Sambalpur is the fifth largest city in the Indian State of Odisha. It has a population of 335,761 people and is situated on the banks of the Mahanadi River (as per 2011 census). Sambalpur is one of India’s oldest cities, having settlements dating back to the prehistoric period. It is the birthplace of the world-famous textile known as the Sambalpuri Saree.

Many prominent temples, ancient structures, and parks can be found throughout the city. Sambalpur University, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Gangadhar Meher University, Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur, and Odisha State Open University are among the city’s most prestigious educational institutions (OSOU). Sambalpur is home to Hirakud Dam, the world’s longest earthen dam and Asia’s largest manmade lake.

Many business and government enterprises sprang up in and around Sambalpur after India’s independence. It is one of Odisha’s major railway junctions, with the headquarters of the East Coast Railway Zone’s Sambalpur Railway Division. National Highways 53 and 55 run through the city, while State Highways 10 and 15 originate there.

Sambalpur takes its name from the Goddess Samalei (Odia: ସମଲେଇ ମାଁ )  who is regarded as the region’s reigning deity.From ancient times, the region in which Sambalpur city is located was known as Hirakhanda.