Damanjodi
| Damanjodi | |
|---|---|
|
Industrial Town  Damanjodi | |
  Damanjodi Location in Odisha, India  Damanjodi Damanjodi (India) | |
| Coordinates: 18°49′N 82°43′E / 18.82°N 82.72°ECoordinates: 18°49′N 82°43′E / 18.82°N 82.72°E | |
| Country |
 |
| State | Odisha |
| District | Koraput |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 8,469 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Odia |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | OD 10 |
| Website |
odisha |
Damanjodi is an industrial town in the Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is primarily a hilly region with a sparse population. Evolution of this place was to aid a residential area for the employees of NALCO. National Aluminium Company (NALCO) is a Navaratna PSU of Government of India, which is Asia's largest and the world's seventh largest producer of aluminium. The population is cosmopolitan as the employees come from all parts of the country.
Geography
Damanjodi is located on the foothills of the "Panchapatmali" range providing a scenic view of the beautiful valleys of Eastern Ghats. The place is well surrounded by green cover with a galore of flora and fauna which provides the beautiful experience of the so called hill station. Though the climate is best suited during November to February for visits to experience this heavenly place, one can still plan a travel in any part of the year and still have refreshing experience.One can even experience all forms of the climate considerably rain, sunshine or fog at one stretch making it a very fickle climate for the people. The place is mainly inhabited by the people working at the Nalco Complex aided by the nearby people with shops to fulfill the needs of the inhabitants. One can have a great sight seeing with beautiful parks, gardens, visit points, waterfalls throughout the streets of Damanjodi.
NALCO
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is Asia's largest integrated aluminium complex, encompassing bauxite mining (known as the Panchapatmali mines), alumina refining, aluminium smelting and casting, power generation, rail . "Panchpatmali" has a reserve of bauxite ore for about 60 years for the continuous production of alumina, and then aluminium. However, those estimations were based on an annual extraction of 480,000 tons of bauxite from the mines.
Nalco Township
Damanjodi is name of NALCO Township made up of four sectors. These sectors comprise housing quarters laid out in well-planned lanes and streets. Facilities include a well-developed water supply and treatment plant, NALCO's uninterrupted captive power supply, hospital, banks with networked ATMs, three large co-operative stores, two market complexes, clubs, community centers, Temples, a Church and a Mosque. There are a number of hotels in and around the town. NALCO has two guest houses for visitors.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[1] Damanjodi had a population of 8475. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Damanjodi has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85% and, female literacy is 81%. In Damanjodi, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Places of religious importance
Damanjodi with a cosmopolitan culture is influenced by all major religious scenario. The Township has a number of temples, a church and a mosque as places of religious importance.
Shri Jagannath Temple is situated at the top a hillock which is the major temple complex for the people. All major deities and temples present inside the temple complex. The complex also includes a Mausi Maa Temple situated inside the township and is the centre of attraction during the annual rathyatra festival. All major annual festivals and occasions are celebrated in the temple in accordance with the Shrimandir at Puri.
Maa Kantabausini Temple is situated near one of the main entrance gate of the township. The presiding deity of Damanjodi Maa Kantabaunsini dwells in the beautiful Natural sacred Groove of Bamboo trees. It is a major tourist location for the people around Odisha and one always has this in his bucket list of sightseeing.
Shri Shiridi Sai Baba Temple is a newly constituted temple complex comprising Dwarka Mayi and Shiridi Temple. The majestic temple is one of its kind all around India with a beautiful landscape. Thursdays are the busiest days inside the temples while one can always find a time to seek the blessings of Sai Baba in this heavenly abode.All major festivals and rituals are celebrated in accordance with the Sai Baba temple at Shiridi.
Shri Hanuman temple has been the major place for all the devotees in and around India with the beautifully constructed majestic 108 ft 9 inch is only statue height from foot to top, but with reference to Vijayawada(Partiala) it will be the 144 ft height of Lord Hanuman which namely is the second largest in the world. The complex also includes a temple with a astadhatu idol of Lord Hanuman. One can easily get a glimpse of Lord Hanuman from any part of the town.The beautifully decorated complex is a major evening outing for the people.
Shri Satya Sai Baba Temple is one of the temples located at the foothills near Sabari Lake which is major place of worship for all the devotees. All major festivals are celebrated with pomp and show.
Union Church is the major religious centre for all the people of the Christian community inside the township. Sunday prayers are the major gathering here. The beautifully constructed Church stands tall over a small hillock.
Damanjodi Mosque is situated inside a small complex located in the township.The mosque is a pure example of the Muslim style and architecture. Prayers and all major festivals are celebrated in the mosque. It is a major centre of gathering during the Ramzan month for the people of Muslim Community.
Major places of religious gathering also include a number of Astaprahari complex located in sector 1, 2 and 3 which are celebration centres at different parts of the year. Puja Mandaps are also being constructed around the township to celebrate major Puja including Saraswati puja, Ganesh puja, Lakshmi puja, Durga Puja etc.
While the former are present inside the temple, there two major temples located around Damanjodi: Radha Krishna temple, situated at mathalput and Shiv temple in Bhejaput.
Places to hang out
Damanjodi for its placement is scenically being embraced in the nature lap.One can discover a heavenly scene while hanging out around the place.
Sabari Lake is the most visited place in the town. The complex generally is surrounding a artificial lake created by Nalco for water disposal. It consists of walkways, viewpoints, gardens, floral collections, sculptures and large lawn covers.The newly constructed Sudarshan Jhara which is artificial waterfall adds to the charm of this place.Evenings are the best time to hangout in this place.It becomes the hub of the town during peak picnic periods during the winters.
