locally known as Kalahandi. Local weekly newspapers such as Arjji and Kalahandi Express publish articles in standard Odia and Kalahandi language. Other languages include Kui, Bhatri (another dialect of Odia), Parji, and Bhunjia, spoken by approximately 7000 Bhunjia Adivasis. Politics Current MLA from Bhawanipatna Assembly Constituency is Pradipta Kumar Naik of BJP, who won the seat in State Legislative election of 2019. Previous MLA from this seat is Anam Naik from Biju Janata Dal, who won the election in the year 2014. Dusmanta Kumar Naik of INC won the seat in State election of 2009. Pradip Kumar Naik of BJP won the seat in State elections of 2004 and also in 2000 and 1995, Ajit Das of JD won this seat in 1990, Bhaktacharan Das of JNP in 1985, and Dayanidhi Naik who won this seat in 1980 as a candidate of INC(I) and as INC candidate in 1977. Bhawanipatna is part of the Kalahandi constituency, currently held by Basanta Kumar Panda, and before that by Arka Keshari Deo, who was the grandson of Maharaj Pratap Kesari Deo of Kalahandi. Tourism Maa Manikeshwari Mandir and Chatar jatra There are two Manikeshwari Mandir located in Kalahandi district of Odisha, one is in Bhawanipatna and other at Thuamal Rampur. The temple is located in the center of Bhawanipatna. The main deity here is Goddess Manikeshwari. The main devotees are from the fisherman community. During Dussehra festival, animal sacrifice is offered at this temple which is a festival also known as Chatar jatra where thousands of people gather in the city to get the blessings from their beloved goddess. A film is also documented showing the ritual of animal sacrifice before Goddess Manikeshwari. Phurlijharan Phurlijharan is a perennial waterfall about in height with multi-coloured rainbows created by the sunrays falling on the scattered water particles. Evergreen forests around the fall provide ample opportunities to group picnickers. Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary SH-44 Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary (Odia: କର୍ଲାପାଟ୍; Hindi: कर्लापाट्) is a wildlife sanctuary located in Kalahandi district and a very popular tourist attraction of Odisha in India. The sanctuary sanctuary lies within the Eastern Highlands' moist deciduous forests ecoregion; major plant communities include mixed deciduous forests and scrublands. It has also high mineral deposits like bauxite and manganese. The sanctuary is home to many wildlife species like tiger, leopard, gaur, sambar, nilgai, barking deer, mouse deer, and a wide variety of birds and reptiles. Jakham