Dharakote
Introduction '''Dharakote''' is a semi-urban village and former zamindari estate in Dharakote Block of Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha.
Geography Dharakote is located at . NH-59 (Gopalpur-Khariar) passes through the town. It is located about 12 km north-west from Asika and 55 km from Silk City Brahmapur.Administratively it consists of three subdivisions: Jahada with 85 villages, Kunanogada with 37 villages, and Sahasrango with 66 villages.===Villages of Dharakote===* Kanagiridi* Panibandha* Baharpur (12 km)* Balarampur* Baradabili (12 km)* Arjuna palli* Kahira palli* Dharakote* Dhaugam* Golla Damodarpalli* Jaga Mohan (2.4 km)* Dasamaili* Haripur* Bethuar* Dakabaja* Jahada (4.4 km)* Jhadabandha* Jharapari* Machhakot* Manikapur (27 km)* Mundamarai (3 km)* Rugumu (8 km)* Saradhapur (5.5 km)* Singipur* Pratapur (7 km)
Tourist destinations The Jagannath Temple and Dharakote Maharaja Palace are famous tourist destinations here.===Jagannath Temple===Dharakote is famous for the Sri Jagannath Temple. The Jagannath Temple, Dharakote looks similar to the Jangannath Temple, Puri but they are not the same. The Ekadasi Cart festival is famous among people. Around 40k-70k people visit this festival.Jagannath Temple===Dharakote Maharaja Palace===This is a 600-year-old palace of the King of Dharakote. The palace is situated just beside the Jagannath Temple.Rani Sulakshana Geetanjali Devi is the present Rani Saheb of Dharakote since 28 May 2010.====List of Rajas====Raja Anant Narayan Singh Deo (1974-2003)====Rajas of Khidisingi====* Bera Patta Mallik (Last Kandha king)* Raja Sobha Chandra Singh (Nala dynasty descendant)* Raja Purusottama Singh* Raja Krushna Singh* Raja Rai Singh* Raja Preeti Singh* Raja Kirti Singh* Raja Padmanabha Singh* Raja Bikram Singh* Raja Baliar Singh (Last Khidisingi king)In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi (Sorada) kingdom into four different states due to early demise of his elder son. Dharakote went to his second son, Raja Hadu Singh. * Badagada – Raja Daman Singh (Baliar Singh's grandson from his eldest son)* Dharakote – Raja Hadu Singh* Sorada – Raja Sandhadhanu Singh (also known as Abhaya Pratap)* Sheragada – Raja Parsuram Singh (Minor) (Represented by Baliar himself).====Rajas of Dharakote Estate====* Raja HADU SINGH (1477-1540)* Raja RAI SINGH (1540-1602)* Raja NARAYAN SINGH (1602-1647)* Raja PURUSHOTTAM SINGH (1647-1699)* Raja RAM CHANDRA SINGH (1699-1731)* Raja JAI SINGH (1731-1748)* Raja RAJENDRA SINGH (1748-1780)* Raja DAMODAR SINGH 1780* Raja KRUSHNA SINGH (1780-1788)* Raja JAGANATH SINGH (1788-1830)* Raja RAGHUNATH SINGH (1830-1863)* Raja BRAJA SUNDAR SINGH (1863-1880)* Raja MADAN MOHAN SINGH DEO (1880-1937)* Raja BRAJKISHORE SINGH DEO (1937-1938)* Raja KRUSHNA CHANDRA SINGH DEO (1938-1946)* Raja PADMANABH SINGH DEO (1946-1949)* Raja ANANT NARAYAN SINGH DEO (1974-2003)* Raja KISHORE CHANDRA SINGH DEO (2003-2010)* Rani SULAKSHANA GEETANJALI DEVI (2010- current titular ruler)===Sati Chita (Sati's Pyre)===It is said that Raja Jaganath Singh (1788-1830), while returning to his Palace after a hunt, saw a ray of light coming from inside a hut. The Raja entered the hut and saw a holy man meditating in front of a fire. The Holy Man told the Raja that this was the place where Rani Chandama Devi had committed Sati. The Raja was impressed and immediately ordered the construction of a Math over that place, and later descendants of the Dharakote Royal family have kept the flame burning ever since, with the task of keeping the flame alive being entrusted to the Head Priests of the Math. The fire, known popularly as Sati Chita (Sati's Pyre) is tended to by a Mahant (Head Priest) at Sathi Math which is built on 9 acres of land at the entrance of Dharakote fort.
Educational Institutions * Ananta Narayan Higher Secondary School* Sri Raja's High School* Krushna Singh Girl's High School* Badadanda Sahi Primary School* Block Colony Primary School* Ex-Board Boy's Primary School* Sri Brajeswari Girl's Primary School* Kotharisahi Primary School* Majhisahi Primary School* Ghodapalli Primary School* Pattadev Sanskrit Toll* Saraswati Bidyabhaban School
Banks in Dharakote * State Bank of India* Utkal Gramya Bank* Aska Co-op Central Bank
References
External links *  Girl sweeps aside patriarchal rite*  DHARAKOTE (Zamindari)