Surada

Surada (also known as Sorada or Soroda) is a town and a Notified Area Council in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha.

Geography
Surada is located at 19.76°N, 84.43°W. It has an average elevation of 84 m.

It is situated at the North-Western border of Ganjam district on the confluence of rivers Rushikulya and Jarau, bounded by Dharakot, Belaguntha, Bhanjanagar of Ganjam district and Daringibadi, Raikia of Kandhamal district.

The approximate area of Surada Tahasil (6 Revenue circles) is about 308.23 km2, Surada Block (Panchayat Samiti) is 97,474.15 Hectares while area of Surada N.A.C is approximately 15.15 km2 Surada Block consists 26 Gram Panchayats with 270 villages in it, and Surada Town (N.A.C.) with 11 wards as an urban administrative body.

Gram Panchayats under Surada Block
Amrutulu, Asurabandha, Badabadangi, Badagada, Badagochha, Borada, Borasingi, Bhagabanpur, Ekalapur, Gajalabadi, Gangapur, Genja, Gochha, Gopalpur Sasan, Goudagotha, Hinjalakuda, Hukuma, Kulangi, Lathipada, Merrikota, Nuagada, Palakatu, Raibandha, Sarabadi, Sidhapur, Suramani.

History
The name SURADA is derived from Sanskrit which is a combination of two words Sura & Adda which literally means The place of Devas.

This place was earlier known as Surada Gada (ସୁରଡ଼ା ଗଡ଼) under Khindirisrunga (ଖିଣ୍ଡିରିଶୃଙ୍ଗ) or Khidisingi (ଖିଡ଼ିସିଙ୍ଗି) Mandala which comprised present day Surada, Dharakot, Sheragada blocks of Ganjam district (also includes some parts of Mohana block of Gajapati district).

In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi kingdom into four different estates due to early demise of his elder son. Sorada Estate went to his third son, Raja Sandhadhanu Singh.


 * Badagada – Raja Daman Singh (Baliar Singh's grandson from his eldest son)
 * Dharakot – Raja Hadu Singh
 * Sorada – Raja Sandhadhanu Singh (also known as Abhaya Pratap)
 * Sheragada – Raja Parsuram Singh (Minor) (Represented by Raja Baliar himself).

When Britishers annexed over Ganjam, they put this Zamindari under the administration of Madras Presidency which is mentioned in List of zamindari estates in Madras Presidency.

Now, former Badagada estate is under Surada Block and Dharakot, Sheragada are two separate blocks in Ganjam district.

Rajas of Khidisingi

 * Bera Patta Mallik (Last Kandha king)
 * Raja Sobha Chandra Singh (Nala dynasty descendant )
 * Raja Purusottama Singh
 * Raja Krushna Singh
 * Raja Rai Singh
 * Raja Preeti Singh
 * Raja Kirti Singh
 * Raja Padmanabha Singh
 * Raja Bikram Singh
 * Raja Baliar Singh (Last Khidisingi king)

Rajas of Sorada

 * Raja Sandhadhanu Singh a.k.a. Abhaya Pratap (1st Surada King)
 * Raja Bhagaban Singh
 * Raja Harihara Singh
 * Raja Krushna Singh (2)
 * Raja Gopal Singh
 * Raja Rai Singh
 * Raja Shyamasundara Singh
 * Raja Gadadhara Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
 * Raja Kunjabihari Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
 * Rani Radhamani Devi (Raja Kunjabihari's wife)
 * Raja Upendra Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
 * Raja Shyamasundara Singh (2) (Raja Upendra's son)
 * Raja Radhacharana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
 * Raja Laxminarayan Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
 * Raja Janardana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)

Demographics
India census, Surada had a population of 14,867. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Surada has an average literacy rate of 68.7%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 55.6%, and female literacy is 44.3%.

Climate and regional setting
Maximum summer temperature is 37 °C; minimum winter temperature is 17 °C. The mean daily temperature varies from 33 °C to 38 °C. May is the hottest month; December is the coldest. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm and the region receives monsoon and torrential rainfall from July to October.

