View source for Mayurbhanj district

{{More citations needed|date=July 2023}}
{{Distinguish|Mayurbhanj State}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mayurbhanj district
| other_name         = 
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of districts of Odisha|District of Odisha]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border       = infobox
| total_width  = 290
| image_style  = border:0;
| perrow       = 3/2/2/2/1
| image1       = Maa Kichakeswari temple, Khiching, Mayurbhanj, Odisha.jpg
| image2      = Restored Rasik Ray Temple (Close-up view).jpg
| image3      = Jagannath Temple baripada 2 (cropped).jpg
| image4       = Barehipani Waterfall in Simlipal Biosphere Reserve.jpg
| image5       = Devkund (Mayurbhanj).jpg
| image6       = Mayurbhanj Chhau.jpg

}}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Zigzag from Top-left: [[Kichakeshwari Temple]] in [[Khiching]] (first capital of erstwhile [[Mayurbhanj State]]), Rasika Ray Temple in [[Haripur Gada|Haripurgarh]], [[Shri Shri Hari Baladev Jew Bije, Baripada|Jagannath Temple]] in [[Baripada]] (second and third capital of the erstwhile state), [[Barehipani Falls|Barehipani]] and [[Debakunda]] waterfall in [[Simlipal National Park]], [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO]] recognised Mayurbhanj style [[Chhau dance]]
| image_map          = Mayurbhanj in Odisha (India).svg
| image_map1         = {{maplink |frame=yes
|frame-width=250 |frame-height=200 |frame-align=center
|text= '''Mayurbhanj district'''
|type=shape |id=Q1914546
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=2
|title= Mayurbhanj district of Odisha
|frame-long=86.403|frame-lat=21.90
|zoom=7
}}
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location in Odisha
| coordinates        = {{coord|21.933|N|86.733|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = India
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagicon image|Orissa Flag(INDIA).png}}&nbsp;[[Odisha]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Administrative divisions of India|Division]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[List of districts of Odisha|Central Division]]
| established_title  = Established <br/>{{nobold|([[#Merger of the state|as a district]])}}
| established_date   = January 1, 1949
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = Headquarter
| seat               = [[Baripada]]
| parts_type         = District subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = {{hlist|Baripada|Bamanghati|Panchpir|Kaptipada}}
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_title       = Member of Parliament
| leader_name        = [[Naba Charan Majhi]]
| leader_party       = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| leader_title2      = [[District collector|Collector & District Magistrate]]
| leader_name2       = Hema Kanta Say, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]
| leader_title3      = [[Superintendent of Police (India)|Superintendent of Police]]
| leader_name3       = Varun Guntupalli, [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_rank          = [[List of districts in India#Odisha (OD)|1st (in State); 57th (in India)]]
| area_total_km2     = 10418
| area_rural_km2     = 10309
| area_urban_km2     = 108
| area_blank1_title  = Forest<ref name="Handbook2020" />
| area_blank1_km2    = 4458
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 559.31
| elevation_max_m    = 1178
| elevation_max_point = Khairiburu
| population_total   = 2,519,738
| total_type         = Total
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_rank    = [[List of districts in India#Odisha (OD)|3rd (in State); 171st (in India)]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Mayurbhanjia
| population_urban   = {{number and percent|192896|2519738|2}}
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_rural_footnotes = 
| population_rural   = {{number and percent|2326842|2519738|2}}
| population_density_rural_km2 = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="districtcensus" />
| demographics_type1 = Demographic
| demographics1_title1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| demographics1_info1 = 1,006 [[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]
| demographics1_title2 = Literacy rate
| demographics1_info2 = 63.17%
| demographics1_title3 = [[Scheduled Castes]]
| demographics1_info3 = {{percent and number|184682|2519738|2}}
| demographics1_title4 = [[Scheduled Tribes]]
| demographics1_info4 = {{percent and number|1479576|2519738|2}}
| demographics_type2 = Language
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = [[Odia language|Odia]], English
| demographics2_title2 = Regional
| demographics2_info2 = [[Santali language|Santali]], [[Ho language|Ho]], [[Mundari language|Mundari]],{{efn|name=Bhumij}} [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 757XXX
| registration_plate = OD-11x-xxxx
| area_code_type     = [[UN/LOCODE]]
| area_code          = IN  MYN
| blank1_name_sec1   = Climate
| blank1_info_sec1   = [[Climatic regions of India|Aw]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| blank2_name_sec1   = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank2_info_sec1   = {{convert|1648.2|mm|in |abbr=on}}
| blank3_name_sec2   = [[Lok Sabha]]
| blank3_info_sec2   = [[Mayurbhanj (Lok Sabha constituency)|Mayurbhanj]]{{efn|The Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency covers seven assembly constituencies in the Mayurbhanj district, while the other two assembly constituencies of the district, namely [[Badasahi (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Badsahi]]  and [[Karanjia (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karanjia]], are part of the [[Balasore Lok Sabha constituency|Balasore]] and [[Keonjhar Lok Sabha constituency|Kendujhar Lok Sabha constituencies]], respectively.}}
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Vidhan Sabha]]
| blank4_info_sec2   = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|9 constituency:}}|026-[[Jashipur (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Jashipur]] (ST)<br /> 027-[[Saraskana (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Saraskana]] (ST)<br /> 028-[[Rairangpur (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rairangpur]] (ST)<br /> 029-[[Bangriposi (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bangiriposi]] (ST)<br /> 030-[[Karanjia (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karanjia]] (ST)<br /> 031-[[Udala (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Udala]] (ST)<br /> 032-[[Badasahi (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Badasahi]] (SC)<br /> 033-[[Baripada (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Baripada]] (ST)<br /> 034-[[Morada (Odisha Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Morada]]}}
| website            = {{URL|https://mayurbhanj.odisha.gov.in/}}
| footnotes          = 
| official_name      = 
| imagesize          = 
}}
{{State of Odisha}}
'''Mayurbhanj district''' is one of the [[List of districts of Odisha|30 districts]] of Odisha state in eastern India and the largest in the state by area, nearly equivalent to [[Tripura]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About District {{!}} Mayurbhanj District, Government of Odisha {{!}} India|url=https://mayurbhanj.nic.in/about-district/|access-date=2020-06-10|language=en-US}}</ref> The district's headquarters is located in [[Baripada]], with other major towns including [[Rairangpur]], [[Karanjia]], and [[Udala]]. {{As of|2011}}, Mayurbhanj ranks as the third-most populous district in Odisha, following [[Ganjam district|Ganjam]] and [[Cuttack district|Cuttack]]. The district also known for the [[Simlipal National Park|Similipal National park]].<ref name=":0" />

== Etymology ==
The district owes its name to two [[Medieval India|medieval ruling]] dynasties, [[Maurya Empire|Mayura]] and [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja]]. It is believed that the native ruling Bhanja dynasty underwent socio-cultural exchange with the Mayura dynasty during their shifting of capital, adopting their name alongside Bhanja and renaming the state to Mayurbhanj. The [[peacock]] motif was later embraced by the Bhanjas and featured on the [[coat of arms]] of Mayurbhanj.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Session |first=Orissa History Congress |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FSluAAAAMAAJ |title=Proceedings of the Annual Session |date=1981 |publisher=The Congress |language=en}}</ref> Although the previous name of the territory remains uncertain, it was referred to as ''Khijjinga mandala'' and colloquially '''Bhanjabhumi''', signifying the ''land of Bhanja''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZRb9zrCQpgC |title=Indian Culture |date=1945 |publisher=Indian Research Institute |language=en}}</ref> In popular culture, it is commonly termed Mayura (peacock in Odia), with Bhanja as the reigning dynasty. The name of Mayurbhanj state is noted as '''Mohurbunge''', '''Morebunge''', and '''Morbhanj''' in many [[British India]] records.{{sfn|Taradatt |Basa|pp=}}

== History ==
{{Main|Mayurbhanj State}}

===Prehistory===
{{stack begin | float=right  | clear=true | margin=true}}
<div style="background:#f8f9fa; border:1px solid #a2a9b1; padding-bottom:10px; position:relative;">
{{maplink
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|from=Archeological sites of Mayurbhanj.map 
|text= '''{{center|Archeological sites of Mayurbhanj district}}'''}}
<div style="margin-left:3em; font-size:85%;">
{{legend|#a04868|[[Paleolithic]] Sites}}{{legend|#6a6790 |[[Mesolithic]] Sites}}{{legend|#408088 |[[Neolithic]] Sites}}{{legend|#b32f62|[[Ground stone|Ground Polished Stone]] Celt Sites}}{{legend|#33a1de|Other [[stone tool]] Sites}}{{legend|#5e6e82|[[Celt (tool)|Shouldered Celt]] Sites}}{{legend|#808080|Other important Sites}}
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The [[Archaeology|archaeological]] evidence suggest that human settlements in the Mayurbhanj district date back to the [[Lower Paleolithic]] era of the [[Stone Age]]. These settlements thrived alongside the [[Budhabalanga River]] and its tributaries. The presence of a consistent water source not only supported early human inhabitants but also attracted wildlife from the [[Simlipal National Park|Similipal forest]], facilitating the hunting of smaller animals from the safety of caves. The region's thin forest cover also provided edible roots and fruits.

