Raipur, India

Raipur is the capital city of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It is also the administrative headquarters of Raipur District. It was a part of Madhya Pradesh, before the state of Chattisgarh was formed, on 2000-11-01.

History

Based on the ruins of a fort and other structures located on the southern part of the city, some historians believe that the city of Raipur was in existence even during the 9th century. However, most historians agree that the King Rama Chandra founded the city in the last quarter of the 14th century.

Geography and climate

The city of Raipur is located near the centre of a large plain, sometimes referred as the “rice bowl of India” - where hundreds of varieties of rice are grown. The Mahanadi River flows to the east of the city of Raipur and the southern side has dense forests. Maikal Hills rise on the north-west of Raipur; on the northwards, the land rises and merges with the Chota Nagpur Plateau, which extends northeast across Jharkhand state, India. On the south of Raipur lies the Baster Plateau.

Raipur city is situated on the Nagpur-Bilaspur route of the Indian Railways and is well connected with important places like Mumbai, Howrah (Calcutta), Delhi, Amritsar, Pune, Cochin, Patna, and Dhanbad.

National Highway 6 passes through the city of Raipur and National Highway Number 43 links the city with Vijayanagaram. It is also well connected by roads with all important places of India.

Air links are available to several destinations, including Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai.

Temperature:

• Summer around 45 to 29 (degrees Celsius)
• Winter around 27 to 10 (degrees Celsius)

Rainfall: around 1200 mm (July to mid-September)

Economy

Until very recent time, Raipur was primarily a commercial city. Traditionally, the city of Raipur has been described as “an agricultural-processing and saw-milling town”. The city has certain advantages due to it being located centrally in the state of Chhattisgarh, and the city now serves as a regional hub for trade and commerce for a variety of local agricultural and forest products. There are several small scale industries , which include oil milling, soap manufacturing and electrical welding.

The traditional face of the city has now changed, and the city of Raipur and its neighbourhood has now become an important commercial and industrial destination for coal, power, steel, and aluminum industries. In close proximity to the Raipur city, several industries have come up:

• Several cement manufacturing plants
• Sponge iron plant and related ancillaries units
• Marble cutting and polishing industries
• Granite cutting and polishing industries

Raipur is one of India’s biggest iron market - there are about 170 steel rolling mills, 5 sponge iron plants and 17 ferro alloy plants in and around the city. There are more than 300 rice milling plants and all major cement manufacturing companies have their presence in the city.

Demographics

Being an important centre of the region and a city with a history stretching more than 1000 years, Raipur has been attracting persons from different parts of the Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states. The demographic composition is a mixed one. Raipur has also a sizable Bengali and Maharashtrian population.

Education

Most of the government-run schools in Raipur town are affiliated to the State School Examination Board, whereas most of the private schools are affiliated to CBSE and ICSE boards. A number of schools are also run by convents or by the Jesuits.

The state capital is served by three main universities, namely, Pundit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, and Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University. Apart from several colleges offering under graduate and post graduate courses, Raipur town has a medical college, an engineering college and a musical academy.

Places of interest

Burha Talab, literal meaning burha (aged) and talab (lake) – out of several ponds and lakes in the city, Burha Talab is the largest lake. Its beauty is enhanced on account of an island, laced with green trees and gardens, in the middle of the lake.

Dudhadari Temple – situated near the Burha Talab stands 500 years old Dudhadari Temple, with elaborate carvings. The temple is dedicated to Hindu God Ram.

Mahant Ghasi Das Memorial Museum – a large collection of inscriptions, images, coins, sculptures, etc. are displayed in this museum.