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About
Jeypore |
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Jeypore is the largest town after Berhmapur of south Odisha in
the Koraput district of Odisha, India. Along with Bhubaneswar,
Sambalpur, Cuttack, Rourkela, Balasore, Puriand Berhampur,
Jeypore is one of the famous places of Odisha. Jeypore
pronounced in Oriya as Joypur, literally means "the city of
victory". Nature has given Jeypore generously waterfalls,
dense green forests and the most attractive and best tribal
folks. This is also a famous business place on southern Odisha.
It is encompassed by hills of the Eastern Ghats and the more
well-known Araku hills on three sides like a horse shoe with
the western side opening up to Chhattisgarhin central India.
It is the business center for the district and southern Odisha.
Jeypore is an ancient city of high strategic and historical
significance. Jeypore is located at 18.85°N 82.58°E.It has an
average elevation of 659 metres (2165 feet). As of 2001 India
census, Jeypore had a population of 76,560. The population of
Jaypur, as estimated in late 2010, is 80,837. |
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Festivities and Culture |
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Besides the annual Rath Yatra, another popular festival
celebrated in the town is the 'Ghata Porbo' or 'Thakurani Yatra'
(procession of the goddess) which is generally held during
summer. The processions last for days and weeks, with dramas and
other entertainment held during the nights. During the festival,
every community has the chance to take its goddesses out of the
temples and visit all other localities. Local musical
instruments like 'Dombo baido' and 'Singha baido' accompany such
processions. Jeypore is famous for its grand Dussehera and Rath
Yatra celebrations as well. People also celebrate "Saraswati
Puja", "Ganesh Puja" and "Biswakarma Puja". |
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History of Jeypore |
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Jeypore is an ancient town with a place in the history of Odisha.
The town is enclosed by forests with mostly Sal (Dalbergia
Latifolia) and teak (Tectona Grandis) trees. The major language
spoken in this region is Oriya. Though Oriya is mainly spoken in
Jeypore, there is a varied cultural mix with people speaking in
Telugu and Hindi as well.The town was the capital of the local
king in the olden times and is known for its ancient forts,
temples and palaces.
Jeypore is the most prominent place in the history of
Dandakaranya. The history of Jeypore is inextricably linked with
that of the ruling Deo or Dev dynasty.Jeypore is located at the
middle of the south-west horn of Odisha. Jeypore is a blend of
the culture and traditions of the East and the South India. This
blend of different languages and cultures gives Jeypore its
unique language, cuisine and lifestyle.
Jeypore was, for very large period of time, the capital of the
kingdom at Koraput which belonged to the Atavikas, a feudatory
of the powerful Kalinga Empire (Ancient Odisha) who are known
for having bravely fought the Kalinga War in the 3rd century
BCE.Kalinga regained its former glory during the Mahameghabahan
Dynasty in the first century BC.
The Koraput area was a small principality of Tri Kalinga under
the Ganga era of the 5th century CE. The areas of Utkala,
Kalinga and Kosala were brought under the control of the Ganga
kings of Odisha. This dynasty became famous during the 11th
century CE with the rise of Somanakshi. Their suzerainty
extended from the modern Sambalpur, Sonepur to the Bastar and
Koraput regions and they enjoyed control until the beginning of
the 14th century CE.
The last king of Sailavansa, Pratap Ganga Raju was succeeded by
Vinayak Dev of Surya Vansa which lasted until the time of the
British Empire. Vinayak Dev was said to be married to the
daughter of the last ruler of Silavansi Paratap Ganga Raju. He
and his six succeeding generation of kings had only one son each
and on advice from astrologers the headquarters of the kingdom
was switched from Nandapur to Jeypore.
During the Anglo-French conflict, Vikram Dev I (1758–1781 CE)
was successful in driving out the French from Malkangiri area
and theMarathas from the Umerkote belt. He was succeeded by the
brave Oriya king Ramachandra Dev II (1781–1825) while his other
two sons Jagannath and Narasingh Dev were placed in charge of
Nabarangpur and Gudari regions. The state of Odisha was formed
on 1 April 1936 with Koraput as one of the six districts.
Vikram Dev: His generosity towards promotion of education and
arts saw the establishment and growth of several educational
institutions both in Jeypore (Odisha) and Visakhapatnam. He was
more interested in the promotion of arts than his kingdom.
He was Maharaja Vikram Deo IV of the Sankara Dynasty of Jeypore,
who succeeded Krishnachandra Deo in June 1931.
Born in Sri Mukhalingam in 1869, Vikram Deo, was the only
Maharaja to become the Pro-Chancellor of both Andhra and Utkal
Universities. The nine-day Dasara festival and Rath Yatra used
to be conducted on a grand scale in Jeypore during Vikram Deo's
rule. He used to ride his favourite white horse and hold durbar
during the festival. The car festival, performed on the lines of
the Puri Rath Yatra, used to attract thousands of devotees. In
1951 Vikram Dev IV died at 82 and the Estate Abolition Act was
passed the next year. The Estate of Jeypore was taken over by
the Government of Odisha.