{{multiple image|perrow = 3 |total_width=350
| align = center
| image1 = Stone tool from Odisha 012.jpg
| image2 = Stone tool from Odisha 014.jpg
| image3 = Stone tool from Odisha 016.jpg
| image4 = Stone tool from Odisha 018.jpg
| image5 = Stone tool from Odisha 020.jpg
| image6 = Stone tool from Odisha 021.jpg
| footer = Some [[Lower Paleolithic]] stone tools from Mayurbhanj district.
}}

The tools used by these early settlers were quite basic, resembling split [[Pebble tools|pebbles]] with minimal flaking, similar to those found in Paleolithic industries in Africa.<ref name=arc/><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=DasGupta |first=Sudipta |date=2000 |title=Prehistoric Context of Mayurbhanj District of Orissa (India) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40465955 |journal=Anthropos |volume=95 |issue=2 |pages=485–500 |jstor=40465955 |issn=0257-9774}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mohanty |first1=P. |last2=Basa |first2=K. K. |last3=Tripathy |first3=B. |date=1997 |title=Stone age cultures of Mayurbhanj District, Orissa |journal=Man in India |s2cid=148510255}}</ref> These tools evolved over time to include [[Hand axe|handaxes]], [[Cleaver (Stone Age tool)|cleavers]], [[Scraper (archaeology)|scrapers]], [[Knife|knives]], rostrocarinates, and points, varying in complexity, shape, and size. [[Stratigraphy (archaeology)|Stratigraphy]] does not provide a means to categorize them into distinct groups for understanding their technical development. Typo-technological analysis suggests the presence of two specific tool types with manufacturing techniques akin to European [[Abbevillian|Abbevilian]], [[Acheulean|Acheulian]], and [[Clactonian]] [[Industry (archaeology)|industries]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=arc>{{harvp|Taradatt|Basa|pages=35-48}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Polley |first1=Krishnendu |last2=Chakraborty |first2=Kartick |last3=Baul |first3=Shubhrakanti |date=June 2023 |title="Understanding Context rather than Component": An Assessment of Mayurbhanj Palaeoliths from a Geo-Archaeological Perspective |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0972558X231154154 |journal=The Oriental Anthropologist: A Bi-annual International Journal of the Science of Man |language=en |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=12–36 |doi=10.1177/0972558X231154154 |issn=0972-558X |s2cid=258982312|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Mediaeval to modern history ===
[[File:Map of Bengal in 958 CE.png|thumb|Khijjinga mandala of Bhanja dynasty in 958 CE (approximate territory border)|center]]
[[File:Capital of Mayurbhanj state.png|thumb|Successive capitals of Mayurbhanj: [[Khiching]] (~9th c.), [[Bahalda]] (13th c.), [[Haripur Gada|Haripur]] (14th c.), and [[Baripada]] (18th c.).]]
The [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja family]], which ruled Mayurbhanj State, holds a significant place in the district's history. The Bhanjas of Khijjinga mandala governed the western region of the present-day Mayurbhanj district, including parts of [[Kendujhar district|Kendujhar]] and [[West Singhbhum district]]s, with their headquarters at [[Khiching]] after the fall of the Buddhist [[Bhauma-Kara dynasty]]. The progenitor of present-day Bhanjas of Khijjinga mandala divided the territory into two segments, each led by one ruler, effectively forming two full-fledged states. One relocated the capital from Khiching to [[Haripur Gada|Haripur]] and subsequently renamed the territory as [[Mayurbhanj State]], while the other moved it to [[Kendujhargarh]] and named it [[Keonjhar State]] after [[Delhi Sultanate]] [[Firuz Shah Tughlaq|Feroz Shah Tughlaq]] plundered the kingdom during his invasion of Odisha in 1361 CE, when he marched through Manbhum, Singhbhum, and Mayurbhanj.{{sfn|Senapati|Sahu|1967|pages=1–2}} In 1508, the state came under [[Mughal rule]]. During [[Mughal conquest of Bengal|Mughal conquest]] from 1592 to 1751, Mayurbhanj was an extensive domain that comprised 12 ''[[Zamindar]]i'', 42 ''[[Fortress|kila]]'' in total, and, according to [[Raja Man Singh]], 18 [[Fortification|forts]] within the state, including Bhanjbhum, Mantri, [[Haripur Gada|Hariharapur]], Dewalia, Purunia, Karkachua, Bamanghati, and Sarhonda. The state also held sway over several surrounding [[Zamindari Estate]]s, including [[Nilgiri State|Nilgiri]], [[Porahat]], [[Saraikela State|Saraikela]], [[Kharsawan State|Kharsawan]], [[Barabhum]], Patharhai, Narsinhpur, Dipa Kiarchand, Jhamirapal, Jamkunda, Chargarh, Talmunda, [[Tamar block|Tamar]], and [[Birkul Royal Family|Birkul]] in [[Medinipur District|Medinipur]], during the early period of [[Mughal rule]]. All of these territories encompassed present-day [[Kendujhar district|Kendujhar]], [[Balasore district|Balasore]], [[Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]], and large parts of the undivided [[Midnapore district]]s. Raja Krushna Chandra Bhanja took advantage of the disturbed conditions around the last years of [[Shah Jahan]] and enlarged his territory to the coast of the Bay of Bengal, covering the area from [[Jaleswar]] to [[Bhadrak]]. He was however defeated and executed by Khan-e-Dauran, the general of Emperor [[Aurangzeb]].

{{multiple image
| align             = center
| total_width       = 440
| image1            = 1768 Jeffreys Wall Map of India and Ceylon - Geographicus - India-jeffreys-1768 (Cropped to Lower Bengal).jpg
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Thomas Jefferys]]'s 1768 map showing the sway of Bengal over Mayurbhanj territory. (Green: Maratha domination, Pink: Mughal domination)
| image2            = Southwest Bengal, 1776, by Rennell.jpg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[James Rennell]]'s 1776 map showing the border of [[Mayurbhanj State|Mayurbhanj]] with [[Midnapore district|Midnapore]] and [[Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]].
| footer            = 
}}

