Rourkela, India
Rourkela is a town of 273,317 people in Odisha, India, founded in March 1954.
Why visit Rourkela
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 10 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Biju Patnaik University of Technology, School of Management, NIT Rourkela, Tribal Museum Rourkela and Child Play & Gym Equipment Park.
Weather in Rourkela
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Rourkela
Rourkela (Odia: [ɾauɾɔkela] ) officially Raurkela is a planned city located in the northern district Sundargarh of Odisha, India. It is a Tier-2 city and the third-largest city in Odisha after Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. It is situated about 328 kilometres (204 mi) west of the state capital Bhubaneswar and is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by the rivers Koel, Sankha, and Brahmani. The city is also popularly known as Ispat Nagar and Steel City of Odisha.
From the Wikipedia article Rourkela (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Rourkela on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do2
Biju Patnaik University of Technology
School · 5.3 km
State public university in Sundargarh, Odisha, India
Museums and landmarks1
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Child Play & Gym Equipment Park
Park · 6.1 km
MI-261, S2H69 Ward no 13, Ph-2, Kalinga Vihar, Chhend Colony, Rourkela
24/7
Restaurants and cafes9
History
In the local Sadri language Rourkela means "Your village" (Rour = Your & Kela comes from the word "Kila" which means village). It comes under Sundergarh district of the Indian state of Odisha.
The twin towns of Rourkela and Fertilizer Township, as well as their developed periphery, are located in areas that were once covered by dense forests.
India's first public sector steel plant facility was established in Rourkela with the help of German businesses Krupp and Demag. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the town was the largest German colony outside Germany.
Following India's independence, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, wanted to make India an industrialized state in Soviet model of social development; giving wings to his dreams, Sri Biju Pattanaik convinced Pandit Nehru to consider the location of Rourkela for setting up a steel plant. The mineral-rich zone of Rourkela intersected by the rivers Brahmani, Koel and Sankha from two sides was aptly chosen for the same.
From the History section of Rourkela on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship10
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries26
Healthcare67
Ispat Post Graduate Super Speciality Hospital (Apollo Hospitals)
Hospital · 4.3 km
Sector 19 G Block Rd, Rourkela
Map of Rourkela
137 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rourkela Airport (RRK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 km away.
- Raurkela Industrial Township 3 km south, about 3 min by car
- Jalda 5 km southwest, about 5 min by car
- Bānposh 6 km northwest, about 6 min by car
- Lathikata 11 km south, about 11 min by car
- Kumārmunda 12 km northwest, about 12 min by car
- Kansbahal 21 km west, about 21 min by car
- Birmitrapur 22 km northwest, about 22 min by car
- O.C.L. Industrial Township 28 km west, about 28 min by car
- Rajgangpur 29 km west, about 29 min by car
- Manoharpur 38 km northeast, about 38 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Biotechnology and Medical Engineering Department building, Utkarshsingh.1992, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sacred heart church hamirpur rourkela out old, Amrit Ekka, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 2, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.