HISTORY                                             

    Khordha is  the headquarter of the district of the same name
    and  is situated in 85 degree 37'30"E and 20 degree 11'N.  on
    the  National Highway No.5.  The town is 11 km.  from  Khurda
    Road  railway  station,  with  which it  is  connected  by  a
    metalled  road.   The local name of the place is  Jajarsingh,
    which  originally  was a small village.  Probabaly the  place
    was  also  formerly  known  as   Kurada,  which  means  'foul
    mouthed'.   The  old  mile stones of the area  had  the  word
    'KURADA'  dug  into them which have now been whitewashed  and
    the  word 'KHURDA' written on them.  The present Khurda  area
    was once heavily populated by the Savaras who are still to be
    found in the subdivision in some pockets.  In this connection
    it  may  be noted that a village and ex-Zamindari  in  Ganjam
    distrct is named 'Surada' which probably means 'fair mouthed'
    as opposed to 'Kurada'.  Khurda came into prominence when the
    first  RAJAS OF KHORDHA dynasty,Ramachandra Deva, made it  the
    capital  of  his  kingdom during the last part  of  the  16th
    century  A.D.  The Bhoi kings lived in a part of the foot  of
    the  BARUNAI  Hill, about 1.6 km.  to the south of the  town.
    This site was apparently selected because it was protected on
    one  side by the Barunai Hill, which was easily defended, and
    on  the  other by dense jungle.  The fort is  now  completely
    ruins,  only  a  few traces remaining here  and  there  which
    reminds  one for its former glory.  Khurda suffered  repeated
    onslaughts  from  Muslim  and Maratha cavalry but  its  royal
    house  retained  much of its independence till 1804 when  the
    then  Raja,  Mukunda Deva under the guidance  of  Jayakrushna
    Raiguru,  rebelled  against  the British domination  and  was
    dispossessed  of his territory.  Khurda is also memorable  as
    the  centre  of activity of the "PAIKA REBELLION" of  1817-18
    under the leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar.
                                                   

    Khurda  is  an  important centre of handloom  industry.   The
    lungi,  napkin  and sarees produced here have an  all  Orissa
    market.   There  are a few Hindu mathas in Garh  Khurda  i.e.
    the old fort area of the town.  The civic affairs of the town
    are managed by a Notified Area Council.