BALASORE

also called Baleshwar, town, northeastern Orissa state, eastern India. Balasore lies on the Burhabalang River, 7 miles (11 km) from the Bay of Bengal. It was the site of a British settlement in 1633; Dutch, Danish, and French merchants followed later in the 17th century. The Dutch and Danish settlements were ceded to the British in 1846, but the French holding remained until 1947. In the 18th century Balasore became important in rice trading and the salt industry. Besides rice, the town now trades in fish, hardware, and other products; other economic activity includes rice milling, light manufacturing, fish curing, and weaving. It has several colleges affiliated with Utkal University. Good road and rail links exist to Calcutta and to other Orissa towns. Balasore is situated on a strip of alluvial land on the Bay of Bengal. The principal crop of the region is rice, and fishing and weaving are important. Pop. (1981) 65,779.