In 1751, it came under [[Maratha Empire|Maratha rule]]. During the [[Maratha invasions of Bengal|expansion of the Maratha Empire]], the state lost all its territories along the coast as well as the [[Nilgiri State]]. The loss of the sea ports along the Balasore coast severely affected the state finances. It was around this time that the capital was shifted to [[Baripada]]. The river [[Subarnarekha River|Subarnarekha]] served as the natural border between [[Bengal Subah|Mughal-controlled Bengal]] and Maratha-controlled Odisha after a number of conflicts between 1742 and 1751.<ref name="britishadmin">{{cite book|author=Bandita Devi|title=Some Aspects Of British Administration In Orissa (1912–1936)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lBQQHizn788C&pg=PA14|access-date=10 February 2013|date=1 January 1992|publisher=Academic Foundation|isbn=978-81-7188-072-0|page=14}}</ref> In 1803, the state submitted to the British who had conquered coastal Odisha and the state was recognised as a feudatory state – a position midway between a [[princely state]] and a [[Zamindar]]i. At that time, the state lost many zamindaris, including two northeastern bordering territories: [[Gopiballavpur I|Gopiballavpur]] and [[Nayagram (community development block)|Nayagram]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Gouripada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=75-a8FSPmvQC&pg=PA119 |title=Midnapore, the Forerunner of India's Freedom Struggle |date=1986 |publisher=Mittal Publications |pages=119 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=O’malley |first=L. S. S. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.500664 |title=Bengal District Gazetteers - Midnapore |date=1995 |pages=234, 262 |language=}}</ref> However, the state remained semi-independent and acted as a [[buffer state]] between Maratha and [[British rule]] by maintaining friendly relations with British authorities. The left-out westernmost territory of the Mayurbhanj state, stretching up to the [[Porahat|Porahat estate]], retained its independence during both Mughal and Maratha invasions. It was primarily inhabited by the [[Ho people|Ho]] (''Larka Kol,'' the fighting Ho), a significant aboriginal group, who asserted their dominance over the indigenous [[Bhuiya]]n tribe during their settlement period ({{circa|8th|12th century}}).<ref>{{Citation |last=Devalle |first=Susana B.C. |title=Tribe in India: The Fallacy of a Colonial Category |date=1990 |work=Studies on Asia and Africa from Latin America |pages=71–116 |editor-last=Lorenzen |editor-first=David N. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3f8qc7.8 |jstor=j.ctv3f8qc7.8 |doi=10.2307/j.ctv3f8qc7.8 |access-date=2025-05-13 |edition=1 |publisher=El Colegio de Mexico |isbn=978-968-12-0459-4|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Jha |first=J. C. |date=1977 |title=The Tribal Society of Kolhan (singhbhum) at the Advent of British Rule in 1837-8 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139109 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=38 |pages=500–510 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gupta |first=Sanjukta Das |date=2009 |title=Accessing nature: Agrarian change, forest laws and their impact on an adivasi economy in colonial India |url=https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/0972-4923.65170 |journal=Conservation and Society |language=en |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=227-238 |doi=10.4103/0972-4923.65170 |issn=0972-4923 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Though the state had ''de jure'' rights over that territory, ''de facto'' control was held by the Porahat estate due to geography and demographic nature, especially after the relocation of the state capital from Khiching to Haripur. In 1820, the Porahat estate acknowledged British authority, eventually leading to the gradual annexation of these left-out independent areas into the British-administered [[Singhbhum district]] following a series of conflicts between Kol and British army. In the mid-19th century, further [[territorial concession]]s were made to the British when large parts of Bamanghati area, such as Thai, Bharbharia, Anla, Lalgarh, Khuchung (now in [[Seraikela Kharsawan district|Saraikela Kharsawan district]]), and [[Haludpukur|Haladipokhari]] (now in [[East Singhbhum district]]) were handed over to the British administrated [[Singhbhum district]] as a consequence of persistent [[Kol uprising]]s.{{sfn|Senapati|Sahu|1967|pages=2–3}}<ref name=":3" /> However, by the end of the 19th century, only two zamindaris, Bamanghati and [[Kaptipada Estate|Kaptipada]], had merged with the state. Thereafter, there were no further changes to the territorial boundaries. In 1912, the Mayurbhanj state became part of the [[Bihar and Orissa Province]] of [[British India]] as a feudatory state. In 1936, with the partition of the province, it became a part of [[Orissa Province]].

[[File:Chota Nagpur region 1912.jpg|thumb|Mayurbhanj State under [[Bihar and Orissa Province]] in the early 20th century.|center]]

The state was modernised during the short reign of Maharaja [[Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo]] in the early 20th century, a legacy continued by his succeeding rulers Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo and Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo till the merger of the state with Odisha. During Sriram Chandra's reign, major infrastructure and administrative developments took place, including the construction of the [[Mayurbhanj State Railway|narrow-gauge railway]] from [[Rupsa, India|Rupsa]] to Baripada and from [[Gorumahisani]] mines to [[Jamshedpur]]. The circular road connecting four sub-divisional headquarters was also built, which is now part of [[State Highway 19 (Odisha)|SH-19]], SH-49 and [[National Highway 18 (India)|NH-18]]. Similarly, Maharaja established the [[Baripada]] Municipality and [[Udala]] Sub-divisional headquarters for effective governance. In a notable judgement during his reign, the [[Calcutta High Court]] held that the Mayurbhanj State as well as all other feudatory states of Odisha were practically not parts of [[British India]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Creagh Coen |first=Terence |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3411 |title=The Indian political service: a study in indirect rule |date=1971 |publisher=London, Chatto & Windus |isbn=978-0-7011-1579-1}}</ref> thus elevating them to the status of full princely states. Mayurbhanj was the largest and most populous of all princely states in Odisha and the Maharaja enjoyed a salute of 9 guns.

=== Merger of the state ===
[[File:Mayurbhanj state map 1935.jpg|thumb|Mayurbhanj state map 1935]]
[[File:Map of the partition of British India.jpg|thumb|Mayurbhanj State under [[Political integration of India|merger plan]] with Odisha, 1948]]
Following [[Independence of India|India's independence]] on 15 August 1947, the [[Mayurbhanj State|State of Mayurbhanj]] became an independent unit and soon after, a [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative Assembly]] was formed with cabinet ministers (''praja mandal''). These ministers included Chief Minister Sarat Chandra Das (Minister of Home, Finance, Audit, Planning and Reconstruction), M. Mahapatra (Minister of Revenue, Law, Health & Local Government), and M. Nayak (Minister of Development, Education, Supply, Transport, Public Works, Commerce, and Labour) by a proclamation of the Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanjdeo on 9 December 1947.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=D. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8GXSR0SiF8C&pg=PA48 |title=People's Revolt in Orissa: A Study of Talcher |date=1998 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-7156-739-3 |pages=48 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Kalpana |last=Das|title= Untold Stories of 1st Responsible Govt. of Mayurbhanj|url=https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2011/aug/engpdf/51-52.pdf |date=August 2011 |magazine=Orissa Review}}</ref> The Maharaja formally transferred most of his powers to this body. When [[Sardar Patel]], the then Home Minister, met the rulers of the state with his proposal for merger with India on 14 December 1947, the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj said that he had already granted responsible Government in his State, and hence he could not make any commitment without consulting his Ministers. In view of this and being a tribal state, Patel didn't compel the merger. The premier of state was left out of the discussions. On 17 October 1948, the Maharaja and Chief Minister went to Delhi, where the Maharaja signed the [[Instrument of Accession|Instrument of Merger]] with stipulations, taking into account social instability driven by the [[Jharkhand movement|Jharkhand statehood movement]] and administrative mismanagement.<ref>{{multiref2|{{Cite book |last=Praharaj |first=Debendra Mohan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7gvqtgAACAAJ |title=Tribal Movements and Political History of Mayurbhanj State, 1803-1949 |date=1982 |language=en}}|{{Cite book |last=Praharaj |first=Debendra Mohan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmduAAAAMAAJ |title=Tribal Movements and Political History in India: A Case Study from Orissa, 1803-1949 |date=1988 |publisher=Inter-India Publications |isbn=978-81-210-0208-0 |language=en}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| publisher=Government Of India Press |location=Delhi |url=http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/207474 |title=White Paper On Indian States |year=1950 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207474 |archive-date= January 18, 2017 |pages=180–182}}</ref> The administration of the State was taken over by the Government of India with effect from 9 November 1948, and [[Indian Civil Service|Indian Civil Servants]] D.V. Rege was appointed as Chief Commissioner to the State. However, it was subsequently decided that since Mayurbhanj linguistically and culturally had close links with Odisha, it should merge with that Province. On 16 December 1948, [[V. P. Menon]] came to the [[Baripada]] and announced the merger of Mayurbhanj with Odisha, which officially effected from 1 January 1949.<ref>{{cite book| first=M. |last= Ahmed |title=Census of India, 1961 :Orissa |series=District Census Handbook : Mayurbhanj|year=1967 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/29450/download/32631/22755_1961_MAY.pdf |publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government |location=Cuttack }}</ref>{{sfn|Senapati |Sahu |1967|pages=2–4}} Through the merging with [[Odisha]] was not peaceful. The Non-Odia inhabitants, primarily the Santhals of Rairangpur, headed by [[Sunaram Soren]] proposed that the state either merge with [[Jharkhand]], then proposed state of [[Bihar]] or remain as a [[Union territory of India]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sachan |first=Jatindra Nath Singh Dev |title=Tribal Uprising of Mayurbhanj in 1949 |date=2010 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147540 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=71 |issue=2 |pages=712–721 |jstor=44147540|issn=2249-1937}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Das |first=Kalpana |magazine=Orissa review |title= Tribal Revolt of 1949 in Mayurbhanj |url=https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2010/August/engpdf/47-49.pdf |pages=47–49}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Menon |first=V. P. |author-link=V. P. Menon |url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.12887 |title=The Story of the Integration of the Indian States |date=1961 |publisher=Orient Longmans |location=Bombay}} [https://sanipanhwar.com/The%20Story%20of%20the%20Integration%20of%20the%20Indian%20States%20-%20V.%20P.%20Menon.pdf Alt URL]</ref>

