Korba is a city and an industrial area in Korba District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Korba is the power capital of the newly formed state Chhattisgarh. The district comes under Bilaspur division and is inhabited mainly by tribals including the protected tribe Korwas (Pahadi Korwa). Korba is blessed with lush green forest cover, where a sizeable number of tribal population is found. The Adivaisis in the forest areas live in tandem with the environment and have retained their distinctive cultural characteristics and traditional observances Korba is often referred as the Industrial Hub of Chhattisgarh. The district within itself is enriched with all the essential raw materials needed for power generation namely coal and water. The four Thermal Power Plants (KSTPS (N.T.P.C), BCPP, CSEB East, CSEB West) together generates 3650 MW of electricity. Besides these, there is a Hydro Electric Power Station situated at Bango. Coal is also abundant in the district. The SECL, a profit making coal company under the Coal India Limited has many of its important mines, part of Korba Coalfield, in Korba district. BALCO (Bharat Aluminium Company) an aluminium major is based in the district.
Chaithurgarh Chaithurgarh (Lafagarh) is situated around 70 km away from Korba town. it is 25 KM north of Pali and situated at a height of 3060 height on the hill top. It was constructed by Raja Pratwidev First. Archeologists consider it as one of the strongest natural fort. Since it is protected by strong natural walls. The fort has three main entrances which are named as Menaka, Humkara, and Simhadwar. On the hilltop there is a plain area having an area of 5sqkm. where there are five ponds, out of which three are Perennially full of water. The famous Mahishasur Mardini temple is situated here. The idol of Mahishasur Mardini having 12 hands is installed in the sanctum sanctorum. Shankar cave is situated 3 km away from the temple. The cave which is like a tunnel, is 25 ft. long. One can go inside the cave only by creeping since it is very short in diameter.
Overall, Korba produces approximately 6000 Megawatts of electricity and within a span of few years, its overall electricity capacity will be around 9000 megawatts. There electricity is produced by coal based thermal power plants like National Thermal Power Corporation, Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board, Korba East, Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board, Korba West, LANCO Amarkantak Power Station, BALCO, BCPP, Vandana Power Station, ACB power plant etc. Korba has also got a mini hydropower plant made on River Hasdeo, tributary of River Mahanadi, producing 120 MW of electricity.
Madwarani Madwarani Mandir is situated on the Korba-Champa Road at a distance 22 KM from district headquarter. There is a temple of Goddess Madwarani at the top of the hill. The legend behind this temple is that at the season of Nawaratri, jowar was growing under Kalmi trees near the temple. During the Nawratri season (September. October) of each year there is fair celebrated by the local people.madwarani mandir nirmarkarta laet.shri.R.N.SHRIVASTAV(GOGIRAM)korba.SAN-1969.at ma madwarani seva avm janklyan samiti p368.vi.s madwarani korba.
Pali Pali is a tehsil headquarter in Korba district. This place situated around 50 km off from the district headquarters on the Korba-Bilaspur road. It is believed that pali was the worship place of Raja Vikramaditya who was a ruler belongs in Banna dynasty. There is an ancient Shiv Mandir, which is situated at the side of large pond. Many other remnants can also be seen here. This temple is faced towards east and its entrance is in octagonal. Plinth of this temple is upon 5 platforms.
Some of the planned colonies and towns situated in Korba are those of SECL (South Eastern Coal Fields) that include Gevra Project (Asia’s biggest open coalmine), Dipka Project, Kusmunda Project, Banki Mongra, Balgi Project, Surakachhar, Ghurdeva, Darri, Rumgara, Manikpur Project,C.S.E.B. Korba East, C.S.E.B. Korba West, N.T.P.C. and BALCO, SECL Gevra Project. C.S.E.B. is a huge source of electricity in Chhattisgarh. N.T.P.C. is the most important source of electricity in India.
Sarvamangala is one of the famous temple in Korba district. The Goddess of this temple is Durga. This temple was built by the ancestors of Rajeshwar Dayal one of the Zamindar in Korba. The temple is surrounded by Trilokinath Mandir, Kali Mandir and Jyoti Kalash Bhavan. There is also a cave, which goes under the river and comes out on the other side. Rani Dhanraj Kunwar Devi was used to this cave for her daily visit to the temple.
Inhabitants The people of Korba comes under different religious, social and cultural backgrounds. The main inhabitants are tribals. Tribals constitute the majority (51.67%) of the total population. The main scheduled tribes belongs in korba district are Pahadi Korwa, Gond, Raj Gond, Kawar, Bhaiyana, Binjwar, Dhanuhar etc. Satnami, Ganda, Panka etc. are comes under the scheduled cast.
Korba (population 501568) is a center of Korba District in the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh, India (Nov.1, 2000). It is situated at the confluence of the Hasdeo and Ahiran rivers. Located at 22*20′ North latitude and 82*42′ East longitude, with a height of 304.8 meter. above sea level, it is the major source of electricity in Chhattisgarh.
Korba District falls under the hot temperate climate zone and hence the district experiences very hot and dry climate. Summer season starts from April to mid June. Rainy season is due to the South-West Monsoon starting from mid June till the end of September. The average rainfall in the district is 1506.7 mm. and normal rainfall is 1287.6 mm.
Kendai Kendai is a village situated at a distance 85 km from Korba district headquarter on the Bilaspur-Ambikapur State highway No. 5. This is one of the beautiful picnic spot in the district. There is one lovely waterfall having 75 feet height. Bhulsidih Earlir founded ancient caves in Bhulsidih 7 km away from main city of Korba.
Korba and Champa are well known for “Kosa”, a special variety of silk used for producing one of the best quality of cloth in the world. Being light in weight and having shiny glaze, it is used to make kurtas, sarees, shirts, salwar-suits and other garments for party as well as casual wears. Korba also famous for Korva tribes.
As of 2011 India census, Korba city had a population of 365,073. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Korba has an average literacy rate of 84.36%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 91.93%, and female literacy is 76.17%. In Korba, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The hillocks of chaithurgarh is famous for its natural beauty and the adventures experiences it offers. Many types of wild animals and birds are found here. The SECL constructed a rest house for visitors here. The temple trust also made some rooms for the tourists. Special Pujas are held during the Navaratri
Champa is the nearest railway junction, on the Howrah-Bilaspur-Nagpur-Mumbai, South Eastern Central Railway Zone. It is directly connected to Bilaspur the Zonal and Divisional Head Quarter by rail and road through Katghora-Pali-Ratanpur. The nearest airport is at Raipur, which is about 250 KM from Korba.
The city is directly connected to Bilaspur, Raipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam and Nagpur. Korba still lacks direct rail connectivity with prominent major cities like Mumbai, Howrah, Delhi, Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Jamshedpur etc.
Most of the government-run schools in Korba are affiliated with the State School Examination Board, whereas most private schools are affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) boards.
Culture Korba district is also famous for its social and cultural diversities. The people of this district mainly celebrated Holi, Dussehra, Christmas and Diwali. The main adivasi festivals are Dev Uthni, Pola, Cherchera, Karma, Hareli etc.
Korba district is situated in the northern half of the Chhattisgarh state and surrounded by the districts Korea, Surguja, bilaspur, Janjgir etc. The headquarter of Korba districts situated about 200 KM. from the capital city Raipur.
Korba district was accorded the status of a full fledged revenue district with effect from 25 May 1998. The district headquarters is Korba city, which is situated on the banks of the confluence of rivers Hasdeo and Ahiran.