Rourkela, The Steel City of Odisha

The then railway station of Rourkela was within the revenue village of Mahulpali. There was a very small village towards the southeast corner of Mahulpali, within a distance of about 2 km, called Rourkela. The literary meaning of ‘Rourkela’ is your home. It is also learnt that a tribal community called ‘Raulia’ had lived in the village since time immemorial. They were experts in tantric. According to their ancestral occupation, the village was known as Rourkela. The present name of Rourkela comes from the ancient tribal village of Rourkela.

Rourkela is an industrial township in Odisha. People also know it as the commercial capital of Odisha. It has a huge iron and steel manufacturing base. Additionally, there are many units producing sponge iron, cement, refractories, etc. Rourkela Steel Plant, a unit of SAIL, is one of the largest steel manufacturing facilities in India. There are many small-scale industries in Rourkela catering to the needs of RSP and other large industrial units.

The picturesqueness of the modern twin cities of Rourkela and Fertiliser Township, as well as their developed peripheral areas, not only bewitches people but also amazes them to know that dense forests once surrounded most of the areas. According to the census report of 2001, the population of Rourkela is 4,84,292. But the census record of 1921 shows that the population was only 382.

Rourkela has good transportation options that make travel easy. Both roads and railways connect the city, and it also has an airport with many services available for getting to and from Rourkela.

Rourkela offers a range of accommodation options, from budget hotels to luxury resorts. The city has luxury stays, mid-range hotels and budget options, including OYO rooms and various lodges.

Rourkela celebrates many festivals, including Chaitra Mela, Dola Jatra, Ratha Jatra, Shravana Mela, Vishwakarma puja, Durga puja, and Lakshmi puja, among many others.

Rourkela is the industrial capital of Odisha. It has industries of all sizes. People around the world know the city for its iron and steel trades. The recent upsurge in iron and steel pricing has attracted many industries of all sizes to come in and around Rourkela. The city lies near the source of raw materials.