The architecture in the district attracts the people of all over world because of its unique desings.
TEMPLE:
The important historical relics in the district of Sambalpur are the
temples built by the Chauhan rulers. The splendour of Odisha Art and
Architecture had reached its climax in 13th century much before the
advent of the Chauhan into Sambalpur region.
1. The Pataneswari temple of Sambalpur was built by Balaram Dev, the first Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur in the last part of 16th century. It consists of a sanctum with a enclosed circular count. The Pataneswari Deity is the temple of Goddess Kali.
2. The Samalai Temple in the town represents the finest Chauhan style of circumvallation round the sanctum. The image of Samalai is a unique sculpture and appears to be a primitive deity worshipped by the local people.
3. Asta Sambhus
In the district of Sambalpur a large no. of Shiva temples were built during the Chauhan period. The most important amongst them were the Asta Sambhus in the un-divided Sambalpur district as detailed below:-
(i) Bimaleswar of Huma (Now in Sambalpur District)
(ii) Kedarnath of Ambabhona (Now in Bargarh District)
(iii) Biswanath of Deogaon (Now in Bargarh District)
(iv) Balunkeswar of Gaisama (Now in Bargarh District)
(v) Balunkeswar of Maneswar (Now in Sambalpur District)
(vi) Swapneswar of Sorna (Now in Bargarh District)
(vii)Bisweswar of Soranda (Now in Bargarh District)
(viii)Neelakntheswar of
Niliee (Now in Bargarh District)
On the river Mahanadi
the temple is found in leaning condition. It was built by Maharaja Baliar Singh.
The rest of the temples were constructed during the reign of Ajit Singh and his
sons Abhaya Singh. All these temples are of great artistic beauty.
There is
discovery of a no. of copper plates in the District of Sambalpur. The earliest
available one is the Kudopali copper plate dated the 13th
regnal year of Mahashagupta, a Somawan Monarch of 10-11th century AD.
In village Themra under Sambalpur two copper plates grant issued by Maharaja Joyestz Singh and his chief queen Rajeswari Ratna Kumari have been brought to light. These have been written in Sanskrit language and in Oriya script. The first plate records donations of the village Sodarja to one Divyasimha Mishra on the occasion or a lunar eclipse in Sambat 1847. The second plate records that Ratnakumari granted Themra village to Divjasimha Mishra in Sambhat, 1861.