Raipur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raipur
Metropolis
Secretariat Chhattisgarh Sri Ram Mandir Swami Vivekananda Airport Sector 19 GE road Vivekananda Sarovar Indian Institute of Management Raipur. Sendh Lake Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium
Raipur Location in Chhattisgarh Show map of Chhattisgarh Raipur Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
District	Raipur
Founded by	Brahma Deo Rai
Named for	Brahma Deo Rai
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Raipur Municipal Corporation Raipur Development Authority(RDA) Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA)
Area
• Metropolis	503.67 km2 (194.47 sq mi)
Elevation	298.15 m (978.18 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Metropolis	1,010,087
• Rank	India: 45th Chhattisgarh: 1st
• Density	2,005.454/km2 (5,194.10/sq mi)
• Metro	1,122,555
• Metro rank	47th
Demonym(s)	Raipurians, Raipurya
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	492001-22, 493111-211 (Raipur)
Vehicle registration	CG-04
UN/LOCODE	IN RPR
Airport	Swami Vivekananda Airport (RPR)
Rapid Transit	Raipur BRTS

Raipur is the capital city of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is also the main city and administrative center for the Raipur district. Before Chhattisgarh became a separate state on November 1, 2000, Raipur was part of Madhya Pradesh.

Raipur is a very important place for trade and business in its region. It has grown quickly in industries and is now a major business center in Central India. The city has been recognized for its cleanliness, ranking as one of India's cleanest cities. Chhattisgarh state was also ranked third in the 'Best Performing States' category in 2023. Raipur is also known for how easy it is to live there and how well the city is managed.

The city is a big producer of steel and iron in India. It has about 200 steel rolling mills and 195 sponge iron plants. There are also many other factories, including steel plants, plywood factories, and agro-industries. Raipur is also home to over 800 rice milling plants.

History of Raipur

Ancient Times: Dakshina Kosala

The area around Raipur, like the rest of the Chhattisgarh plain, was once known as Dakshina Kosala. It was believed to be part of the Maurya Empire a long time ago. An old writing found near Raipur, from the 6th century CE, shows that the Gupta Empire also had power here.

In the 7th century CE, a Buddhist kingdom ruled the region from Bhandak. Later, a part of this royal family moved to Sirpur and eventually took control of all of Dakshina Kosala. This kingdom became very successful under a ruler named Tivaradeva.

Medieval Rule: Kalachuris

By the early 9th century, the Kalachuri rulers took over the region. The Kalachuris of Ratnapura ruled until the 13th century. Later, a branch of the Kalachuris from Raipur gained power in the 14th century.

One king from the Raipur Kalachuri branch conquered 18 "garh" (forts) from his enemies. This is one idea for how the name Chhattisgarh (meaning "36 forts") came about. By the 18th century, the Kalachuris were the main rulers of the entire Chhattisgarh region.

People of Raipur

How Many People Live Here?

According to the 2011 census, Raipur Municipal Corporation had a population of over 1 million people. There were slightly more males than females.

There were also many children under 6 years old living in the city. The literacy rate (people who can read and write) was very high, much higher than the national average for India.

Population in the Wider City Area

If we look at the larger urban area around Raipur, the population was even higher, with over 1.1 million people. The number of males and females was similar to the city center, and the literacy rate remained high.

Geography and Climate

Where is Raipur Located?

Raipur is located in the middle of a large flat area, often called the "rice bowl of India." This is because many different types of rice are grown here. The Mahanadi River flows to the east of the city. To the south, there are thick forests.

The Maikal Hills are to the north-west of Raipur. To the north, the land rises and connects with the Chota Nagpur Plateau. To the south of Raipur is the Deccan Plateau.

What is Raipur's Climate Like?

Raipur has a tropical wet and dry climate. This means temperatures are usually moderate throughout the year. However, from March to June, it can get extremely hot, with temperatures sometimes going above 48°C. During these summer months, dry and hot winds also blow.

The city gets about 1300 mm of rain each year, mostly during the monsoon season from late June to early October. Winters are from November to January and are mild, but temperatures can drop to about 5°C, making it quite cool.

Raipur has been ranked as the eighth-best National Clean Air City in India. This ranking is for cities with a population of over 1 million people.

Economy and Industries

Why is Raipur Important for Business?

As the capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur has seen a lot of industrial growth. The government and service jobs make up a big part of the city's economy. Many factories and industrial areas are also well-developed here. Raipur is considered one of the best cities for doing business.

The city is rich in mineral resources and is a top producer of steel and iron in India. It has about 200 steel rolling mills, 195 sponge iron plants, and at least 6 steel plants. There are also 60 plywood factories, 35 ferro-alloy plants, and 500 agro-industries. Plus, Raipur has over 800 rice milling plants.

Major Companies and Factories

Several big companies have operations or plans in Raipur. Dalmia Cement is planning to build a large cement factory. A South Korean company, Sung Ha Telecom, also plans to set up a plant in Naya Raipur. JSW Steel and Grasim Industries have steel and cement plants here.

Ambuja Cements also has a plant nearby. Raipur has a large chemical plant that makes formalin, which is sent all over the country. LPG bottling plants for Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are also in Raipur.

Technology and Industrial Parks

Raipur is becoming a hub for information technology (IT) and cyber services. A technology park was built in Naya Raipur, the new capital city. The Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) is creating a new industrial area near Tilda, close to Raipur. This area will help small and medium-sized industries. Two new industrial parks are also being developed for clothing and metal industries in Raipur.

City Services

How Does Raipur Manage Roads?

The Public Works Department in Raipur is in charge of roads. A team of engineers plans and designs roads and stormwater drains. They also maintain roads, streets, gardens, and parks. This includes fixing potholes and resurfacing roads.