== Geography and climate ==
Mayurbhanj is land-locked with a geographical area of {{convert|10418|km2|abbr=on}} and lies in the north east corner of the state. It is bordered on the northeast by [[Jhargram district]] of [[West Bengal]] and [[East Singhbhum district]] of Jharkhand, to the north by [[Seraikela Kharsawan district]] of [[Jharkhand]], [[West Singhbhum district]] of Jharkhand on the west, [[Kendujhar district]] on the southwest and [[Balasore district]] on the southeast.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Palpala River near lulung, Similipal National Park.jpg|thumb|Palpala River near lulung, Similipal National Park]]
Mayurbhanj's geography is defined by the [[Simlipal National Park]] located in the centre of the district. Covering more than a fourth of the district's area, these forests surround the Simlipal Hills, which form the watershed for the district dividing the district into distinct east and west regions. Elevations in the eastern region include [[Udala]] (52.73 feet), [[Baripada]] (48.76 feet), [[Betnoti]] (43.89 feet), [[Haripur Gada|Haripur Garh]] (21.64 feet), Muruda (19.50 feet), and [[Amarda Road Airstrip|Amarda]] (18.28 feet). On the western side, elevations are observed in Bidubhandar Ghati (487.98 feet), [[Jashipur]] (405.68 feet), Raruan (371.24 feet), [[Karanjia]] (370.94 feet), [[Khiching]] (362.71 feet), [[Rairangpur]] (262.43 feet), and [[Bangriposi|Bangiriposi]] (122.83 feet). The hills attain their highest elevation at Khairiburu, reaching 3,865 feet at the center, while Meshasani stands at a height of 3,824 feet to the south. Additionally, there are numerous other peaks exceeding 2,500 feet. The northwestern parts of these foothills have been mined for iron ore for more than a century. The country to the east of Simlipal is an extension of the Odisha coastal plains and is drained by the [[Subarnarekha River]] and [[Budhabalanga River]] along with their tributaries. The land is almost level with a slight slope to the coast. The indigenous vegetation consisted of pure [[Shorea robusta|Sal]] forests which have now been replaced by paddy cultivation.

The western plains of Mayurbhanj are an extension of the Odisha Plateau. They are mostly flat with small hills and slopes but are at a higher altitude than the eastern plains, the height rising from north to south. The streams here drain into the [[Baitarani River]] in Kendujhar or flow into [[Jharkhand]] to the north. There are still isolated open forests to be seen, but paddy is the most common cultivated crop.

The Budhabalanga is the main river of Mayurbhanj. It arises in the Simlipal Hills and forms the waterfall at Barehipani in a northward course. It then turns to the south east and flows between steep banks and sandbars. Both Baripada and the ancient capital of Haripur are located along its banks. The river receives two small tributaries before entering the [[Bay of Bengal]] beyond [[Balasore]]. Other important minor rivers are Deo, Sone, Gangahar and Salandi. Floods are uncommon except during exceptional rainfall in the hills owing to the seasonal nature of the streams and their steep banks.
The climate of Mayurbhanj is sub tropical marked by high humidity and rainfall during the [[Monsoon]]. The Simlipal Hills influence the weather substantially and exhibit higher rainfall and lower maximum temperatures than the rest of the district. The average annual rainfall is around {{cvt|164|cm}}. Summer temperatures in Baripada can occasionally cross 45-degree Celsius but thunderstorms in the evening are common which have a moderating influence. Minimum temperature in winter can go down to 8 degrees. Fog occurs occasionally during winters.

== Transport ==
The road network of Mayurbhanj is organised in a circular manner owing to the presence of the Simlipal Hills and forest in the centre of the district, which were first constructed in the early 20th century by the rulers of the state.{{sfn|Senapati|Sahu|1967|page=273}} [[National Highway 18 (India)|National Highway 18]] takes off from the [[Kolkata]]-[[Chennai]] highway near Simulia in Balasore. It shortly thereafter enters the district and passes the major villages of Baisinga, [[Betnoti]] and Krushnachandrapur before crossing Baripada and Jharpokharia. It finally exits the district at Jamsola to enter [[East Singhbhum district]] for a total length of {{cvt|86|km}}.

[[National Highway 49 (India)|National Highway 49]] also enters the district at Jamsola. It then crosses [[Bangriposi]] and [[Jashipur]] before entering Kendujhar district. This is the main highway connecting Kolkata with [[Mumbai]] and therefore sees heavy traffic throughout the year. [[National Highway 220 (India)|National Highway 220]] covers the stretch from [[Karanjia]] to Tiring passing through Jashipur and Rairangpur on the way. [[State Highway 19 (Odisha)|Odisha state highway 19]] is another important state highways link the district headquarter [[Baripada]] from [[Jaleswar]], [[Udala]] and [[Gopiballavpur I]] of West Bengal.

The [[Mayurbhanj State Railway]] was a {{Track gauge|2ft 6in}} [[narrow gauge]] line funded by the [[Mayurbhanj State]] that connected Talbandh in the Simlipal Hills to [[Rupsa]] on the [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] mainline, mainly to carry timber. The major stations en route were Bangriposi and Baripada. The line was shut down in 2002 and reopened after conversion to [[broad gauge]] in 2007. The Talbandh-Bangriposi stretch has been abandoned for many years now and the line terminates at the latter station. The total length within the district is {{cvt|83|km}}. Another electrified broad-gauge line from [[Jamshedpur]] enters the district at Bahalda before splitting at Aunlajhori. One branch goes to Badampahar while the other terminates at [[Gorumahisani]]. The total length of these lines is about {{cvt|63|km}} and they are used exclusively to ferry iron ore from the mines at the above locations. Both these routes fall under the [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]].

Mayurbhanj has no active airports, although [[RAF Amarda Road]] was a major base for the [[Royal Air Force]] and the [[United States Army Air Forces]] during [[World War II]]. Another abandoned airfield, once used by the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, is located at Rajabasa near Baripada. However, the nearest [[Kalaikunda Air Force Station]], located in [[Kharagpur]], is used for official purposes.

== Administration ==
The district is headed by the Collector and [[District magistrate]], usually an officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS) who oversees development, revenue collection and maintenance of law and order. He is assisted at headquarters by two Additional District Magistrates (ADM) and a number of Deputy Collectors. Various line departments ranging from Agriculture and Education to Health are operate under the Collector's supervision. There are four territorial subdivisions of the district – Sadar (headquartered at Baripada), Kaptipada ([[Udala]]), Bamanghaty ([[Rairangpur]]) and Panchpir ([[Karanjia]]) composing 26 [[CD block|blocks]], 382 [[Gram panchayat]]s and 3945 villages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayurbhanj/District Court in India {{!}} Official Website of District Court of India |url=https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/mayurbhanj |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=districts.ecourts.gov.in}}</ref> Each subdivision is headed by a Sub Collector cum Sub Divisional Magistrate who reports to the Collector. Except for the Sadar Sub Collector, who is often an IAS officer, the other Sub Collectors and ADMs belong to the Odisha Administrative Service.

The police force is headed by a Superintendent of Police belonging to the [[Indian Police Service]] who is assisted by Additional SPs at headquarters and SDPOs at subdivisional headquarters. There are a total of 32 police stations – each headed by an Inspector or Sub Inspector in-charge. While the Superintendent reports on general law and order matters to the District Magistrate, he is almost completely independent in practice as far as the police force is concerned.

Each subdivision is further divided into blocks and tahsils. The former are development units headed by a Block Development Officer. Each block is divided into numerous Gram Panchayats (GPs) for a total of 404 in the district. The GPs and Blocks report to the Project Director, District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), an ADM rank officer. The Collector is the CEO of DRDA and thus exercises direct control over its functioning. The tahsils on the other hand are revenue subdivisions with the Tahsildar also being an Executive Magistrate and reporting to the Sub Collector. He is assisted by a number of Revenue Inspectors and Amins. The district has a total of 26 blocks and tahsils, the highest in Odisha.

