About Dhenkanal

Dhenkanal District is an administrative division of Orissa, India. It has an area of 4599.5 square kilometers and a population of 1,087,973. It is bordered by Keonjhar in the north, Jajpur in the east, Cuttack in the south and Angul in the west. Dhenkanal town, the district headquarters has a cluster of temples, archaeological remains and a mediaeval fort.

A former princely state, Dhenkanal has a long history. Hari Singh Vidyadhar who was a commander of Gajapati Pratprudra deva defeated the local Bhanja kings and occupied and Dhenkanal and Karamul, its capital in 1529 AD. Subsequently, 18 generations kings ruled over Dhenkanal & brought about many administrative, political, socio-economic, and cultural evolutions to the district. In 1947, after Indian Independence, the princely State of Dhenkanal merged in the Indian Union, and subsequently with Orissa in 1948.

Most of this district is covered with dense forest and a long range of hills, which are home of wild elephants and tigers. Primarily agricultural, the principal forest products of the district are timber, bamboo, firewood and kendu leaf, and raw materials used for medicine.

The District is the centre of a religious movement called "Mahimadharma" which over the last century has spread throughout the India. The Chandrasekhar (Shivji) Temple at the hilltop of Kapilas attracts pilgrims from all part of the Country for its spiritual enlightenment, natural beauty and holiness. The Jagar Jatra (Maha Shivaratri) is a famous festival celebrated here in winter season.