9 June 2004. Although the Khurda-Bolangir broad-gauge line was approved in 1995, only about half the work has been completed. Demographics Rayagada district had a population of 967,911 in the 2011 Census of India, roughly equal to that of Fiji or the US state of Montana. The district ranked 454th of India's 640 districts, and had a population density of . Its population growth rate from 2001 to2011 was 15.74 percent. Rayagada has a sex ratio of 1,048 females to 1,000 males, and a literacy rate of 50.88 percent. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 14.41% and 55.99% of the population respectively. At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 41.64% of the population in the district spoke Odia, 33.36% Kui, 10.43% Telugu, 8.37% Sora, 3.27% Kuvi and 0.66% Hindi as their first language. The district's tribal population is 57.52 percent of the total. Its 11 blocks have been covered by a tribal sub-plan, with three micro-projects in operation for pre-literate indigenous tribal communities. Rayagada's topography helps the tribal communities maintain their cultural identity; is forested, of which is reserved forest. Its predominant tribes are the Khonds and the Soras. Points of interest Majhighariani Temple in Rayagada Jagannath Temple, at the market on the south side of Rayagada, is near Majhighariani Temple. Laxminarayan temple was built by Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys in Therubali. Paikapada, near Therubali, is known for its Pataleshwar Shiva temple. Chatikona, a small village from Rayagada, is known for its Shiva temple and waterfalls. Maa Markama Temple at Bissamcuttack is the only shrine (Shakti Peethas) of Devi Maa Markama and Maa karkama in the Indian state of Odisha and known for its history and also mentioned in Saraladas's Chandi Purana. Minajhola, a village near Gudari, is known for its Shiva temple at the confluence of three rivers: the Vamsadhara, the Chauladhua and the Phalaphalia. The Devagiri hill, from Rayagada, near Kalyan Singhpur, is and has 476 steps. Kumudabali, a small village, is known for its Balunkeswar Shiva temple on the Vamsadhara River. The nearest railway station is in Muniguda, from Rayagada. Padmapur, from Rayagada, is known for the Nilakantheswar Temple. According to historian Satyanarayana Rajguru, the temple housed the 6th- or 7th-century Buddhist philosopher Dharmakirti. The Hanging Bridge at Chekaguda, over the Nagavali River, is Odisha's second simple suspension bridge. The Bhimasankar temple in Bhimpur, from Rayagada and from Gunupur, is one of India's