The Simlipal National Park, while formally a part of the four subdivisions noted above, is in practice under a Field Director belonging to the [[Indian Forest Service]] (IFS). The Deputy Director, also an IFS officer, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Park. Three other Divisional Forest Officers are in charge of the forests outside the National Park area.

The Judiciary is headed by a District and Sessions Judge who exercises both criminal and civil jurisdiction. He also enjoys revisionary powers over certain orders of the District Magistrate and Sub Divisional Magistrates. He is assisted on the civil side by Civil Judges of senior and junior divisions and on the criminal side by Chief Judicial Magistrate and Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrates.

== Demographics ==
{{historical populations
|cols=2
|align=right
|[[1872 Census of india|1872]]|258,680
|[[1881 Census of India|1881]]|385,737
|[[1891 Census of India|1891]]|{{formatnum:532223}}
|[[1901 Census of India|1901]]|{{formatnum:610383}}
|[[1911 Census of India|1911]]|{{formatnum:729218}}
|[[1921 Census of India|1921]]|{{formatnum:754314}}
|[[1931 Census of India|1931]]|{{formatnum:889603}}
|[[1941 Census of India|1941]]|{{formatnum:984741}}
|[[1951 census of India|1951]]|{{formatnum:1028825}}
|[[1961 census of India|1961]]|{{formatnum:1204043}}
|[[1971 census of India|1971]]|{{formatnum:1434200}}
|[[1981 census of India|1981]]|{{formatnum:1581873}}
|[[1991 census of India|1991]]|{{formatnum:1884580}}
|[[2001 census of India|2001]]|{{formatnum:2223456}}
|[[2011 census of India|2011]]|{{formatnum:2519738}}
|[[2021 census of India|2021]] ({{estimated}})|{{formatnum:2741398}}
|source=Mayurbhanj [[district Gazetteer]] & [[Census of India]]{{sfn|Senapati |Sahu| 1967|pages=92–93}}<ref>{{Cite web|title= A-2 DECADAL VARIATION IN POPULATION SINCE 1901 (21 A-2 Odisha)|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A-2_Data_Tables/21%20A-2%20Odisha.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617091440/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A-2_Data_Tables/21%20A-2%20Odisha.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2014 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://india.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/unfpa_district_level_population_projections_book_-_with_cover.pdf |title=District level population projections in selected states of India 2021 & 2026 |website=[[United Nations Population Fund|United Nations Population Fund India]] |date=5 January 2024 |page=76 }}</ref>}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Mayurbhanj district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 2,519,738,<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite web |title=District Census Handbook 2011 – Mayurbhanj|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/956/download/36692/DH_2011_2107_PART_A_DCHB_MAYURBHANJ.pdf|website=[[Census of India]]|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Kuwait]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote =Kuwait 2,595,62
 }}</ref> or the US state of [[Nevada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
 |title=2010 Resident Population Data
 |publisher=U. S. Census Bureau
 |access-date=2011-09-30
 |quote=Nevada 2,700,551
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
 |archive-date=19 October 2013
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 171st in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]). The state also held the 3rd rank in India in terms of the number of villages, with 3,950 villages.<ref>{{cite web|title=A-01: Number of villages, towns, households, population and area (India, states/UTs, districts and Sub-districts) - 2011|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42526/download/46152/A-1_NO_OF_VILLAGES_TOWNS_HOUSEHOLDS_POPULATION_AND_AREA.xlsx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804083436/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/42526/download/46152/A-1_NO_OF_VILLAGES_TOWNS_HOUSEHOLDS_POPULATION_AND_AREA.xlsx |archive-date=4 August 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref> The district has a population density of {{convert|241|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}. Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 13.06%. Mayurbhanj has a [[sex ratio]] of 1006 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males, much higher than the Indian average of 940 and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 63.17%, slightly lower than the Indian average. 7.66% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.33% and 58.72% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus /> The bulk of the population is concentrated in the Sadar and Kaptipada subdivisions which border the fertile coastal Odisha plains and are part of an extensive rice growing region. Bamanghat also has a large population engaged in agriculture and industry.

