Subarnapur District, also called Sonepur District or Sonapur District is an administrative district of Odisha state in eastern India. The town of Sonepur is the district headquarters. Many loosely call the people of Sonepur region as Sonepuria.
Sonepur, also known as Subarnapur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Odisha. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of temples (nearly 108) having architectural importance and tantric (sicsic) mystiques and Second Allahabad for the Meeting Point (Sangam) of three rivers Mahanadi, Tel and Sukhtel in place just like in Allahabad. Subarnapur is also famous for silk, handloom, prawns, terracotta etc.
Divisions
Sub-divisions: Sonepur and Birmaharajpur
Tehsils: Sonepur, Binika, Rampur, Birmaharajpur, Tarbha, and Ullunda
Blocks : Sonepur, Binika, Tarbha, Dunguripali, Birmaharajpur and Ullunda
Municipality : Sonepur
N.A.C. : Tarbha and Binika
Culture
Subarnapur District is known for its influentially rich cultural heritage, arts and crafts. For instance, textiles and terracotta of Sonepur, Brass metal works and Philigri crafts of Tarbha and Binka, Stone carving of Ullunda and Paddy crafts of Dunguripali are recognized all over the state and also in country. In addition, the great poet and prophet of Mahima Dharma, Santh Bhima Bhoi was from this district. Besides, Subarnapur area is famous for 'Danda-nata', a religious folk tradition generally performed in the month of Chaitra. Historically Sonepur region was known as Paschima Lanka.
Temple town, Sonepur
Paschima Lanka
Lanka Podi
Sasisena Kavya
Sasisena Temple
Sureswari Temple
Subarnameru Temple
Lankeswari Temple
Tourist attraction
Mahima pitha, Khaliapali
Gyaneswar Baba Shiv temple and dwadasa jyotirlinga(museum) at Kenjhiriapali village near ghungi river (birmaharajpur block).
Metakani Temple, Ullunda
Patali Srikhetra, Kotsamlai
Rushyashrunga hill, at Goudgad jungle (border of subarnapur and sambalpur)
Papakshya Ghat, Binka
Kapileswar temple, Charda
Nabagrahakunda
Rameswar Shiva Temple at the Sangam of river Mahanadi and Tel.
Lord Sri Sri Swapneshwar Temple, Goudgad of BirmaharajPur Block.
Thengo Irrigation Project of Birmaharajpur Block. (A VISITORS PARADISE)
Maa Umadevi Temple and Siddheswar Temple [Kadodar]
Maa Ramachandi & Baba Raneswar Temple, Telanda .*godhaneswar shiv temple*sunaribeni shiv temple.
Gupteswar Baba Temple, Gailmura-ULUNDA
Bhimtangar(Prachin Mandir), Gailmura-ULUNDA
Sari
Sambalpuri pata Sari
Eminent Persons
Kailash Chandra Meher, Eminent Painter awarded Padma Shri by Govt. of India.
Nila Madhab Panda, film maker and director of I Am Kalam.
Sabyasachi Mohapatra, Odia film director and producer.
Jitamitra Prasad Singh Deo
Kapileswar Prasad Mohapatra, Eminent writer of Sala Budha series.His two stories has been made into feature films .Both the films were selected in Indian Panorama section.Sala Budha had been awarded 6 Odisha State Film Awards including Best Film.He has also been awarded Best Social Worker in Jan 26 parade by Sonepur Administration prompting the Odisha Govt to recommend for Padmasri that he didn't get from Center.
Chaturbhuj Meher, awarded Padmasri for Sambalpuri Handloom weaving or Sambalpuri Baandha.Sambalpuri sarees, dress materials are famous for its rich colour values and softness.
Education in Subarnapur district
Main article: Education in Subarnapur district
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,Tarbha
Sri Aurobindo Shikshyakendra, goudgad, po- amarpali
Ganapati Adarsha Shikshya Niketan, Biramaharaj Pur
Swami Vivekananda Adarsha Vidyalaya,Khandahata
Maa maheswari college,Khambeswaripali
Anchalik Uchha Vidya Pitha, Kenjhiriapali (birmaharajpur).
Places of Interest
Patali Srikhetra
Patali srikhetra is a famous Jagannath temple situated on the top of Kotsamalae Hill.
Sureswari temple
Sureswari temple is located at the left bank of Tel River towards the south-west of the confluence of Mahanadi and Tel River.
Lankeswari Temple
Lankeswari temple is located inside the river Mahanadi at Sonepur town.
Maa Metakani Temple
Maa Metakani temple is located in a forest near to Ulunda, of Subarnapur district.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subarnapur_district