Biju Patnaik Park is one of the oldest parks in the town.The beautiful park is located close to Sabari Lake and marks its presence with a Biju Patnaik statue near its entrance lane.The park has well laid out lawns, floral gardens and a children play section.The park also has a part dedicated to science enthusiasts demonstrating models of scientific interest.
Nehru Sishu Udyan is a park located in the town mainly dedicated to the children.It has large rose garden in its boundary and children play section around.Walkways are made around the park for the visitors.
Netaji Park is located in one the major corner of the town.It is also dedicated to the people with well laid out gardens and play area for children.
There are many small parks and gardens around the township including the former to refresh the people of the town.
Saraswati Sishu Udyan is also a major play area for children in the township.It is considered one of the most busiest parks in the town as present at the centre of Saraswati vihar inside the Township.
Nalco Club is a major place for employees and youngsters to spend time. It has a well planned complex comprising swimming pool, badminton court, tennis court, skating ground, indoor games section(table tennis, carom, chess, billiards), Gymnasium and well stocked book corner.It also has a canteen to cater the foodies.All major festivals are celebrated here in the multipurpose hall including major competitions and events organised by Nalco. Present near the club, The Netaji Stadium is one of the major stadium for sports enthusiasts to hangout.The official Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations are also held here by Nalco authorities.
Nalco Community Centre is also a major place of public gathering in the town.The complex consists of a Volleyball Court, Badminton court, Open air Hall, indoor games section and well stocked library and news corner. It is a centre of importance for all the people as it hosts all the major trade fairs around the year.All major festivals are celebrated here with great pomp and show. Major competitions and events are being organised by the authorities round the year.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stadium is the largest and important stadium in the town. Hosting all the major sporting events it is an important place for the dwellers. It is the major location for sports enthusiasts and people for jogging and walking in the evening hours. The annual Ravan Podi festival is also celebrated here which is in turn the largest gathering in the town.
Open Air Pendal more is like the amphitheater of town.It consists of a large indoor hall with sitting arrangements.It is the most important place to hangout as all the public events and programs are being organised here round the year.It becomes the heart of the nearby areas during the annual Panchatmali Natya Mahotsav event.
Vishwakarma Puja ground can be also considered as one of the places of mass gathering to hangout during the annual Viswakarma Puja festival which is celebrated with great pomp and show.
Education
Saraswati Vidaya Mandir and Delhi Public School[2] are the two schools in this township providing the education support to the people of the industrial town. While the former has a set of campus for primary, secondary and higher secondary education the later has a single campus catering students from primary to higher secondary level.Both the institutions have been setup with the help of Nalco thus providing the students with a state of the art education system to nurture the future saplings. These institutions are present inside the Township limits.
In addition to the former schools, the industrial town caters the needs of education of the nearby people around the township with a set of institutions namely Sri Aurobindo Study Circle, Alumina Girls High School, Malushanta High school. These educational institutions are present outside the core Township of Nalco.
Other institutions like Jeevan Jyothi English Medium School, Semiliguda; Deomali Public School, Semiliguda; Navodaya Vidyalaya, Landiguda; Central School, koraput and Vyomayana Samstha Vidyalaya, Sunabeda are also present in near vicinity.
Healthcare
Nalco has multi-diagnosis state of the art Hospital Complex in the town to cater the needs of the employees and their family members.The complex consists of a well equipped indoor ward and outdoor ward department.All major Departments of healthcare are taken care of by the experienced team of Doctors.The complex also consists of Occupational Health Centre for regular checkup for the employees and pharmacy for the medicinal needs in association with Apollo Healthcare.
Government Health facility complex is located near Mathalput to cater the health needs of the local people. Nalco has facilitated the nearby villages with primary health centres and mobile health vans for supporting the health needs of the people.
Visakhapatanam which is the nearest mega city to Damanjodi is the healthcare hub for the people for all major critical cases and advanced health facilities.Apollo, Sevenhills are some of the well known names for the people.
Transportation
Damanjodi is well connected by roads. The National Highway 26 (Visakhapatnam-Raipur)is 9 Km away connected through a service road by Nalco. The District Headquarters Koraput is 36 km away while Jeypore is 52 km away from the town. Nearby towns like Semilguda, Sunabeda (HAL Township) are 9 km and 11 km away respectively. City bus service by the Odisha Government ply a daily service to all major towns.
The rail network includes the Koraput-Rayagada Rail link which passes through the Damanjodi railway station thus connecting it to the major East Coast Railway Division. The Railway service includes a number of trains connecting the town to Rayagada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Behrampur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Jeypore, Koraput, Raipur, Howrah and Jagdalpur.
The public transport includes bus service to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagram, Bhubaneswar,Cuttack,Brahmapur, Jagdalpur, Durg, Raipur, Bhilai, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Baragarh, Nayagarh, and Anugul. Both private and govt.buses are available to cater the service.
Nalco has also a private bus service to Vizianagram and Visakhapatnam for the employees of the company.A bus service to the Railway Station of Damanjodi is also available to all major trains, to and fro the township for the employees.
Private cab and shared taxi services are also available from Damanjodi to all major locations across Odisha and nearby cities like Visakhapatanam, Vizianagram, Jagdalpur and Raipur.Services are also available for sightseeing and tourism around Koraput.
Air connectivity to Damanjodi is mainly by chartered helicopters by VIPs, VVIPs and security forces. Vishakapatanam Domestic Airport (about 200 km away) is the nearest airport used by the dwellers of the city for scheduled domestic flights. Jeypore airstrip which is 54 km away is soon developing as a major air connectivity platform through UDAN scheme.
References
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ Delhi Public School
External links
- Local Business and Service Providers in Damanjodi