{{Static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-hash" style="text-align:center;font-size: 9pt"
|+ Statistical Data of Mayurbhanj District – 2011 Census<ref>{{Cite web |title= PCA: Primary Census Abstract C.D. Block wise, Odisha – District Mayurbhanj – 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/41054/download/44685/PCA_CDB-2107-F-Census.xlsx |publisher= Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India }}</ref>
! colspan="4" |Administration
! colspan="6" |Population
! colspan="2" |Education
! colspan="3" |Employment
|-
! |[[Community development block|Block]] !! Area {{nobold|(km<sup>2</sup>)}}{{efn|name=Area|The block-wise area in the presented table does not correspond to the district's geographical area of 10,418 square kilometers. This discrepancy is due to the exclusion of Reserved Forest areas, which account for 3,325.89 square kilometers as of the year 2020. In terms of classification, Mayurbhanj district encompasses 3,325.89 square kilometers of Reserved Forest area, 77.98 square kilometers of Demarcated Protected Area, 65.75 square kilometers of Un-demarcated Forest area, 2.2 square kilometers of Unclassified Forest area, and 814.73 square kilometers of Other Forest areas. In total, the forest cover in Mayurbhanj district spans 4,458.1 square kilometers, representing 42.79% of the district's total area.<ref name=Handbook2020>{{cite web|title= District Statistical Hand Book Mayurbhanj, 2020 |publisher=Directorate of Economics & Statistics Planning and Convergence Department Government of Odisha |url=https://www.desorissa.nic.in/pdf/dshb-mayurbhanj-2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028135753/http://www.desorissa.nic.in/pdf/dshb-mayurbhanj-2020.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2023}}</ref>}} !! Gram panchayat !! Village !! Total {{abbr|pop.|Population}} !! Density !! Sex ratio {{nobold|{{Nowrap|(♀/♂)}}}}!! SC !! ST !! Others !! Literacy rate !! [[Gender gap in education|Gender gap in literacy]] !! {{abbr|WPR| Work Participation Rate}}!! Main worker !! Marginal worker
|- class="sorttop"
! [[Odisha]]|| 155707 || 6798 || 53845 || 41,974,218 || 270 || 979 || 17.13 || 22.85 || 60.02 || 72.83 || 17.58 || 41.79 || 61.04 || 38.96
|- class="sorttop"
! Mayurbhanj || 10418 || 382 || 3,950 || 2,519,738 || 242 || 1006 || 7.33 || 58.72 || 33.95 || 63.17 || 21.05 || 48.56 || 44.82 || 55.18
|-
| Bahalda || 266.62 || 12 || 104 || 86081 || 333 || 986 || 6.23 || 58.05 || 35.72 || 63.79 || 23.81 || 48.12 || 39.24 || 60.76
|-
| Bangriposi || 300.16 || 18 || 227 || 103,880 || 347 || 1002 || 5.37 || 69.66 || 24.97 || 58.58 || 23.12 || 50.16 || 36.63 || 63.37
|-
| Baripada || 193.02 || 11 || 102 || 69,782 || 362 || 961 || 2.65 || 74.11 || 23.24 || 58.01 || 21.31 || 52.04 || 46.96 || 53.04
|-
| Badsahi || 312.15 || 30 || 224 || 146,232 || 469 || 988 || 9.59 || 50.69 || 39.72 || 64.31 || 18.87 || 50.45 || 45.82 || 54.18
|-
| Betnoti || 298.31 || 22 || 227 || 150,434 || 505 || 987 || 11.08 || 41.13 || 47.78 || 66.65 || 19.03 || 46.43 || 43.35 || 56.65
|-
| Bijatola || 256.62 || 10 || 153 || 64,193 || 251 || 1026 || 4.16 || 75.75 || 20.09 || 55.85 || 26.11 || 54.29 || 47.61 || 52.39
|-
| Bisoi || 330.48 || 10 || 156 || 74,572 || 226 || 1051 || 4.78 || 69.36 || 25.86 || 60.71 || 24.84 || 53.83 || 41.98 || 58.02
|-
| G.B. Nagar || 163.96 || 13 || 132 || 75,345 || 460 || 1012 || 13.52 || 55.36 || 31.12 || 65.07 || 20.2 || 45.32 || 55.02 || 44.98
|-
| Jamda || 206.63 || 8 || 79 || 59,402 || 288 || 1064 || 4.94 || 73.47 || 21.59 || 60.21 || 26.81 || 50.03 || 43.68 || 56.32
|-
| Jashipur || 443.12 || 20 || 228 || 101,058 || 229 || 1027 || 7.18 || 69.78 || 23.04 || 56.85 || 20.88 || 52.81 || 43.86 || 56.14
|-
| Kaptipada || 626.73 || 26 || 155 || 148,717 || 238 || 997 || 3.94 || 66.61 || 29.46 || 54.5 || 20.92 || 45.72 || 43.29 || 56.71
|-
| Karanjia || 314.76 || 13 || 156 || 91,518 || 291 || 1020 || 6.94 || 67.87 || 25.2 || 60.37 || 20.33 || 48.56 || 42.45 || 57.55
|-
| Khunta || 222.23 || 14 || 132 || 74,155 || 334 || 1034 || 4.49 || 79.03 || 16.48 || 60.06 || 21.97 || 55.86 || 48.73 || 51.27
|-
| Kuliana || 299.77 || 17 || 235 || 101,151 || 338 || 994 || 6.48 || 66.28 || 27.24 || 62.34 || 21.77 || 47.81 || 41.22 || 58.78
|-
| Kusumi || 312.99 || 12 || 114 || 93,116 || 298 || 1045 || 7.03 || 64.18 || 28.79 || 59.75 || 24.38 || 50.63 || 40.82 || 59.18
|-
| Morada || 284.01 || 20 || 169 || 103,775 || 366 || 1012 || 11.82 || 44.03 || 44.15 || 64.62 || 21.63 || 50.25 || 46.4 || 53.6
|-
| Rairangpur || 205.43 || 9 || 109 || 60,565 || 295 || 1038 || 8.05 || 53.5 || 38.45 || 64.02 || 23.32 || 45.57 || 55.19 || 44.81
|-
| Raruan || 212.53 || 12 || 110 || 66,504 || 313 || 1010 || 7.57 || 53.64 || 38.79 || 62.99 || 21.97 || 49.83 || 36.47 || 63.53
|-
| Rasgovindpur || 231.91 || 15 || 177 || 96,526 || 417 || 978 || 11.79 || 54.61 || 33.6 || 66.21 || 21.45 || 44.96 || 36.94 || 63.06
|-
| Samkhunta || 192.24 || 14 || 136 || 79,883 || 416 || 1002 || 4.79 || 66.73 || 28.48 || 59.12 || 19.28 || 50.17 || 48.7 || 51.3
|-
| Saraskana || 311.84 || 15 || 200 || 100,816 || 324 || 981 || 6.47 || 57.86 || 35.66 || 63.55 || 23.22 || 48.69 || 33.28 || 66.72
|-
| Sukruli || 174.05 || 9 || 90 || 60,577 || 349 || 1031 || 7.02 || 62.97 || 30.01 || 64.12 || 20.28 || 40.02 || 38.76 || 61.24
|-
| Suliapada || 278.74 || 15 || 193 || 102,263 || 367 || 989 || 6.39 || 40.51 || 53.09 || 66.18 || 20.64 || 56.13 || 37.45 || 62.55
|-
| Thakurmunda || 427.51 || 16 || 173 || 104,694 || 245 || 1044 || 4.5 || 74.93 || 20.58 || 51.68 || 22.69 || 50.99 || 42.11 || 57.89
|-
| Tiring || 168.86 || 10 || 80 || 57,076 || 339 || 1022 || 5.47 || 74.57 || 19.96 || 60.74 || 26.82 || 50.93 || 42.46 || 57.54
|-
| Udala || 209.3 || 11 || 89 || 76,147 || 364 || 998 || 5.56 || 74.39 || 20.05 || 61.4 || 21.37 || 53.55 || 42.99 || 57.01
|-
| [[Baripada]] (M) || 33.37 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 109,743 || 3289 || 936 || 11.37 || 15.18 || 73.45 || 88.52 || 8.19 || 33.61 || 84.76 || 15.24
|-
| [[Karanjia]] (N.A.C.) || 18.64 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 22,865 || 1227 || 1017 || 15.17 || 29.13 || 55.7 || 83.35 || 11.34 || 33.98 || 85.97 || 14.03
|-
| [[Rairangpur]] (N.A.C.) || 14.38 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 25,516 || 1775 || 1022 || 8.85 || 18.64 || 72.51 || 86.54 || 9.84 || 33.39 || 84.09 || 15.91
|-
| [[Udala]] (N.A.C.) || 7.89 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || 13,152 || 1667 || 963 || 7.49 || 25.11 || 67.4 || 87.79 || 8.8 || 37.86 || 77.81 || 22.19
|}

=== Tribes and communities ===
The [[Odia people]] form the largest population segment. Their castes are the same as that of the neighbouring district of Balasore. A distinctive feature is the presence of many communities that originally hailed from [[West Bengal]] but have completely integrated with the Odia population in the last two centuries. The Odias are especially dominant in the Kaptipada subdivision and in the adjoining blocks of Sadar. Odia Scheduled Castes make up 7.32% of the population and belong to a wide variety of groups, with no one community dominating.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Tribals are the largest group forming 58.72% of the population. The [[Santal people]] are the largest tribe and are the second-largest group in the district as a whole. Increasingly, the Santals settled in Mayurbhanj acquired some degree of fluency in [[Odia language|Odia]] while continuing to speak Santali among themselves. The [[Ho people]] form the second largest tribal group followed by the [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]]. All three tribes speak languages that are a part of the [[Munda languages]] family and are therefore distinct from the prevalent [[Indo Aryan]] languages of Odia, [[Hindi]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]], that are spoken nearby. The Bhumij, on the other hand, have mostly adopted Odia as their language. Other tribes include the Odia-speaking [[Bathudi Tribe|Bathudi]], [[Bhuiya|Bhuyan]] and [[Gondi people|Gonds]], as well as the [[Sounti]] and [[Kharia people|Kharia]]. As per 1931 census, the district comprised 131 different communities, primarily by [[Santal people|Santal]] (28.61%), [[Ho people|Ho (Kolha)]] (12.07%), [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]] (8.71%), [[Kudmi Mahato]] (6.77%), [[Bathudi Tribe|Bathudi]] (5.19%), [[Gopal (caste)|Goura]] (4.39%), Pana Tanti (3.38%), [[Bhuyan]] (2.62%), [[Khandayat (caste)|Khandaita]] (2.23%), [[Puran (caste)|Bhanja Purana]] (2.2%) and other communities like [[Kamar (caste)|Kamar]], [[Kumhar|Kumbhar]], [[Gondi people|Gond]], [[Kharia people|Kharia]], [[Brahmin caste|Brahmin]], [[Teli]], [[Sounti|Saunti]], [[Dhobi|Dhoba]], [[Tanti]], [[Golla (caste)|Gola]], [[Dom (caste)|Dom]], [[Barika (caste)|Bhandari]], [[Karan (caste)|Karana]], [[Patra (caste)|Patra]], Baisnaba, [[Ghasi]], [[Sadgop]], [[Mahli tribe|Mahali]], Sabara, Amanta, [[Sundhi]], Pan (Jena Pan), Purana, Keut, [[Hadi]], Dhandachhatra Majhi, [[Raju]], [[Kshatriyas of Odisha|Kshatriya]], Ujia, [[Bagal (caste)|Bagal]], Gouria, Rarhi, [[Kurukh people|Oraon]], Baisa, Karua, Thatari, Sahara, [[Kayastha]], [[Rajuar]], [[Munda people|Munda]] constitute 20.35% with each community shared by 0.9% to 2.0%. The rest of 3.24% was shared by minority communities whose population below 1,000 in the district.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Laeequddin |first=Muhammad |url= |title=Census of Mayurbhanj State 1931 |year=1935 |volume=II |location=Calcutta |language=English |jstor=saoa.crl.25352831 |oclc=496724918}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Mayurbhanj district (2011)<ref name="census2011-religion">{{cite web|title=Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11387/download/14500/DDW21C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=Census of India, 2011|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Odisha|Hinduism]]|darkorange|83.86}}
{{bar percent|{{tooltip|ORP|Other religions and persuasions (incl.Unclassified Sect.)}}|maroon|13.96}}
{{bar percent|[[Odia Muslims|Islam]]|green|1.34}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Odisha|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|0.60}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]], [[Sikhism]] and [[Jainism]]|pink|0.04}}
{{bar percent|Not stated|black|0.21}}
|caption=*''ORP mostly adherents of [[Sarnaism]]''
}}