The Dev or Deo dynasty is probably related to the Kakatiya
dynasty. Some of the rulers established their own rule when the
Kakatiyas were ruling around the jungles of Bastar. Since the
area was unreachable and hostile, these kingdoms - including
that of Jeypore (previously in Nandapur), Jagdalpur,
Parlakhemundi, etc. got established under the supreme rule of
Gajapati rulers of Odisha. And, from then a unique culture,
food, tradition and pride could be seen in common at these
areas. The jeypore royal palace collapsed down in August 2012
due to sheer neglect on the part of the royal family and the
state administration, which signifies the sorry state of affairs
of the present royal family. |
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Tourist Attractions in Jeypore |
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Gupteswar Cave
Gupteswar Cave is about 60 kms from jeypore. The place is
well-known for the cave shrine of Lord Shiva located at
the top of a limestone hill which is about 151 mts higher
than the surrounding beautiful countryside, the place is
perfect for natural scenery. One can reach the cave by
ascending a flight of steps.
Raja Mahal & Surya Mahal
Raja Mahal & Surya Mahal are the centuries old palace
on mainroad jeypore(Sardar Patel Road).They are basically
an architectural marvel.
Kolab dam & garden
Kolab Botanical Garden stands beside the imposing Kolab
reservoir is perfect for weekend picnic for people all
over the district. This place is highly admired for its
scenic beauty, attracting tourists for weekend picnic and
boating. Kolab Botanical Garden stands beside the imposing
Kolab reservoir which is ideal for weekend picnic for
people all over the district. This place is highly admired
for its scenic beauty, attracting tourists for weekend
picnic and boating.
Jagganath Sagar & Jeypore Park
Jagganath Sagar is a beautiful lake which is situated in
the heart of the town surrounded by beautiful park & play
area has always been the favorite hangout zone for Jeypore
public. A boating club, Delicious Food Inns adds a charm
to the park. Sagar is all packed in the evening when
people of all ages come here to relax themselves.
Sabara Shrikhetra (Koraput)
Koraut is located about 22 kms away from Jeypore and 2,900
ft. above sea level. The modern Jagannath Temple has come
up on a hilltop. The Tribal Museum behind the temple
caters to and educates the tourists about the culture and
heritage of the tribals.
Shakti Water Fall
Shakti Water Fall commonly said as “S” water fall for the
path of the falls resembles the alphabet “S” is a worth
visiting place. This place is a fun & adventurous camping
grounds among the youth of Jeypore & nearby places.
Closely surrounded by dense beautiful mountains this
waterfalls falling from a height of 20 ft is a nature’s
marvel.
Deomali
Deomali is about 50 km from Jeypore, it is the highest
mountain peak in Odisha. The path to the top is as
breathtaking as the view at the peak. It is not only a
wonder for the tourists but also to the adventurous sports
lovers for mountaineering, trekking and hang gliding. |
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Cuisines |
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Food
at Jeypore is similar to its culture. It brings the best from
the East and South on the plate. Oriya cuisine ala Pakhala,
mutton, machha besara( At Radha Krishna hotel.) take stage with
South Indian dishes such as Idli, Dosa, Puri, Upma, Pesarattu,
Uttapam and Vada. Jeypore is well-known for the quality of
Cashew all over the world. There are a number of shops serving
authentic Oriya sweets such as Chena Podo and Rasgulla. There
are also a few Punjabi Dhabas and Gujarati hotels. Nearby
Ambaguda is famous for its Rasmallais, while numerous stalls on
the roadside of the town serve chaats, kachoris and egg and
chicken rolls in the evening. There many small and Big cashew
industries around the town. The Odisha state government is
having Cashew Board office located in Jeypore. There are around
40 cashew industries in this area and every year the number is
growing. These cashews are even exported outside country.Jeypore
people are food lovers, due to which in recent years many
multi-cuisine restaurants are opened all over the town. |
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Best Season / Best time to visit Jeypore |
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town of Jeypore experiences a tropical monsoon climate, like the
rest of Odisha. The monsoon season here is not as cruel as it is
in other parts of the state, and summers here are hot and
winters very cold. The best time to visit Jeypore would be
during the winter months, between October and February.
The monsoon season in Jeypore brings about moderate rainfall,
and this season is mainly during the months of July, August,
September and October. The weather during this time is amusing
and Jeypore can be visited during this time too.
Summers in the town of Jeypore are very hot, and this season
runs during the months of March, April, May, and June. The
summer months will experience a maximum temperature of around
forty five degrees (45°C) and a minimum temperature of around
nineteen degrees (19°C). Visiting Jeypore during the summer
months is not a very good idea.
Winters in Jeypore are during November, December, January and
February. These months will experience a maximum temperature of
around twenty two degrees (22°C) and a minimum temperature of
around four degrees (4°C). This is a good time to visit Jeypore,
and this is the main tourist season in the region. |
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How to Reach Jeypore |
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By
Rail
Jeypore has its own railway station which is connected only from
Visakhapatman (Kirandul Pass) and not from many cities across
India. Visakhapatnam is the nearest major rail junction for
Jeypore.
By Road
Buses are the ideal mode of transport among the locals, as
regular buses that are run under the government will readily be
available in every single town. These will be cheap and
effective, in case you’re looking for a speedy mode of transport
in urgent situations. This mode of transport can be
uncomfortable, as buses that are state-run will normally not be
in good condition and will also be crowded. Buses can also be
taken to the nearby state of Andhra Pradesh.
By Air
Jeypore does not house an airport of its own, and flights can be
taken to the airport in Vishakapatnam, which lies nearby at a
distance of around 259 kilometers. Many private carriers like
Jet Airways, Kingfisher Red, JetLite, IndiGo, Go Air and
SpiceJet operate from this airport. Flights will be available
from Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi. |
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