Ganjam is a district in the southern part of the Indian state of Odisha. It lies along the Bay of Bengal coast and is bordered by Khordha and Nayagarh districts to the north, Kandhamal and Kandhamal districts to the west, Gajapati district to the south-west, and the state of Andhra Pradesh to the south. The administrative headquarters is located at Chhatrapur, while Berhampur is the largest city and principal commercial centre.
| State | Odisha |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chhatrapur |
| Largest city | Berhampur (Brahmapur) |
| Region | South Odisha, Bay of Bengal coast |
| Official language | Odia |
| Country | India |
The district takes its name from the town of Ganjam, situated near the mouth of the Rushikulya river. The name is widely traced to a Persian-derived term, often glossed as "granary of the world," reflecting the area's historical agricultural output. Ganjam is one of the older revenue divisions in the region and has a long history of administrative reorganisation under successive regimes.
Ganjam formed part of the historic Kalinga territory and later came under the Eastern Ganga and Gajapati rulers of Odisha. After the decline of indigenous rule, the area passed through Mughal and Nizam administration before coming under the British East India Company in the late 18th century. Under British rule it was administered as part of the Madras Presidency, an arrangement that lasted until 1936, when the new province of Orissa was constituted and Ganjam was transferred to it.
After Indian independence, Ganjam continued as a district of Odisha. In 1992–93, the southern, predominantly tribal portion of the old district was carved out to form the separate Gajapati district, with Paralakhemundi as its headquarters.
The district has a varied terrain comprising a coastal plain along the Bay of Bengal, undulating uplands, and the Eastern Ghats hill ranges to the west. The Rushikulya is the principal river, flowing through the district before emptying into the sea; its mouth is a noted nesting site for olive ridley sea turtles. Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon, extends along the northern boundary of the district.
The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate. It is divided into sub-divisions including Chhatrapur, Berhampur, Bhanjanagar and Chikiti, and is further organised into tahasils, community development blocks, and gram panchayats. Berhampur is one of the major urban agglomerations in Odisha and hosts a municipal corporation.
The economy of Ganjam is predominantly agrarian, with paddy as the principal crop, supplemented by groundnut, pulses, sugarcane and cashew. Marine and inland fisheries are significant along the coast and around Chilika. Berhampur is a regional hub for trade, education and the silk handloom industry; the city is historically associated with Berhampuri pata (silk) sarees, including the patta and phoda kumbha designs. Industrial activity is concentrated around Chhatrapur and the coastal belt, including mineral-based units linked to the beach sand deposits at Gopalpur.
Odia is the dominant language, with Telugu also widely spoken, particularly in areas adjoining Andhra Pradesh, reflecting the district's earlier Madras Presidency links. Ganjam is well known for the Thakurani Yatra of Berhampur, a biennial festival dedicated to Budhi Thakurani, and for the Dhanu Yatra and various Jagannath traditions. Folk forms such as Ghoda Nacha and Prahallada Nataka are associated with the region.