According to the 2011 Census {{percent and number|2113079|2519738|2}} people are Hindus, {{percent and number|33706|2519738|2}} are Muslims, {{percent and number|15008|2519738|2}} are Christians, {{percent and number|661|2519738|2}} are Sikhs, {{percent and number|162|2519738|2}} are Buddhist, {{percent and number|109|2519738|2}} Jains, and {{percent and number|5299|2519738|2}} didn't stated any religious affiliation, while the rest {{percent and number|351714|2519738|2}} are adherent of tribal faiths (primarily [[Sarnaism]]) and other unclassified sect and beliefs.<ref name="census2011-religion"/> Hinduism in the district is practiced by most of its inhabitants through various sects and a blend of traditions, with a legacy of {{c.|8th}}-century [[Shaktism]] at the [[Kichakeshwari Temple]] in [[Khiching]], {{c.|15th}}-century [[Vaishnavism]] in [[Haripur Gada|Haripur]], alongside the ancient [[Jagannath|Jagannath cult]], and the  {{fl.|{{c.|16th|19th}}}}-century [[Shri Shri Hari Baladev Jew Bije, Baripada|Jagannath]] and Ambika Temples in [[Baripada]]. The tribals, who make up more than half of the district's population, also adherent of [[Folk Hinduism|Hinduism]] with a substantial amount of tribal rites and rituals. The [[Sarnaism|Sarna religion]] grew in the district as a tribal religion after the 1940s, promoted by Santali ideologist [[Raghunath Murmu]], with initially 2,576 and 1,498 [[Santals]] of Rairangpur subdivision of the district (also make the total adherent of Odisha state) recorded as adherents in the 1951 and 1961 census respectively,<ref>{{cite book|last=Ahmed |first=M. |title=General Population, Social and Cultural and Land Tables, Part II-A, Tables, Volume-XI, Orissa - Census 1951 |page= 123 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/30727/download/33908/45683_1971_GPS.pdf |publisher=Director of Census Operations, Orissa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130171740/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/30727/download/33908/45683_1971_GPS.pdf |archive-date=30 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Ahmed |first= M. |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/32458/download/35639/45304_1961_SC_ST.pdf |title=Tables on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Part-V-A, Volume-XII, Orissa - Census 1961 |year=1965 |publisher=Director of Census Operations, Orissa|pages=414, 429 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207041928/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/32458/download/35639/45304_1961_SC_ST.pdf |archive-date= 7 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> a figure that increased to 87,839 (and 91,857 in whole Odisha) in the following census; with substantial growth, it became the second most-followed religion in the district.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tripathi |first=B. |year=1984|title=Portrait of Population, Series-16, Orissa - Census 1971 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31500/download/34681/40830_1971_POR.pdf |publisher=Director of Census Operations, Orissa|pages=264–265, 268–271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218051428/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31500/download/34681/40830_1971_POR.pdf |archive-date= 18 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahapatra |first=Sitakant |url=https://archive.org/details/modernizationrit0000maha/ |title=Modernization and ritual : identity and change in Santal society |date=1986 |publisher=Calcutta; New York : Oxford University Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-19-561794-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Behuria |first=N. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z11uAAAAMAAJ |title=Orissa State Gazetteer |volume=I |date=1990 |publisher=Gazetteers Unit, Department of Revenue, Government of Orissa |language=en}}</ref>

Muslims and Christians comprise a tiny minority. The former are almost all migrants from Coastal Odisha except for a sizeable population of Bihari Muslims near the border with [[Chaibasa]]. They immigrated into the district after {{circa|18th century}}, settling mainly in urban areas, and by the 1891 census, the district was inhabited by 2,982 Muslims, mostly from the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni sect]]. Christians in the district are mostly converts from tribal communities, with 85.31% (12,803 out of 15,008 adherents) belonging to tribal groups such as the Santals, Kolhas (Ho), Mundas, and Bhumijs.<ref>{{cite web|title=ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (district level), Odisha, district Mayurbhanj - 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/12247/download/15360/ST-21-07-14-DDW-2011.XLS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218092028/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/12247/download/15360/ST-21-07-14-DDW-2011.XLS |archive-date=18 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Historically, Christianity was not prevalent among the district's inhabitants but gradually gained followers after  {{circa|18th century}} through [[Christian missionary|missionary efforts]]. Initially, 783 person returned as Christian in 1911 census, contributed by the Roman Catholic Church (1879) and the Evangelical Church (1896), established in the district headquarters, Baripada, a town that had recorded only 20 Christians in the previous census.{{sfn|Senapati|Sahu|1967|page=128}} [[Kate Allenby (missionary)|Kate Allenby]], one of the [[missionaries]], who made significant contributions to the spread of Christianity, along with welfare of the population. Buddhism and Jainism, although forming an insignificant portion of the current population, historically flourished in the region before the emergence of the [[Bhanja dynasty]]. At present, semi-Buddhistic practices, including the worship of [[Mahayana]] deities such as [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara]] and [[Avalokiteshvara]] under different names, are observed in some rural areas.

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages of Mayurbhanj district (2011)<ref name="census2011-langreport" />
|label1 = [[Odia language|Odia]] |value1 = 54.33 |color1 = saddlebrown
|label2 = [[Santali language|Santali]] |value2 = 24.81 |color2 = darkturquoise
|label3 = [[Ho language|Ho]] |value3 = 7.58 |color3 = deepskyblue
|label4 = [[Mundari language|Mundari]] |value4 = 3.92 |color4 = teal
|label5 = [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]] |value5 = 2.77 |color5 = darkgoldenrod
|label6 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]] |value6 = 1.34 |color6 = orchid
|label7 = Others |value7 = 5.25 |color7 = Grey
|footer = The Kurmali dialect spoken in the district has been [[Language shift|replaced]] by the [[Manbhumi dialect]] of Bengali.{{efn|(G. A. Grierson 1903. ''Linguistic survey of India'', Vol. '''V''' (II), p. 146): "In the Orissa Tributary States, the Kuṛmī nearly all talk Bengali, although living in an Oriya speaking country."<br/>
(L. S. S. O'Malley 1913, p. 188): In Mayurbhanj it [Kurmali] is usually called Kurmi Bengali or Kurumali Bengali, as well as simply Kurmi. With regard to its character, the late Maharaja of Mayurbhanj wrote as follows :— "The mother-tongue of the Kurmis of Mayurbhanj is Bengali, with the peculiar intonation belonging to them. These Kurmis have, as a rule, come from Midnapore and settled permanently in Mayurbhanj. Their dialect shows traces of Hindi and Oriya as well but it can not be called either."<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Malley |first=L.S.S. |title=Census of India, 1911|others=Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and Sikkim, Vol. V. Part-I (report)|publisher=Bengal Secretariat Book Depot |year=1913 |pages=388–389 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/31808/download/34989/48808_1911_REP.pdf}}</ref><br/>
{{harv|Laeequddin|1937|page=241}}: "The situation, however, is not the same with regard to the Kurmis. They had their own language, Kurmali, which they have abandoned in large numbers in favour of the peculiar form of Bengali spoken by them, which they brought with them into the [Mayurbhanj] State in the course of their migration through [[Manbhum]] and [[Midnapore district|Midnapore]]."}}
}}

At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 54.33% of the population in the district spoke [[Odia language|Odia]], 24.81% [[Santali language|Santali]], 7.58% [[Ho language|Ho]], 3.92% [[Mundari language|Mundari]], 2.77% [[Kurmali language|Kurmali]] and 1.34% [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as their first language.<ref name="census2011-langreport">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Odisha|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10217/download/13329/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2100.XLSX|website=Census of India 2011 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

[[File:Mayurbhanj district's language distribution map.gif|center|thumb|Police station-wise language distribution in the district, 2011 census|270x270px]]

By linguistic family, 60.6% of the population speaks [[Indo-European languages]], 36.7% speaks [[Austroasiatic languages]], 0.2% speaks [[Dravidian languages]], and 2.5% speaks other unclassified languages.<ref name="census2011-langreport" /> The Austroasiatic languages are mainly spoken by Scheduled Tribes, who are also fluent in Odia alongside their native language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ST-15: Scheduled tribe by mother tongue (for each tribe separately) (State/UT level), Odisha - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/12553/download/15666/ST-21-00-15-DDW-2011.XLSX |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> The Mayurbhanj dialect, locally known as ''Mayurbhanjia'', closely resembles Coastal Odisha's [[Baleswari Odia]] but incorporates certain tribal words for everyday objects, especially in villages. The native language of Santali is largely used in its spoken form, Odia or Hindi being preferred for writing. The [[Ol Chiki script]] is rarely seen and the Odia script is used to write other tribal languages as well. Bengali is used in the parts of Sadar subdivision that adjoin Jhargram district, although there is significant Odia admixture. Kudmali is another important language, primarily spoken by the Kudumi Mahato in the border areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Where they have significant population. Other tribal languages include [[Ho language|Ho]] and [[Bhumij language|Bhumij]] (sometimes regarded as a Mundari dialect).{{efn|name=Bhumij|A significant number of Bhumij are recorded as speaking 'Bhumijali' in the census, which is classified as a dialect of Odia, although this could be another name for the [[Bhumij language|Bhumij dialect]] of [[Mundari language|Mundari]].}} [[Lodhi language|Lodha]] is spoken by several thousand people.