Hinduism

 * Jagannath Temple;
 * There was probably a Dadhi Bamana statue prior to the temple exist now. In the second half of the 18th century, Raja Kunjabihari Singh (1775–1815) built the present Jagannath temple in the periphery of his palace. The land where the temple is about 125 feet in North-South direction and about 87-feet breadth in East-West direction. The Jagannath temple is about 65-feet length in East-West direction, about 31-feet breadth in North-South direction and about 60-feet in height.
 * Gopinath Temple
 * Raghunath Temple
 * Panchanan Temple
 * There are 5 Shiva lingas in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. It is believed that Lingas were consecrated by Lord Rama while going to Lanka. The present temple built by Raja Narendra Dhabala (935-965).
 * Chandra Kalpeswara Temple
 * Dakhineswara Temple
 * Previously the Shiva linga was at the village which is now under Surada Dam. The linga was then transferred to Surada near Rushikulya river in 18th century.
 * Gopeswara Temple
 * Balukeswara Temple (Balunkeswara)
 * Mukteswara Temple
 * Brudha Lingeswara Temple - built by Khindirisrunga king Raja Bhimasen Dev (900–935).
 * Purakeswara Temple (Pudukeswara)
 * Nrusinghnath Temple - at Matha Sahi, Baradi and Sana Surada.
 * Sri Lakshmi Nrusinghnath Temple (In the periphery of Gopinath Temple)
 * Sri Chaitanya Temple (In front of Jagannath Temple)
 * Maa Kandhuni Devi Temple
 * Maa Khunteswari Temple (Situated at the hilltop of Khunteswari Hill)
 * Siddheswara Temple (In the periphery of Khunteswari temple)
 * Maa Giri Shobhini Temple (Maa Gidheisuni)
 * Kanaka Durga Temple
 * Krushnalila Kalika Temple (Sorada Punja)
 * Ramalila Kalika Temple (Baradi Punja)
 * Gramyalila Kalika Temple (Desua Punja)
 * Ganesh Temple
 * Aadapa Mandap
 * Maa Santoshi & Hanuman Temple (Near Panchanan Temple)
 * Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple (Near Surada Sub-Jail)

Islam

 * Mosque
 * In the 17th century some Muslims had come to Surada. Nawab Zafer Ali built a mosque in Surada at that time. That old mosque had collapsed. So, in that place a new mosque was built.

Christianity

 * Roman Catholic Church
 * Christian missionaries had come to Surada in around 1853. The Roman Catholic Church was built in between 1916-1919. The sound of the church bell can be heard in 5 km. radius around Surada. Around the church, there are four missionary schools. The Father of the Church is head of these institutions. The Bollywood Movie Bheegi Palkein starring Raj Babbar and Smita Patil was filmed here.
 * Dantilingi Church
 * There is another old church in Dantilingi village of Surada block. Every year, a special festival is celebrated in the memory of Mother Lurdu Marry. She was very kind and helpful to the local people while she was alive.

Others

 * Sai Baba Temple
 * Gayatri Temple at Gayatri Nagar
 * OM Shanti Organisation
 * Satsanga Kendra

Colleges

 * Rushikulya Degree College, Estd: 1995
 * Keshab Panda Women's Degree College

Schools

 * Rushikulya Higher Secondary School, Estd: 1978
 * P.C.M. Women's Higher Secondary School, Estd: 1999
 * Government Vocational Higher Secondary School
 * Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, Estd: 2016
 * Jawahar Jyoti Govt. Higher Secondary School, Suramani, Nuagada
 * Government Higher Secondary School, Borada, Badagada
 * Govt. Sashi Bhusan High School, Estd: 1920
 * Govt. Girl's High School, Estd: 1964
 * Technical High School, Estd: 1954
 * Roman Catholic Mission Upper Primary (R.C.M.U.P.) School, Estd: 1904
 * New Upper Primary School, Baradi, Estd: 1959
 * Jagannath Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Estd: 1930
 * Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandira, Estd: 1995
 * Vivekanand Sishu Vidya Mandir, Estd: 2012
 * R.C.M. Boy's Primary School, Estd: 1854
 * R.C.M. Girl's Primary School, Estd: 1927
 * Govt. Ex-Board Boy's Primary School, Estd: 1895
 * Govt. Girl's Primary School, Estd: 1914
 * Mahamedan Primary School, Estd: 1921
 * Govt. Aided Primary School, Estd: 1942
 * Block Colony Primary School, Estd: 1975
 * Pragati Public School
 * Modern DePaul Public School

Technical Training Institutes

 * Rushikulya Industrial Training Centre (I.T.C.), Tatabali, Estd: 2009
 * KMIT Computer Education, Estd: 2014
 * SIIT Computer Education(OS-CIT) Institute, Estd: 2019

Notable people

 * Sashibhusan Rath - Social reformer, Legislator, Founder of The East Coast, Dainik ASHA & The New Orissa newspapers.


 * Ranganath Mohapatra - Inventor of Odia typewriter.


 * Sitadevi Khadanga - Eminent dramatist, novelist.

Road
Surada is connected with National Highway 59 (India) (Khariar – Brahmapur) and State Highway 36 (Odisha) which connect Surada to other cities and towns of Odisha. The three-wheeler auto taxies and buses are the most important mode of transportation in this town.

