Geography
Ganjam is located at 19.38°N 85.07°E in the Ganjam district of Odisha
with an elevation of 3 metres (9 feet). Ganjam's mineral-rich coast
line extends over 60 km.It provides opportunities for fishing and port
facility at Gopalpur for international trade. The rivers like
Rushikulya, Dhanei, Bahuda, Ghoda Hada are the source of agriculture
and power sectors of the town. Economic wise, Ganjam is a sub
industrial town. The Chilika Lake, which attracts tourists, is known
for its scenery and a bird sanctuary is situated in the eastern part
of district, near the City of Ganjam. Ganjam shares its boundary with
Andhra Pradesh.
A mix of moist peninsular high and low level Sal forests, tropical
moist and dry deciduous and tropical deciduous forest types provide a
wide range of forest products and unique lifestyle to wild life.
Bhairabi, which consists of 108 temples, is a place of worship and
destination for tourists. Taptapani, which consist of a hot sulphur
spring that is 56 km from Berhampur, near Ganjam, is also a tourist
destination. Tara Tarini Temple sits on Taratarini Hill near Angu.
Solaghar, Raipur is also a destination for tourists. Twin Goddess Tara
and Tarini are worshipped there. Rushikulya flows at the foot of the
Taratarini Hill. The temple of the Goddess Mahuri Kalua is near a
picnic spot by the same name located at the center of the town. It has
a railway station, Ganjam railway station, located along the
Howrah–Chennai main line.
Our History
Ganjam District derived its name from the word “Ganj–i–am” which means
the “Granary of world”. From other sources it also revels that Ganjam
District is named after the Old Township and European fort of Ganjam
situated on the northern bank of river Rushikulya, which was the
headquarter of the District.
The rock edicts of King Ashoka and the inscriptions clearly indicates
that the present tract of Ganjam was a part of the Kalinga Empire,
which was under the jurisdiction of King Ashoka. However after the
disappearances of the Mauryan empire and the downfall of their
absolute supremacy, the Ganjam region was also disappeared from the
political scenario of Odisha and was in a dark oblivion till in 1761,
it was recognised as The French Bussy.When the French arrived Ganjam
District was sub divided into several parts. But the French were not
destined to be at the helm of the administration of the Ganjam
District for long and shortly the English envaded the French
settlement in Deccan and finally became victorious in 1759. In 1794,
with the establishment of the Collector office, the historical era of
the British imperialism was set up in Ganjam.
From the historical documents of Ganjam District, it has been
deciphered that the headquarter of the District has undergone several
changes and has been shifted from one place to another. In 1855, the
original headquarter of Ganjam was abandoned owing to the eruption of
the epidemic fever in the town for which near about 80 percent of the
population of the town was reduced. Temporarily the capital was
shifted to Gopalpur and then to the Berhampur and finally to
Chhatrapur around 1902.
The District of Ganjam was far away from the Madras Presidency and the
British didn’t find it easy to control the administrative activities
far from Madras. Hence they merged it with Province of Odisha in 1936.
V.V.Giri, Biswanath Dash, Binayak Acharya, Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja,
Sasi Bhusan Rath, Kabi Suriya Baladev Rath, Kalinga Bira Biju Patnaik,
Raja Bahadur Ramchandra Mardraj Deo, Chakra Bisoyi and Padmasri
Bhagban Sahu are some of the prominent personalities of Ganjam
District.
Ganjam District has witnessed many historical events and monuments
from its past. Jaugada fort stands as the symbol of all the historical
heritage connected with the Rushikulya Valley civilisation.
Athagadapatna is the birth place of famous Odia poets Kabisurya
Baladev Rath and Kabi Jadumani Mahaptra.
Economy
The town has own international reputation for its cottage industries
and handicrafts. The main crafts are brass, appliqué, bamboo craft,
stone carving, wood carving, terracotta, textile toys etc. and
thousands of artisans are operating individually and through
co-operative societies. Cultivation is one of the major occupation in
the town, which has engaged approximately 75% of the total workers.
Livestock, forestry, fishing, mining, construction, trading and
transport are few of the work-related categories being the source of
income for another 25% of the workers. The major crops grown in the
district are paddy, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane and green vegetables.
The district has a prosperous live stock population and potentially is
very rich in inland and brackish water fisheries. The Chilika coastal
area and extended sea shore are the source of rich marine products
which serves for the production of like shells and salt..