== Culture and heritage ==
Mayurbhanj District in Odisha is known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions. The district celebrates two prominent festivals, Makar Parva and Karama Parva. The famous Chhau dance, a dynamic dance form, has gained worldwide recognition. Mayurbhanj District is also associated with Jhumar, a popular traditional folk song that reflects the community's celebrations, marriages, social functions, sorrows, and joys.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Culture & Heritage {{!}} Mayurbhanj District, Government of Odisha {{!}} India |url=https://mayurbhanj.nic.in/culture-heritage/ |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Ratha Yatra ===
[[File:Devotees in Baripada Ratha Jatra 2023.jpg|thumb|Baripada Ratha Jatra]]
In Baripada, Lord Jagannath is worshipped as Shri Shri Haribaldev Mahaprabhu, alongside the revered Puri temple. The Haribaldev temple in Baripada, built in 1575 A.D., is made of laterite stone with intricate designs. It features Vimana, Jagamohan, and Nata Mandira structures and is surrounded by a boundary wall. The temple is well-preserved and hosts the annual Car festival, during which the three deities are brought to the Radhamohan Temple (Mausimaa Mandir) for a two-day event. The Baripada Car festival involves women exclusively in pulling Maa Subhadra's chariot.

=== Chhau dance ===
[[File:Chhau-4b.jpg|thumb|Ravana character in Mayurbhanj Chhau]]
Mayurbhanj [[Chhau dance]], which has gained global recognition, such as UNESCO cultural heritage for its artistry and vigor. It draws inspiration from various sources, including the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, folk traditions, and tribal elements.Chhau is glorious heritage of Mayurbhanj. The enlightened kings of Mayurbhanj like Maharaja Shriram Chandra Bhanjdeo and Pratap Chandra Bhanjdeo, one of the builders of modern Orissa composed the famous “War-Dance” and presented the same in 1912 at Calcutta in honor of George V, the British emperor, who got dazed at the beauty and splendor of Mayurbhanj Chhau and appreciations were showered from the press and the elites.

The fame of Mayurbhanj’s Chhau has crossed geographical limitations and has claimed world wide fans for its beauty, vigor and marvel of the art. Every year in Baripada, Chhau dance is organized at the famous Chhau field in Baripada.

=== Jhumar ===
[[File:LTD7K 5733 resize.JPG|thumb|Jhumar folk dance]]

[[Jhumair|Jhumar]], a popular traditional folk song and dance form. Jhumar is performed on various occasions, such as weddings, festivals and social functions. It features lively music, rhythmic beats, and energetic dance movements. The songs depict themes of love, romance, and everyday life experiences. Jhumar serves as a cultural expression and preserving the folk traditions and heritage of the region.<ref name=":2" />

=== Amarda Road Airstrip ===
{{main|Amarda Road Airstrip}}
[[File:Wing Commander Frank Carey, Officer Commanding the Air Firing Training Unit, based at Amarda Road, India, standing by the nose of a Hawker Hurricane, April 1943. CI171.jpg|thumb|Wing Commander Frank Carey, Officer Commanding the Air Firing Training Unit, based at Amarda Road, India, standing by the nose of a Hawker Hurricane, April 1943. ]]
The Amarda Road airstrip has played a vital role in the defence of India during the second World War. It came into existence during the war as a forward airfield against the Japanese conquest of Burma. Known to be the longest runway in Asia, measuring over 3.5 km, this large strip served its purpose well as a landing ground for planes and also as a training space for special bombing missions. The Amarda Road airstrip spreads across an area of nearly 900 acres.

=== Rasik Ray Temple ===
[[File:Restored Rasik Ray Temple (Wide view).jpg|thumb|Restored Rasik Ray Temple built by Maharaj Baidyanath Bhanja of Bhanja dynasty.]]
Maharaja Baidyanath Bhanja built the brick temple of Rasika Raya as a tribute to his chosen tutelary god in the unique Gaudiya Vaishnavism style of architecture.The temple made of burnt bricks has richly decorated facades. Though this temple is in ruins today, it is widely regarded as the pinnacle of temple architecture of that period.This temple bears a striking similarity to the temples found in Bishnupur in West Bengal with its embellishments and depiction of stories from Hindu scriptures. The curvilinear roof form similar to the ''chala'' style is one of the distinctive features of the Gaudiya style of architecture.

===Cusine===
[[File:Mudhi Mansa.jpg|thumb|Mudhi Mansa]]
Mayurbhanj is proud of its traditional food like Mudhi Mansa, Dal Khechidi, ram ruchuka. The influence of very exotic food like Jal – Ghantei ( made of pond snails ) and Red ant chutney can be also seen among locals.

== Notable people ==
{{Main|Category:People from Mayurbhanj district}}
<!-- 🛑 Add only highly influential people -->
* [[Droupadi Murmu]], 15th and current [[President of India]]
* [[G. C. Murmu]], 14th [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]]
* [[Soumya Ranjan Patnaik]], politician and founder of Sambad news paper
* [[Uttam Mohanty]], Odia actor
* [[Raghunath Murmu]], Santali writer 
* [[Papu Pom Pom]], Odia actor
* [[Purnima Hembram]], athletes 
* [[Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo]], rulers

== See also ==
* [[Mayurbhanj State]]
* [[Simlipal National Park]]
* [[Khiching]]
* [[Belgadia Palace]]

== References ==
=== Footnotes ===
{{notelist}}

===Sources===
{{Reflist}}

=== Gazetteers ===
* {{Cite book |last=Laeequddin |first=Muhammad |title=Census of Mayurbhanj State 1931 |year=1937 |volume=I |location=Calcutta |publisher=Caledonin Printing Company |url=http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/116045 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.116045 |archive-date=17 January 2017 |jstor=saoa.crl.25352830 
|jstor-access=free
|oclc=496724918}}
* {{Cite web |last1=Senapati |first1=Nilamani |last2=Sahu |first2=Nabin Kumar |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Mayurbhanj |url=http://www.indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/orissa-district-gazetteers-mayurbhanj |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |publisher=Superintendent Orissa Government Press |year=1967 |location=Cuttack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.08557 |archive-date=4 March 2021|language=en}}
* {{Cite book |editor-last1=Taradatt |editor-first1=Dr |editor-last2=Basa |editor-first2=Kishor K |title=Odisha District Gazetteer (Mayurbhanj)|url=http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Mayurbhanj_Gazetteer.pdf|url-status=live|publisher=Gopabandhu Academy of Administration [Gazetters Unit], General Administration Department Government Of Odisha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507215956/http://gopabandhuacademy.gov.in/sites/default/files/gazetter/Mayurbhanj_Gazetteer.pdf |archive-date=2021-05-07 }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://mayurbhanj.nic.in/}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Mayurbhanj district
|North     = [[Seraikela Kharsawan district]], Jharkhand
|Northeast = [[Purbi Singhbhum district]], Jharkhand
|East      = [[Paschim Medinipur district]], West Bengal
|Southeast = [[Baleshwar district]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Kendujhar district]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[West Singhbhum district]], Jharkhand
}}

{{Mayurbhanj district}}
{{Odisha}}
{{Mahanadi Basin}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mayurbhanj district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Odisha]]