Surada

Surada is located at 19.76°N 84.43°E / 19.76; 84.43.^[2] It has an average elevation of 84 m (276 ft).

It is situated at the North-Western border of Ganjam district on the confluence of rivers Rushikulya and Jarau, bounded by Dharakot, Belaguntha, Bhanjanagar of Ganjam district and Daringibadi, Raikia of Kandhamal district.

The approximate area of Surada Tahasil (6 Revenue circles) is about 308.23 km², Surada Block (Panchayat Samiti) is 97,474.15 Hectares while area of Surada N.A.C is approximately 15.15 km^{2 [3]} Surada Block consists of 26 Gram Panchayats with 270 villages in it, and Surada Town (N.A.C.) with 11 wards as an urban administrative body.

Surada is a combination of two Sanskrit words Sura (devas) & adda (place) which means The Place of Devas. According to the Census Report of T.J. Maltby of 1880, the Khindirisrunga (ଖିଣ୍ଡିରିଶୃଙ୍ଗ) or Khidisingi (ଖିଡ଼ିସିଙ୍ଗି) estate was established by Raja Sobha Chandra Singh of Sabeijaipur in 1168 which comprised present day Surada, Dharakot, Sheragada blocks of Ganjam district (also includes some parts of Mohana block of Gajapati district). In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided Khidisingi into four different estates after the untimely demise of his eldest son. Surada estate went to his third son, Raja Sandhadhanu Singh.^[4][5]

• Badagada – Raja Daman Singh (Baliar Singh's grandson from his eldest son)
• Dharakot – Raja Hadu Singh
• Surada – Raja Sandhadhanu Singh (also known as Abhaya Pratap)
• Sheragada – Raja Parsuram Singh (Minor) (Represented by Raja Baliar himself).

When Britishers annexed over Ganjam, they put this zamindari under the administration of Madras Presidency which is mentioned in List of zamindari estates in Madras Presidency. Subsequently in 1836, Britishers auctioned and abolished the zamindari rights of Surada along with Ghumusar over multiple mutiny and dues in tax payment. In 1936, Surada became part of newly created Orissa Province and since the independence of India, it has been administered by the Odisha state.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

As of 2011^[update] India census,^[11] Surada had a population of 14,867. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Surada has an average literacy rate of 68.7%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 55.6%, and female literacy is 44.3%.

• Rushikulya Degree College^[13]
• Keshab Panda Degree Women's College
• Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya^[14]
• Rushikulya Higher Secondary School
• PCM Women's Higher Secondary School
• Binayak Public Higher Secondary School
• Rushikulya ITC
• Sashibhusan Govt. High School
• Govt. Girl's High School
• Technical High School

Maximum summer temperature is 37 °C; minimum winter temperature is 17 °C. The mean daily temperature varies from 33 °C to 38 °C. May is the hottest month; December is the coldest. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm and the region receives monsoon and torrential rainfall from July to October.

• Sashibhusan Rath - politician, newspaper publisher

• Sitadevi Khadanga - writer

Surada Dam, a popular picnic spot with a park, jetty, and nearby hilltop temples (Khunteswari and Siddheswar). Surada connects through NH-59 and SH-36. Located about 75 km from Brahmapur and 47 km from Daringbadi.

Surada is a part of Surada Assembly Constituency. Current MLA from Surada Assembly Constituency is Nilamani Bisoyi of BJP, who won the seat in State general assembly election in 2024.^[15] Previous MLA from this seat Purna Chandra Swain of BJD, won the seat in State elections in 2009, 2014 & 2019 thrice consecutively. Kishore Chandra Singh Deo of BJP won this seat in 2004, before that Usharani Panda of INC who won this seat in 2000, Ananta Narayan Singh Deo representing BJP in 1995 and representing JNP in 1977, Shanti Devi of JD in 1990, Sharat Chandra Panda of INC in 1985, and Gantayat Swain of INC(I) in 1980.

Biju Patnaik had elected from Surada constituency in 1957 state elections.^[16]

Surada is a part of Aska (Lok Sabha constituency). ^[17]