Bus and Fire Services

Raipur City has 157 buses that operate within the city, helping people get around. The city's electricity is provided by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited. Fire and emergency services were started in 2016 to handle fire incidents and other emergencies.

Water and Waste Management

The city gets its water from the Kharun River. About 170 million liters of water are treated daily, and the plant can treat up to 275 million liters per day. Each person in Raipur receives about 135 liters of water per day. There are also 1,133 handpumps in the city.

Raipur is working on its sewerage systems. Many households have septic tanks. The city has a separate system for stormwater drainage. For waste management, households are encouraged to separate their waste. The main waste disposal site for Raipur is the Sarona site, which is about 12 km from the city center.

Getting Around Raipur

Roads and Highways

Raipur has several important roads, including National Highway 53 (NH-53) and National Highway 30 (NH-30). The Great Eastern Road, VIP Road, and others also help connect different parts of the city.

The Raipur–Naya Raipur Expressway, also known as Atal Path Expressway, is a 12.7 km long highway. It connects Raipur to Naya Raipur and helps reduce traffic on other roads. It also makes it faster to reach Dhamtari road from the Raipur railway station.

New expressways like the proposed Durg–Raipur–Arang Expressway, Raipur-Ranchi-Dhanbad Expressway, and the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Expressway are being built or planned. These will make travel to and from Raipur even easier.

Bus and Metro Travel

The main bus station in Raipur is the Sri Balaji Swami Trust Sri Dudhadhari Math Inter State Bus Terminal at Ravanbhantha. This new station opened in 2021 and replaced an older one that caused traffic problems. Raipur also has a bus rapid transit system called the Raipur and Naya Raipur BRTS.

The Government of Chhattisgarh has suggested building a light rail system, sometimes called Metrolite or Lite Metro. This system would connect Naya Raipur to Durg, passing through Raipur and Bhilai.

Train Travel

Main side of Railway station

Raipur Junction Railway Station

Raipur Junction railway station is the main train station in the city. It is located on a major railway line that connects many important cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, and Kolkata. This makes Raipur well-connected by train. It is a very important railway station, categorized as A-1 by Indian Railways. There are also smaller railway stations in Sarona, Saraswati Nagar, and WRS Colony.

Air Travel

Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur

Swami Vivekananda International Airport (formerly Mana Airport) is the main airport for Chhattisgarh. It is located about 15 km south of Raipur and 10 km from Naya Raipur. The airport has daily direct flights to many major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore. Airlines like Alliance Air, IndiGo, and Vistara operate flights from here.

Places to Visit

• Mata Kaushalya Temple: This is the only temple in the world dedicated to the goddess Mata Kaushalya.
• Purkhouti Muktangan, Naya Raipur: An open-air cultural garden that shows the culture of Chhattisgarh.
• Nandanvan Jungle Safari, Naya Raipur: This is Asia's largest man-made Jungle Safari.
• Shree Ram Temple, VIP Square.
• Mahant Ghasidas Memorial Museum, Ghadi Chowk.
• Swami Vivekananda Sarowar (Budha Talab).
• Telibandha Lake (Marine Drive).

Education in Raipur

Raipur has become a major center for education in Chhattisgarh. It has many important national institutes for engineering, management, medical studies, and law.

View of the Rajkumar College, Raipur

Top Institutes

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur (AIIMS)
• Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET)
• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU)
• Indian Institute of Management Raipur (IIM)
• International Institute of Information Technology, Naya Raipur (IIIT)
• National Institute of Malaria Research
• National Institute of Technology, Raipur (NIT)
• National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) (Proposed) at Naya Raipur

Private Universities

• Amity University
• ICFAI University
• ITM University
• Kalinga University
• MATS University

Colleges for Engineering and Management

• Government Engineering College Raipur (GEC)
• Pragati College of Engineering and Management, Raipur
• Raipur Institute of Technology
• Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Professional Management and Technology (SSIPMT)

Schools for Younger Students

• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
• DAV Public School
• Kendriya Vidyalaya
• Rajkumar College, founded in 1882, was one of the special colleges set up during the British Raj.
• Ryan International School
• Delhi Public School

Media and News

News Channels

Many local news channels broadcast from Raipur in Hindi:

Newspapers

Many national and local newspapers are published from Raipur in both Hindi and English:

Radio Stations

Raipur city has five FM Radio Stations:

Famous People from Raipur

• Lucky Ali: A Bollywood singer, composer, and actor who studied at Rajkumar College, Raipur.
• Teejan Bai: A traditional performing artist known for Pandavani.
• Anurag Basu: A famous Bollywood movie director, born in Raipur.
• Mohammad Hidayatullah: A former Chief Justice of India and acting president of India, who had his early education in Raipur.
• Harshad Mehta: A stockbroker who spent his childhood in Raipur.
• Rajneesh: An Indian philosopher who taught in Raipur in 1957.
• Shekhar Sen: A musical mono-act player, born and raised in Raipur.
• Ravishankar Shukla: The first chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, who grew up and was educated in Raipur.
• Vidya Charan Shukla: A former Union Minister and a nine-term parliamentarian, born in Raipur.
• Veer Narayan Singh: A freedom fighter who was jailed in Raipur by the British Army.
• K. S. Sudarshan: A former chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, born in Raipur in 1931.
• Habib Tanvir: A noted theatre artist and playwright, born in Raipur in 1923.
• Swami Vivekananda: Spent two of his teenage years in Raipur from 1877 to 1879 when his father was transferred there.

Swami Vivekananda spent 2 of his teenage years in this building at Raipur

Images for kids

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  View of the Rajkumar College, Raipur

See also

In Spanish: Raipur para niños