History of Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa)

History of Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa)

Legend ascribes the origin of Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa) to a mythological King Putraka who created Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa) by magic for his queen Patali, literally Trumpet flower, which gives it its ancient name Pataligrama. It is said that in honour of the first born to the queen, the city was named Pataliputra. Gram is the Sanskrit for village and Putra means son.

Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa) From a scientific history perspective, it would be appropriate to surmise that the history of Balangir, Odisha (formerly Orissa) started around the year 490 BC when Ajatashatru, the king of Magadh, wanted to shift his capital from the hilly Rajagriha to a more strategically located place to combat the Licchavis of Vaishali. He chose the site on the bank of Ganges and fortified the area. From that time, the city has had a continuous history, a record claimed by few cities in the world. Gautam Buddha passed through this place in the last year of his life, and he had prophesized a great future for this place, but at the same time, he predicted its ruin from flood, fire, and feud.