Unexplored Bihar

Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur , Odisha, India Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Sambalpur, Western Odisha, India dedicated to the goddess known as 'Maa', also known among the natives as Samalei maa, meaning Mother Samaleswari. It’s the most famous temple of western Odisha, located at the bank of Mahanadi River. Shree Shree Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, is a strong religious force in western part of Odisha and Chhattisgarh state of India. On the bank of the river Mahanadi the mother goddess Samaleswari is worshipped from ancient times as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati. The region in which the temple is situated has a rich cultural heritage. Sambalpur region is popularly known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. Ptolemy has described the place as Sambalak, according to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur. Sambalpur region is popularly known as Hira

Hirakud Dam, Sambalpur, Odisha, India  Hirakud dam is  built across the Mahanadi River , about 15 kilometres from Sambalpur in  Odisha. Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world about 26 km in length. There are two observation towers on the dam one is “Gandhi Minar” and another one is “Nehru Minar”. The Hirakud Reservoir is 55 km long used as multipurpose scheme intended for flood control, irrigation and power generation. It was one of the major multipurpose river valley project after Independence. The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. It is the longest major earthen dam in India, measuring 26 km including dykes, and stands across the river Mahanadi. The main dam has an overall length of 4.8 km  spanning between two hills , the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by 21 km  of earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the adjoining hills. Hirakud Dam has th