Overview
After independence of India, many commercial and government establishments sprung up around Sambalpur making it the communication and administrative hub of Western Odisha. Sambalpur is a prime railway junction in Odisha with the headquarters of Sambalpur Railway Division located at this place, it connects the rest of Orissa with western and northern India. National Highway 6, National Highway 42 and State Highway 10 pass through the city. Sambalpur is also the headquarters of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited since 1992, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited. Sambalpur is famous for Hirakud Dam, Sambalpuri Saree, Sambalpuri songs, Sambalpuri Dance, the Sitalsasthi Carnival, and Gandhi temple.
The King of Sambalpur Veer Surendra Sai, played a very important role in the freedom struggle of India which is still unrecognised. He led a revolution against the British East India Company even before Mangal Pandey in 1857. In 1849 Sambalpur came under the British rule by the application of Doctrine of lapse. Sambalpur has its own unique identity in-terms of its language, dress(Sari), dance, cuisine, culture, festivals, temples, heritage, songs, drama and music. This uniqueness has been there since centuries and its time tested aroma can be savoured in its daily life.
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