Nuapada District, an administrative district of Orissa, is located in the western part of the state. Nuapada is the administrative headquarters. Nuapada District lies between 20 degree north and 21 degree 5 minutes north latitudes and between 82 degree 20 minutes east and 82 degree 40 minutes east longitudes. Its boundaries extend in the north, west and south to Raipur District in Chhattisgarh and in the east to Barhgarh District, Balangir District and Kalahandi district. This district is spread over in an area of 3407.5 sq kms.
History of Nuapada District
Initially, Nuapada District was a part of Kalahandi District till early March 1993, but for the administrative convenience, Kalahandi District was divided into two parts - Kalahandi and Nuapada under the state government Notification on 27th March, 1993. Nuapada District was created on 1st of April, 1993 by carving out undivided Kalahandi District. Nuapada District now comprises one sub-division (Nuapada), two tehsils (Nuapada and Khariar) and five Community Development Blocks (Khariar, Sinapalli, Boden, Nuapada and Komna).
Geography of Nuapada District
The plains of Nuapada sub-division fringed by rugged hill ranges stretch southward, which belong to the main line of the Eastern Ghats and contain extensive plateaus of about 1200 metres in elevation with long tropical grass over them.
They contain mineral deposits of laterite, graphite and bauxite. The hill sides rising up abruptly from the plains are covered with dense Sal forests. According to their composition, the forests can be classified into Sal forests, teak forests, miscellaneous forests where Sal, teak and bamboo forests are found in mixture. All these are situated in the dry deciduous forest zone. Timber is by far the major forest produce and Sal is a major constituent of these products. Among the minor forest produces of this region are kendu leaf, bamboo, broom-grass, mohua flower and seed, etc. Timber, bamboo and kendu leaf are the main exports outside the state. Generally, climate of Nuapada District is hot and dry; humidity is negligible with scanty rainfall.
Tourism in Nuapada District
Nuapada District is one of the most popular tourist places of Orissa. There is no dearth of tourist attractions in this district. Some of the popular places identified for tourism in Nuapada District are Budhikomna, Yogeswar Temple, Rajeev Udyan, Patora, Patalganga, Yogimath, Khariar, Godhus Waterfall, Beniadhus, Kharaldhus, Raital Sagar, Dadhibaban Temple and Suadei Temple. These places attract tourists from all over the map of India.
The industrial sector in Nuapada District is not much progressive.