Pre-20th-Century History
Sambalpur is mentioned in the book of Ptolemy (2nd century) as Sambalaka on the river Manada (the Mahanadi River).
In the time of Kalingan emperor Kharavela this area was known as Attabhika,one of the fuedatory state of Kalinga empire.In the ancient time part of this area was roughly known as Dakhina Koshala. Goddess Samaleswari is the presiding deity of the area.This area was ruled by the Samanta or Fuedatory Chiefs of Soma Vanshi,Ganga Vanshi, Surya Vanshi Gajapati rulers of Kalinga-Utkala Empire.
Samblpur was governed by the feudal chiefs of the Chawhan dynasty till 1803 and then came under the sway of the British Empire.When its ruler died without a direct male heir in 1849, the British seized the state under the doctrine of lapse. The name of Veer Surendra Sai, who fought an epic struggle against the British Rule, is recorded in golden letters in the history of India's struggle for independence.After the Sepoy Mutiny this region was included in Central Province.In 1895, the people of Sambalpur organized a sustained movement for the protection of Oriya language and culture against Hindi chauvinism. They finally demanded amalgamation with Orissa Division as a solution of the language crisis. This demand was accepted by the British Government in 1905 when Sambalpur and the adjacent Oriya speaking tracts were amalgamated with the Orissa Division under Bengal Presidency. The Zamindaris of Oriya speaking Phuljhar and Chandarpur remained with the Central Provinces(now in the Raigarh District of Chhattishgarh state). Bengal's Orissa division became part of the new province of Bihar and Orissa in 1912, and in 1936 became the separate province of Orissa. After Indian Independence in 1947, Orissa became an Indian state.Source: Dilip Kumar Padhi VU2DPI.
Sambalpur retains its classic sleepy charm, even in the face of rapid , albeit unplanned expansion and a deluge of retail establishments. Some of the houses along the old part of Sambalpur are still maintained, and used, like they were, a century ago. A peculiar way the houses in the older parts of town are arranged is, the gulli system, literally, mazeway. Houses in Patnaikpara, Nandpara, and along the parallel streets of sansadak and badsadak are examples of the above. The streets of Badasadak and Sansadak extending from kunjelpada chowk to the office of the Sambalpur municipality have a proud heritage and have contributed immensely to make Sambalpur World famous and enriched the cultural heritage of the country. For 1. The origin of the Sitalsasthi festival i.e. marriage of Lord siva with goddess Parvati. 2. The origin of the World famous Sambalpuri Parda and the Sambalpuri sarees that enabled the Baandha art of Western Orissa march from its threshold of oblivion to its pinnacle of glory.
Modern History
Recent History
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