Dharakot is a semi-urban village and former zamindari estate in Dharakot Community Development Block of Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha.

Geography

Dharakot is located at 19.38°N, 84.34°W. NH-59 (Gopalpur-Khariar) passes through the town. It is located about 12 km north-west from Asika and 55 km from Silk City Brahmapur. Administratively it consists of three subdivisions: Jahada with 85 villages, Kunanogada with 37 villages, and Sahasrango with 66 villages.

Villages of Dharakot

History

This place was earlier under Khindirisrunga (ଖିଣ୍ଡିରିଶୃଙ୍ଗ) or Khidisingi (ଖିଡ଼ିସିଙ୍ଗି) Mandala which comprised present day Surada, Dharakot, Sheragada blocks of Ganjam district (also includes some parts of Mohana block of Gajapati district).

Rajas of Khidisingi

In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi (Sorada) kingdom into four different estates due to early demise of his elder son. Dharakot went to his second son, Raja Hadu Singh.

Rajas of Dharakot Estate

Rani Sulakshana Geetanjali Devi is the present Rani Saheb of Dharakot since 28 May 2010.

Tourist destinations

The Jagannath Mandir and Dharakot Maharaja Palace are famous tourist destinations here.

Jagannath Mandir

The Jagannath Mandir, Dharakot is built in contemporary Kalingan architecture style by the Nala descendant Dharakot Zamindari family. The Ekadasi Rath Jatra (Cart festival) is the specialty and a different ritual compared to other Jagannath Mandirs around Odisha followed here. Around 40k-70k devotees visit during this festival.

Dharakot Maharaja Palace

This is a 600-years-old palace of the King of Dharakot. The palace is situated just beside the Jagannath Mandir.

Sati Chita (Sati's Pyre)

It is said that Raja Jaganath Singh (1788-1830), while returning to his Palace after a hunt, saw a ray of light coming from inside a hut. The Raja entered the hut and saw a holy man meditating in front of a fire. The Holy Man told the Raja that this was the place where Rani Chandama Devi had committed Sati. The Raja was impressed and immediately ordered the construction of a Math over that place, and later descendants of the Dharakot Royal family have kept the flame burning ever since, with the task of keeping the flame alive being entrusted to the Head Priests of the Math. The fire, known popularly as Sati Chita (Sati's Pyre) is tended to by a Mahant (Head Priest) at Sathi Math which is built on 9 acres of land at the entrance of Dharakot fort.

Educational Institutions

Banks in Dharakot

Politics

Dharakot is a part of Sanakhemundi Assembly Constituency. Current MLA from Sanakhemundi Assembly Constituency is Ramesh Chandra Jena of INC, who won the seat in State elections in 2019 and previously in 2009 after delimitation of seats. Previous MLA from this seat was Nandini Devi (2014) of BJD. Dharakot is a part of Aska (Lok Sabha constituency).