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Jajpur is situated on the right
bank of the Baitarani River at longitude 20051 N and latitude 86020 E. The
origin of the name of Jajpur is shrouded in mystery. Some scholars think
that it is derived from the word Yajnapura, while other scholars opine that
the name originated from Jajatipura. King Yajati of Somavansa was known to
have made a great yajna called Dasaswamedha at this place.
For this, he
brought 10,000 Brahmins from North India and settled them in various Sasanas
for which now we find a series of Brahmana Sasana villages in Jajpur area.
Some historians are of the opinion that Yajati Kesari made his capital here
and named the city as Jajapura. However recent research indicate that the
place has a hoary antiquity.
Otherwise known as Vaitarani
Tirtha, Jajpur with Goddess Viraja (Durga) as its presiding deity is one of
the sacred places of pilgrimage in Orissa. The place has its unique
importance in India as Navigaya Kshetra where pinda is offered for the
satisfaction of the ancestors. The shrine of Sweta Varaha (the white boar
incarnation of Vishnu) along with hundreds of other shrines here made Jajpur
a Tirtha par excellence. The "Dasavamedha Ghat", the flight of steps leading
to the Vaitarani where the ten horse sacrifices were performed is a great
sanctified spot for the Hindus.
Jajpur is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular
trains. Jajpur Keonjhar Road Railway Station is the nearest railhead at
Jajpur. Instead of going to Jajpur directly, you can a get a bus to
Chandikhol on regular basis.
In Jajpur,
taxis, buses and autos are available easily. There are a number of
moderately priced hotels in the town.
The nearest domestic airport is
Biju Patnaik International
Airport, located in Bhubaneswar, 106 km southwest of Jajpur. It is about
two and a half hours
drive to Biju Patnaik
International Airport from Jajpur. To make arrangements for a taxi from Airport
to Jajpur, contact one the taxi operators and travel agents that have
counter in the Airport.
Jajpur Quick Facts
State: Odisha
Languages: Oriya and Hindi
STD Code: 06726
Weather: Hot in summer and moderately cool in winter
Best Season: Winter, October to March
Famous For: Religious and Scenic |
