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{{Not to be confused|Balugaon Gram Panchayat|text=[[Balugaon Gram Panchayat]] in [[Nayagarh district|Nayagarh District]] or it's constituent village [https://localbodydata.com/gram-panchayat-balugaon-120656 Balugaon]}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Balugaon
| other_name = Balugan
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Odisha#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Odisha, India
| coordinates = {{coord|19.75|N|85.21|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Odisha]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Khordha district|Khordha]]
| established_title = Incorporated(NAC)
| established_date = {{Start date and age|1982|09|10|df=yes}}
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Nagar Panchayat
| governing_body =
| leader_party = [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name = [https://sujogportal.odisha.gov.in/balugaon/leader/sukanti-paikaray/ Sukanti Paikaray]
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 6.12
| area_rank =
| elevation_ft = 3
| population_total = 17,645
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est = 25000
| pop_est_as_of = 2024
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 752030
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 06756
| registration_plate = OD-02
| website = {{URL|balugaonnac.in}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Website of District Khordha |url=https://khordha.odisha.gov.in/directory/public-utilities/municipalities |website=Khordha District |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}
'''Balugaon'''{{nowrap| (ବାଲୁଗାଁ, <small>English</small>: {{IPAc-en|'|b|ɑː|l|uː|ɡ|ɑː|ŋ}})}} is a town and a [[Nagar panchayat|Notified Area Council]] in [[Khordha district]] in the state of [[Odisha]], India. It is situated near the bank of Chilika Lake, about {{convert|90|km}} from the state capital [[Bhubaneswar]], and {{convert|76|km}} from the [[Berhampur]], [[Ganjam]]. It is a major economic centre of Khordha district because of its prawn and fish business.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Nilamani Senapati |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3151 |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Puri |last2=Durga Charan Kuanr |date=1977 |publisher=Bhubaneshwar, Department of Revenue}}</ref>

==Geography==
Balugaon is located at {{Coord|19.74|N|85.21|E|}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Balugan, India |url=https://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/Balugan.html |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.fallingrain.com}}</ref> It has an average elevation of {{convert|3|ft}} and an area of 6.12 km<math>^2</math>.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=12 July 2023 |title=Offfice of NAC, Balugaon |url=https://khordha.odisha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-01/2023120826.pdf |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=District Of Khordha |page=4}}</ref> It is located on the Banpur-Balugaon [[anorthosite]] massif, an igneous rock part of Chilka Lake igneous complex. The mamu-bhanaja hillocks here are anorthosite [[Outcrop|outcrops]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Chetty |first=TRK |title=Chapter 3 - The Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt |date=2017-01-01 |work=Proterozoic Orogens of India |pages=119–210 |editor-last=Chetty |editor-first=TRK |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128044414000031 |access-date=2025-02-09 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-12-804441-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mohapatra |first=Girija Prasad |date=December 2022 |title=Geo heritage and Geo tourism in Odisha |url=https://cehesh.in/contents/GeochroniclePanorama2022/1.%20Mohapatra_Geoheritage%20and%20Geotourism%20in%20Odisha__pp.1-9.pdf |journal=GeoChronicle Panorama |publisher=CEHESH TRUST OF INDIA |publication-place=KEONJHAR, ODISHA |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=5}}</ref>

The town primarily has acidic black soil. The soil texture varies from clay loam to sandy loam as one approaches the lake bank.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nayak |first=Sunita Rani |date=June 2015 |title=Soil Fertility Status of Some Villages in Chilika Block of North Eastern Ghat Agroclimatic Zone of Odisha |url=https://ijoear.com/assets/articles_menuscripts/file/IJOEAR-JUN-2015-3.pdf |journal=International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=2-3 |via=}}</ref>

==Communication==
[[File:Banpur-Balugaon Road.jpg|left|thumb|178x178px|Balugaon end of the Balugaon-Banapur overbridge]]
Balugaon is well connected to state capital Bhubaneswar and Berhampur by road ([[National Highway 16 (India)|NH-16]]) and rail. The Banpur-Balugaon [[Overpass|overbridge]] acts as the sole connector between the two cities. [[Balugaon railway station]] on the [[Howrah-Chennai main line]] connects Balugaon to major Indian cities like [[Kolkata]], [[Chennai]] and [[Visakhapatnam]]. All major trains passing through this line stop at Balugaon. Jagannath Dham Puri can be reached via [[New Jagannath Sadak]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Dr Shiv |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/India_A_Travel_Guide/COHI7LlpkSAC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=India - A Travel Guide |date=2008 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-284-0067-4 |page=330 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

== Government and Politics ==
Balugaon N.A.C. was established on 10 september 1982 for the provision and maintenance of basic public facilities and services which includes Sanitation, Water Supply, street lights, road, and drainage.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=NAC Balugaon |url=https://www.rtiodisha.gov.in/pa/T1RILzEzLzgyNC8xOQ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118184854/https://www.rtiodisha.gov.in/pa/T1RILzEzLzgyNC8xOQ |archive-date=18 Nov 2024 |access-date=9 November 2024 |website=RTI Odisha}}</ref> It is part of the [[Chilika Assembly constituency|Chilika Assembly Constituency]].

