Subarnapur, also known as Sonepur, is a town and district headquarters of Subarnapur district of Odisha. The district spreads over an area of 2284.89 km2. It is also known as Second Varanasi of India for its cluster of temples having architectural importance and also of tantricism and second Allahabad for the Meeting Point (Sangam) of two rivers Mahanadi and Tel in place just like in Allahabad. Subarnapur is also famous for silk, handloom, prawns, terracotta etc. History Sonepur was formerly the capital of Sonepur State, a princely state of British India. Demographics India census, Sonepur town had a population of 17,535. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sonepur has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 65%. In Sonepur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. Education Maharaja High School, Sonepur Sonepur College, Sonepur Temples of Sonepur SHREE KAPILESHWAR TAMPLE CHARDA MAA CHARDEI TAMPLE CHARDA Bhagavati Temple Budhima Temple Budhi Somalai Temple Dadhibaban Temple Dasamati Temple Gokarneswar Temple Gundicha / Nrusimhanath Temple Jagannath Temple Khambeswari Temple Kosaleswara Temple Lankeswari Temple Narayani Temple Paschima Somanath Temple Ramachandi Temple Rameswar Temple Somaleswari Temple Sureswari Temple Subarnameru Temple Balaji (Hanuman) Temple ShreeRam (Ramsita)Temple Pancharatha Temple Notable people Kailash Chandra Meher, painter, awarded Padma Shri by Govt. of India. Sari Sonepuri Sari Politics Current MLA from Sonepur (SC) Assembly Constituency is Niranjan Pujari of BJD, who won the seat in State elections in 2014. Previous MLAs from this seat were Binod Patra of INC, who won the seat in 2004, Kunduru Kushal who won this seat representing BJD in 2000, representing JD in 1995 and in 1990, Achyuta Biswal of INC in 1985, Dhaneswar Kumbhar of INC(I) in 1980, and Debraj Seth of JNP in 1977. The place witnessed one and only sitting Prime Minister, i.e. Shri Narendra Modi here on 6th of April 2019. Sonepur is part of Balangir (Lok Sabha constituency). See also Sonepuri History of Sonepur, Odisha References Pasayat, C. and Sudam Naik (2008), Subarnapur Darabari Sahitya (in Oriya), Bhubaneswar: Gyanajuga Publications. Pasayat, C. (Ed.) (2008), Paschima Odisara Lokageeta (in Oriya), Bhubaneswar: Folklore Foundation. Padhy, S.K. History and Culture of Sonepur Ph.D. thesis, Berhampur University, 2000 . Accommodation in Sonepur "HOTEL KASTURI" Cities and towns in Subarnapur district