperity to an individual's home is an important part of Balasore's folk culture.
Chandipur-on-sea is a seaside resort famous for its mile long beach. It is a unique beach – the tide comes to the shore only four times a day, at fixed intervals. At a distance of 30 km south-west is Panchalingeshwar, a temple and scenic spot high on a mountain. The presiding deity there, Shiva, cannot be seen. One has to touch and feel the statue as it is behind (submerged under) a waterfall. About 33 km south-west of Balasore, the town Santaragadia has the Bisweswara temple situated on a hill. The town is surrounded by hills on all sides. Nearby is Khulia village, a settlement of aboriginals. Around 30 km south-east of Balasore is a port named Dhamara.
The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar which is 200 km from Balasore. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is 254 km from Balasore.
Balasore railway station is an important station on the Howrah-Chennai main line of the South Eastern Railway. The distance to Kolkata is approximately 254 km, while the distance to Bhubaneswar is about 206 km. A branch line to Baripada starts from Rupsa, near Balasore. Balasore is connected to different parts of India through trains. There are frequent trains to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Brahmapur, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Puri, Pondicherry, Ernakulam.
Balasore has well developed roadways. National Highway 16 and National Highway 18 pass through the city. A part of the Golden Quadrilateral project, this highway runs from Chennai to Kolkata. Intra-city transport comprises cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws. City bus services commenced in Balasore on 15 August 2017. The bus terminus is at Sahadev Khunta and thousands of private buses ply to hundreds of destinations every day. Many luxurious A.C buses ply to Bhubneswar, Kolkata and other nearby cities daily.
Balasore is the main education hub of Northern Odisha with many engineering schools and colleges and the Fakir Mohan University, named after novelist Fakir Mohan Senapati who hails from this town of Odisha. Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital was established in 2018 to boost the medical facility in Balasore and Northern Odisha.
Cricket is the most popular sport in the city. The city is also represented by the Balasore Baghas in the Odisha Premier League. Apart from cricket, people here love the game of football, volleyball and other sports.
It is a mini stadium located in front of District Hospital in the heart of the town known to host District and State level Cricket and Football matches. Many people come here for an early morning walk or doing yoga. This place has given birth to many sports personalities of Balasore. This place is maintained by Balasore Athletic Association.
It is a big ground belongs to the Balasore Police Department and maintained by them it used as a parade ground during various occasions. Many athletes come here for training purpose. General Public is allowed for morning walk.
It is a mini stadium which is situated near the Balasore Zilla School and is known to host various events such as Trade Fairs, District's Annual Fest and games like Cricket or Football. The stadium remains open for general public and is a popular spot for locals to engage in outdoor activities such as jogging, walking and playing cricket.
It is a very popular ground which is widely known for hosting mega events such as the famous EXPO and Pallishree Mela Balasore, which are popular events in the town. In addition to these events, ITI Field also plays host to several other government-sponsored events throughout the year. One of the standout features of ITI Field is its cleanliness and well-maintained appearance, which has helped to establish it as a go-to place for outdoor events in Balasore. With its versatile facilities and prime location, ITI Field is poised to continue as one of the town's most popular event venues for years to come.
Balasore has several cinemas playing films in Odia, Hindi, and English languages.