In the [[2022 Odisha municipal elections|2022 ULB elections]], [[Biju Janata Dal|BJD]]'s Sukanti Paikaray won the woman-reserved chairpersonship of Balugaon through direct election, defeating [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]'s Swapna Badajena and [[Indian National Congress|INC]]'s Ramamani Behera.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khordha Municipal Elections 2022 Live Results {{!}} Chairperson, Councilors Results for Municipality & NAC - Odisha TV |url=https://odishatv.in/odisha-municipal-elections/khordha |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118185308/https://odishatv.in/odisha-municipal-elections/khordha |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Khordha Municipal Elections 2022 Live Results {{!}} Chairperson, Councilors Results for Municipality & NAC - Odisha TV |language=en}}</ref> The BJD also won 6 out of Balugaon's 11 wards while BJP won the rest. Out of a total of 12913 (46.9% women) eligible voters, 9503 (46.8% women) voted in the ULB elections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Odisha |first=SEC |title=Information on general election to urban local bodies in Odisha, 2022 |url=https://sec.odisha.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ULBs_Final-2022-12-10-2023-FINAL_compressed.pdf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118185437/https://sec.odisha.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ULBs_Final-2022-12-10-2023-FINAL_compressed.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2024 |access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>

The [[Inspector#India|Inspector-In-Charge]] of Balugaon Police Station is Sri Jaya Prakash Parida.<ref name=":1" /> The police station comes under the jurisdiction of Banpur Court Complex.

== Education ==
Balugaon had an average literacy rate of 81.7%, higher than the state average of 72.8%, with 88% of the males and 75% of females literate.<ref name=":3" />

=== K-12 Schooling ===
In academic year 2024-25, 4,321 (44% Girls) students were enrolled in the [[K–12|K-12 school system]] of Balugaon. A considerable number of these students were from outside Balugaon. Enrollment of girls in government primary schools remain higher than that of boys. However, ratio of girls decreases significantly in government high schools despite them performing better than boys in academics. Ratio of girls remain low in private schools across all levels of schooling.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Department of School Education and Literacy |url=https://kys.udiseplus.gov.in/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=kys.udiseplus.gov.in |pages=Advanced Search»Cluster»Balugaon-pups}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kumar |first=Randhir |date=April 2023 |title=Government School and Low Fees Private Schools in India |url=https://www.academic-and-law-serials.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GOVERNMENT-SCHOOL-AND-LOW-FEES-PRIVATE.pdf |journal=Indian Journal of Social Research |volume=64 |issue=2}}</ref>

As of 2024, 23 recognized government and private schools located in Balugaon serve the town and its neighbouring area. These schools collectively employ 172 teachers (106 females) resulting in an average student-teacher ratio of 25.12—higher than the district average of 23.45. The top 5 schools in terms of number of enrolled students are as follows:<ref name=":5" />

# Govt. High School, Balugaon (Ward No. 10)
# Balugaon Higher Secondary School (Ward No. 01)
# Chilkarani English Medium School
# Balugaon PUPS (Primary with Upper Primary School)
# Venkateswar School

=== Post Secondary Education ===
Balugaon College is the only post-secondary institution in Balugaon. It offers a 3-year bachelor program in humanities, and also provides higher secondary education ([[Junior college#India|11th and 12th]]) in Humanities, and Science.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 1970 |title=Principal, Balugaon College, Balugaon, Khordha |url=https://www.rtiodisha.gov.in/pa/T1RILzM4LzQ3ODAvMTk |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=RTI Odisha}}</ref>

==Tourism==
[[File:Balugaon on Chilika, Odisha, India.jpg|thumb|Lakeshore of Balugaon as seen from Chilika lake.]]
Tourist spots at Chilika lake, like [[Kalijai|Kalijai Temple]] and [[Nalbana Bird Sanctuary|Nalabana]], can be reached from Balugaon with government or private boat and launch services. [[Narayani Temple]] is a few miles from Balugaon and is known for its natural setting.<ref name=":0" /> There is a natural fountain near Ranpur.
[[File:Balugaon Mamu bhanja hills.jpg|thumb|View of Bhanja hillock captured from top of the Mamu hill]]
The Odi Art Centre, A tribal Art Museum, is located near Balugaon in Barkul. It hosts the weeklong Chilika Shelduck International Folk Carnival in November every year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patnaik |first=Sunil Mohan |date=2024-11-12 |title=Fusion of beats reverberates at Chilika Shelduck carnival |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/fusion-of-beats-reverberates-at-chilika-shelduck-carnival-921038 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118185024/https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/fusion-of-beats-reverberates-at-chilika-shelduck-carnival-921038 |archive-date=2024-11-18 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref> The Mamu Bhanaja Hill recreational park situated at the foothills of Mamu Bhanaja. It was opened to public on 18 February 2024, fulfilling a long-standing community demand for a local park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-18 |title=MP Manas Mangaraj Inaugurates Various Development Projects In Chilika |url=https://aroundodisha.com/2024/02/18/mp-manas-mangaraj-inaugurates-various-development-projects-in-chilika/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241231122530/https://aroundodisha.com/2024/02/18/mp-manas-mangaraj-inaugurates-various-development-projects-in-chilika/ |archive-date=2024-12-31 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=Around Odisha English Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Balugaon NAC |date=19 February 2024 |title=Mamu Bhanaja Hill Park under Balugan NAC.. |url=https://x.com/BalugaonNac/status/1759463184010764703 |access-date=31 December 2024 |website=Twitter}}</ref>

==Demographics==
In the [[2011 census of India|2011 India census]],<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Balugaon Notified Area Committee City Population Census 2011-2024 {{!}} Orissa |url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/801857-balugaon-orissa.html |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.census2011.co.in}}</ref> Balugaon had a population of 17,645 (males 52%, females 48%) and a total of 3212 households.<ref name=":2" /> Balugaon had an average literacy rate of 81.7%, higher than the state average of 72.8%, with 88% of the males and 75% of females literate. 11% of the population were under 6 years of age. [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Schedule Caste]] (SC) constituted 25.75% while [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Schedule Tribe]] (ST) were 0.39% of the total population. Its population is projected to be 25000 as of 2024.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage-inline|Chilka Lake}}

{{Khordha district}}
{{Municipalities of Odisha}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Khordha district]]

Balugaon - Revision history

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