page_title: History of Sambalpur
section_title: Etymology
hierarchical_section_title: History of Sambalpur / Etymology
caption_attribution_description: Maa Samaleswari. White attire.
context_page_description: Sambalpur is a district of Odisha. Sambalpur city is the headquarter of Sambalpur district. Sambalpur is the cultural capital of Western Odisha.
context_section_description: Sambalpur derives its name from that of the Goddess Samalei who is regarded as the reigning deity of the region. In history, it has also been known as 'Sambalaka'. 
   The region in which Sambalpur city is located was also known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. Ptolemy has described the place as "Sambalak". According to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
caption: Maa Samalei, the reigning deity, after which the city of Sambalpur derives its name.
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