| Subarnapur district | |
| Other Name: | Sonepur |
| Nickname: | City of Temples & Crafts |
| Settlement Type: | District of Odisha |
| Coordinates: | 20.85°N 83.9°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Odisha |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Western Odisha |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | April 1st, 1993 |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Subarnapur |
| Leader Title: | Collector & District Magistrate |
| Leader Name: | Ms Anya Das,IAS |
| Leader Title2: | Superintendent of Police |
| Leader Name2: | Amaresh Panda, OPS |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 2,337 |
| Population Total: | 610,183 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Odia, English |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Local |
| Demographics1 Info2: | Sambalpuri |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 767 xxx |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | +91 665x |
| Registration Plate: | OD 31 |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Nearest city |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Balangir |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Sex ratio |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | 1000:966 ♂/♀ |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | Literacy |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | 64.07% |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | Lok Sabha constituency |
| Blank4 Info Sec1: | Bolangir |
| Blank5 Name Sec1: | Vidhan Sabha constituency |
| Blank5 Info Sec1: | 064-Birmaharajpur (SC) 065-Sonepur |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Climate |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | Aw (Köppen) |
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Precipitation |
| Blank2 Info Sec2: | 1443.5mm |
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Avg. annual temperature |
| Blank3 Info Sec2: | 30°C |
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Avg. summer temperature |
| Blank4 Info Sec2: | 45°C |
| Blank5 Name Sec2: | Avg. winter temperature |
| Blank5 Info Sec2: | 24°C |
Subarnapur District, also called Sonepur District or Sonapur District, is an administrative district in Odisha state in eastern India. The town of Sonpur is the district headquarters. Sonepur is known as the Mandiramalini town (city of temples) of Odisha with more than hundred temples. The people of the Sonepur region are referred to as Sonepuria. From ancient times, Sonepur is considered as a holy city.
In the 8th century CE, the region was known as Swarnapur and was rules by vassal lords of the Bhaumkaras of Tosali. The region was then ruled by the Somavamsis and eventually became one of two capitals of the Somavamsis. Around the 10th and 11th centuries, the region was called Pashima Lanka or Western Lanka.[1] The evidence for these names comes from a Somavamsi prince of the region called Kumara Someswaradeva who issued a copper plate charter in the late 10th century which identified him as the ruler of Paschima Lanka.[2] Historically, the presiding deity of the region was the goddess Lankeswari.[3] At some point during Somavamsi rule, the region was given its current name, Subarnapur. It was formally established as a district in 1993.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Subarnapur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[4]
According to the 2011 census, Subarnapur district has a population of 610,183,[5] roughly equal to the nation of Montenegro[6] or the US state of Vermont.[7] The district is the 512th most populous in India out of a total of 640.[5] The district has a population density of 260PD/sqkm.[5] Its population growth rate over the decade of 2001–2011 was 20.35%.[5] Subarnapur has a sex ratio of 959 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 74.42%.[5] 8.18% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 25.60% and 9.37% of the population respectively.[8] Hinduism is the predominant religion, practiced by 99.19% of the population.[9]
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 59.67% of the population in the district spoke Sambalpuri and 39.30% Odia as their first language.[10]
Subarnapur is home to a wide variety of cultural heritage, arts, and crafts. The Sonepur area specializes in textiles and terracotta, Tarbha and Binka produce brass metal works, Ullunda is home to a tradition of stone carving, and Dunguripali produces Paddy crafts.
Subarnapur is home to the poet and prophet Mahima Dharma. The district is also known for "Danda-nata", a religious folk tradition which is native to the area.[11]
See main article: Education in Subarnapur district.
This district is a part of Balangir Lok Sabha constituency. The MP of Balangir is Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo from the BJP.
See main article: List of constituencies of Odisha Vidhan Sabha. The following are the two Vidhan sabha constituencies[12] [13] of Subarnapur district and the elected members of each area.[14]
| No. | Constituency | Reservation | Extent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks) | Member of 17th Assembly | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | Birmajarajpur | SC | Ulunda, Birmaharajpur, Binka (NAC), Binika (part) | Raghunath Jagadala | BJP | |
| 65 | Sonepur | None | Sonepur, Tarabha, Tarabha (NAC), Sonepur (M), Dunguripali, Binka (part) | Niranjan Pujari | BJD |
Tulunda