Dhenkanal, city, east-central state of Odisha (Orissa), eastern India. It is situated on a low plain, about 8 km south of the Brahmani River.
The city is named after Dhenka, a medieval leader of the Savara people. It is a market for rice, oilseeds and wood and is a center of handlooms. Dhenkanal was formerly the capital of the princely state of Dhenkanal, which was incorporated in 1949 into what became the state of Orissa (now Odisha) in 1950. The Rajah's palace is situated on a hill surrounded by moats. The town is the location of Dhenkanal College (established 1959).
Dhenkanal district is one of the central districts of Odisha. It is located between longitude: 85° 58' to 86° 2' east and latitude: 20° 29' to 21° 11' north. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik, at a distance of 52.12 km. It is bordered by Kendujhar and Angul districts to the north, Jajpur district to the east, Cuttack district to the south and Angul district to the west.
The district consists mainly of plains, but there are several discontinuous hill ranges within the district and along the southern border. The Brahmani River is the main river of the district.
