Khurda Town: Location, Connectivity and Nearby Areas

Khurda Town, Khurda, is one of those places where the railway station named after it isn’t actually in the town. Khurda Road Junction, the headquarters of an entire East Coast Railway division, is in Jatni, a separate town. Khurda’s own station, Khurda Town, is a smaller stop on a line that has been under construction for more than 30 years.

For a town whose name appears on countless train tickets, Khurda is surprisingly little known. It was Odisha’s capital for more than two centuries and the heart of an armed uprising against the East India Company. Here’s where it is, how to get there, and what’s around it.

Khurda Quick Overview

Two Stations: Khurda Road and Khurda Town

This is the first thing to understand before travelling here. There are two stations with Khurda in their names:

• Khurda Road Junction (KUR): Located in Jatni, which is itself often called Khurda Road. It’s a major junction with 7 platforms, opened in 1897, and it’s the headquarters of the Khurda Road railway division.
• Khurda Town: The station for Khurda itself. It’s the first stop after Khurda Road on the Khurda Road–Bolangir line.

Most long-distance trains stop only at Khurda Road. If you’re heading to Khurda town, you’ll usually get off at Jatni and continue by road, or take one of the local trains that run to Khurda Town.

The Capital Before Bhubaneswar

Khurda’s history is far larger than its current size suggests:

• 1568 to 1803: Khurda was the capital of Odisha.
• The fort: The Khurda kings built a fort at the foot of Barunei hill. It’s now almost completely in ruins.
• Independence: Despite repeated Muslim and Maratha cavalry attacks, the royal house kept much of its independence until 1804.
• 1804: Raja Mukunda Deva, guided by his advisor Jayakrishna (Jayee) Rajguru, fought the British and lost his territory.
• Jayee Rajguru: Considered the leader of the 1804 revolt, he was executed by hanging from a banyan tree at Baghitota in Medinipur.

The Paika Rebellion

Khurda’s nickname, Paikagada, comes from the Paikas, the traditional militia of the Khurda kings. Their rebellion is one of the earliest armed revolts against British rule in India:

• Cause: Jayee Rajguru’s execution caused anger among the Paikas of Khurda.
• Leader: Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar led the rebellion in 1817–18.
• Aftermath: Khurda was finally annexed into British territory in 1827, after the rebellion was fully crushed.

For many Odias, Khurda’s history represents early resistance to colonial rule, and the Paika legacy remains an important part of local identity.

Getting to Khurda Town, Khurda

By Rail: The Main Line

Khurda Road Junction in Jatni is the region’s main railway hub. Its lines include:

• Howrah–Chennai main line: The Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section runs south towards Andhra Pradesh.
• Khurda Road–Puri line: Opened on 1 February 1897 and now double-tracked, it’s the rail route to Puri.
• Towards Cuttack and Howrah: The line north runs to Cuttack, Bhadrak and beyond.

By Rail: The Bolangir Line

The Khurda Road–Bolangir line is one of Odisha’s longest-running railway projects. It connects Khurda Town station to the network. Here’s the status:

• Timeline: First surveyed in 1945 and sanctioned in 1994–95.
• Completed sections: Khurda Road–Daspalla (105.875 km) and Balangir–Sonepur (46.93 km) are open, as of the most recent official update.
• Still under construction: The middle section between Daspalla and Sonepur.
• Cost and length: The line is 301 km long, with a revised cost of ₹5,089 crore.
• Target: The official completion target is 31 December 2026.
• Tunnels: All seven tunnels on the line are complete.

Once finished, the line will shorten the distance between Bhubaneswar and Balangir. Given the project’s history of delays, it’s best to treat the December 2026 date cautiously.

Local Trains

Passenger trains run between Khurda Road and Nayagarh Town via Khurda Town, covering 67 km in about two hours. They’re useful for local travel along the new line.

By Road

Khurda is well connected by road to Bhubaneswar, Jatni and Puri. Buses run frequently between Khurda and Bhubaneswar, and autos and shared vehicles cover shorter trips to Jatni.

By Air

Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport. It has flights to major Indian cities and some international routes. A cab from the airport is the simplest way to reach Khurda.

Nearby Areas and Places to Visit

Barunei Hill and Temple

Barunei hill is Khurda’s most important landmark, with the Maa Barunei Temple and the remains of the old fort at its foot. It’s about 12 km from Khurda Road station. The temple is especially busy during festivals.

Jatni (Khurda Road)

Jatni is home to Khurda Road Junction and the railway division headquarters. It’s also where IIT Bhubaneswar and NISER are located nearby, making it a growing educational centre.

Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, the state capital, is in the same district. Khurda is close enough for easy daily commuting, and many residents work there.

Begunia and Nayagarh

Both are along the Khurda Road–Bolangir line. Begunia was the first phase of the new line, and Nayagarh is the next district town, known for its temples and forests.

Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary

Chandaka is in Khordha district, near Bhubaneswar. It’s a good day trip for wildlife lovers, although elephant sightings aren’t guaranteed.

Local Economy

Khurda has a strong tradition of crafts and industry:

• Brass utensils: Khurda is known for its brassware.
• Handloom: The town is an important handloom centre.
• Railway work: Railway coach manufacturing and the division headquarters in Jatni provide employment.
• Industrial units: Cable manufacturing and food processing units, including those of large companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Unilever and ITC, operate in the district.

FAQs

Q1. Is Khurda Road the same as Khurda Town?

No. Khurda Road Junction is in Jatni, a separate town, while Khurda Town station is on the Khurda Road–Bolangir line and serves Khurda itself.

Q2. Why is Khurda historically important?

It was the capital of Odisha from 1568 to 1803 and the centre of the Paika Rebellion of 1817–18, led by Bakshi Jagabandhu, one of India’s earliest revolts against British rule.

Q3. When will the Khurda–Bolangir rail line be completed?

The official target is 31 December 2026. Khurda Road–Daspalla and Balangir–Sonepur are open, but the middle section is still under construction.

Q4. What is there to see in Khurda?

Barunei hill and the Maa Barunei Temple are the main attractions, along with the ruins of the old fort at the foot of the hill.