Rail

 * Brahmapur railway station

Air

 * Biju Patnaik Airport
 * Brahmapur Airport

Port

 * Gopalpur port

Financial Institution/banks

 * State Bank of India, Surada
 * Punjab National Bank, Surada
 * Union Bank of India, Surada
 * Utkal Grameen Bank, Surada
 * Axis Bank, Surada
 * Aska Central Co-operative Bank Ltd, Surada
 * SBI ATM (1), Near SBI Surada
 * SBI ATM (2), Near NAC Office Surada
 * Axis Bank ATM, Surada
 * PNB ATM, Surada
 * HDFC ATM, Surada

Official establishments

 * Tahasil Office
 * Panchayat Samiti (Block) Office
 * Block Education Office
 * Notified Area Council Office
 * Court of First Class Judicial Magistrate
 * Court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division)
 * Court of Asst. Sessions Judge
 * Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd (OFDC) Office
 * Forest Range Office
 * Public Works Department (PWD) Office
 * Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Office
 * Community Health Centre
 * Health & Wellness Centre
 * Govt. Veterinary Hospital
 * Child Development Project Office (ICDS Project)
 * Asst. Agriculture Officer's Office
 * Police Station
 * Fire Station
 * Sub-Post Office
 * Sub-Registrar Office
 * Sub-Treasury Office
 * Sub-Divisional Office (Minor Irrigation)
 * Sectional Office (Irrigation)
 * Lift Irrigation Office
 * Asst. Executive Engineer's Office (National Highway Sub-Division)
 * Asst. Executive Engineer's Office (R&B Sub-Division)
 * Junior Engineer's Office (R&B)
 * Sub-Divisional Office (TPSODL)
 * Sectional Office (TPSODL)
 * Asst. Engineer's Office (TPSODL)
 * R.I. Office, Surada
 * Sub-Jail
 * Wealth Centre
 * Mega Nursery, Khariguda
 * Septage Treatment Plant, Ratnapur
 * Special Planning Authority of Surada at Brahmapur, Odisha

Attractions

 * There are eight ancient Shiva temples around Surada. It is believed to be auspicious to do pilgrimage all in one day, known as Asta Sambhu Yatra especially on Monday's of Shravan month or in Kartika Purnima.
 * Danda Nacha - Danda Nacha (Jatra) are ritualistic performances held during the hindu month of Chaitra for a period of 13 days. This is considered to be one of the traditional forms of worship. The performers showcase their performances in different villages. The performances are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, which are symbolically represented by a Agni Danda. The participants showcase various items Agni Danda & a Pole decorated with multi-coloured clothes. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also celebrated as Odia new year.
 * Surada Dam (Sorada Ghai) - This water reservoir was built in 1896 by Britishers. The water of Padma or Patma river is reserved in it. At times, the water of this reservoir is channelised to Rushikulya river for irrigation. There is a children's park and a picnic spot at the adjacent site.
 * Ratha Jatra - As the land of Jagannath, everywhere in Odisha Ratha Jatra is celebrated.
 * Kanta Pidha Jatra - An annual celebration of Goddess Kandhuni Devi of Surada spanning over the hindu month of Ashwin.
 * Kumar Purnima - Birthday of Lord Kartika. To celebrate this day, all wear new clothes, pray to Moon god and play cards from Dasahara to Kumar Purnami.
 * Rushikulya River - One of many holy rivers for Hindus. Every year people celebrate Baruni Mohosava (birthday of Rushikulya). It originates from Rushi Hills of Kandhamal and the mouth of this river is at Puruna Bandha, Chhatrapur of Ganjam district. It is believed that Rushikulya is 100 years elder than river Ganga. It is mentioned in Hindu epics like Varaha Purana and Mahabharata.

Politics
Surada is a part of Surada Assembly Constituency. Current MLA from Surada Assembly Constituency is Nilamani Bisoyi of BJP, who won the seat in State general assembly election in 2024. Previous MLA from this seat Purna Chandra Swain of BJD, won the seat in State elections in 2009, 2014 & 2019 thrice consecutively. Kishore Chandra Singh Deo of BJP won this seat in 2004, before that Usharani Panda of INC who won this seat in 2000, Ananta Narayan Singh Deo representing BJP in 1995 and representing JNP in 1977, Shanti Devi of JD in 1990, Sharat Chandra Panda of INC in 1985, and Gantayat Swain of INC(I) in 1980.

Biju Patnaik had elected from Surada constituency in 1957 state elections.

Surada is a part of Aska (Lok Sabha constituency).