BARGARH HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

The Rice Bowl of Odisha and a Land of Ancient Culture

DISTRICT PROFILE

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Bargarh district lies between 20°20'0" North latitude and 83°37'15" East longitude. It is one of the prominent districts in the western part of Odisha and was formed as a separate district on 1st April 1993. It covers a total area of 5834 sq km.

NORTH

State of Chhattisgarh

EAST

Sambalpur District

SOUTH

Balangir & Subarnapur

WEST

Nuapada District

NATURAL DIVISIONS

Bargarh Plain
1

Bargarh Plain

Extending from the Barapahad hill range to the Mahanadi valley. The soil here is a mix of sand, gravel, and clay, which is excellent for paddy cultivation. It has good irrigation facilities and the villages are filled with mango orchards.

Borasambar
2

Borasambar (Padampur)

Located to the south-west of the Bargarh plain. It is surrounded by high hills and drained by the river 'Ang'. Its soil is enriched by hill streams, making it suitable for agriculture.

Ambabhona
3

Ambabhona & Lakhanpur

This region is surrounded by the Mahanadi tributaries 'Danta' and 'Jeera'. The Barapahad hill range lies to the north of this plain.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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11th Century: Baghar Kota

According to an 11th-century inscription, the original name of Bargarh was "Baghar Kota".

Chauhan Rule: Fort Construction

The Chauhan King of Sambalpur, Balaram Dev, made this place his headquarters for some time and built a massive fort for protection. It is believed that the name "Bargarh" originated from that time.

Zamindari System

Narayan Singh, the last Chauhan King, granted this place as 'Mafi' (tax-free land) to Krushna Dash and Narayan Dash, the two sons of Baluki Dash who was killed in battle against Gond rebels.

History of Borasambar

The headquarters of the Borasambar Zamindari was originally at Borasambar, which was later shifted to Padampur. These Zamindars belonged to the Binjhal family and were known as "Pat-Bariha".