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Welcome To ODISHA

history

History

The History of Odisha spans over 3,500 years and it is atypical from the history of the northern plains in many ways. Many of the common generalizations that are made about Indian history doesn't apply to the Odia region. The word Oriya is an anglicised version of Odia which itself is a modern name for the Odra or Udra tribes that inhabited the central belt of modern Odisha. Odisha has been the home of the Kalinga, Utkal, Kantara/Mahakantara and Kosal (South) that played a particularly prominent role in the region's history and one of the earliest references to the ancient.

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Things To Do

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Destinations

Odisha is filled with interesting destinations and just deciding on what to do and where to go can often be a daunting task. In order to help you in planning your trip, we have compiled a list of possible destinations with a small list of nearby places which you could visit while there.


BHUBANESWAR - The State CapitalIntroduction

Bhubaneswar is the capital city of the state of Odisha. Renowned as ‘The City of Temples and Tanks’ and ‘The Cathedral City of India’, Bhubaneswar has been a place of religious and cultural efflorescence through the ages and today the city reflects a unique harmony between antiquity and urbanity. On 13th April 1948 Bhubaneswar was declared the capital of Odisha after Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru laid foundation stone for the new capital. In 1954, Dr. Otto Koeinisberger prepared the master plan for the city of Bhubaneswar in close proximity to the old temple town based on the concepts of Neighborhood Planning. This temple metropolis has a rich cultural background and represents the finest manifestations of Kalingan style of temple architecture. Today, it is a bustling administrative, commercial, industrial and religious center merging its intriguing past souniquely with its modern aspirations. A number of puranas, historical monuments, shrines and other ruins throw ample light on the rich cultural heritage of Bhubaneswar. The name Bhubaneswar comes from the word ‘Thribhuvaneswar’ which means ‘The Lord of the Universe’. The city has a long and interesting history starting from around 261 BC. It was the ancient capital of the kingdom of Kalinga, the greatest of the rulers being Asoka. A major phase in the history of this city was the conquering and rule of the area by Kharavela under whose patronage the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri became the stronghold of Buddhism and Jainism. Bhubaneswar once had about 7000 temples, shrines and caves propagating faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Being the seat of 'Lord Lingaraj', Bhubaneswar is an important Hindu pilgrimage center. With the holy city of Puri and the Land of the Sun temple, Konark, it forms the apex of the famous ‘Golden triangle’, one of the most important tourist and pilgrimage destinations in India. With a population of 6.5 lakhs (Census 2001), it attracts a tourist population of 3.8 lakhs. The city’s role as an important center of tourism, administration, commerce, industry calls for planning environment friendly and sustainable development and for provision of higher quality of life, while the city becomes economically vibrant, socially further equitable and environmentally supportive thereby paving way for making Bhubaneswar an Eco-City. The Central Pollution Control Board had conceptualized ‘Urban Environmental Information System’ (Urb-ENVIS) and ‘Environmental Profile’ as a means to compile environmental information and publish them for bringing in awareness and transparency and in developing local dynamics triggering environmental improvement initiatives.

PURI - The Abode of Lord JagannathPURI

Puri, commonly known to Indians as Jagannath Puri, is one of the four major sacred sites for the Hindus all over the world. The seat of the hallowed God, Lord Jagannath, Puri, was once part of the Kalinga Kingdom which was brought under the rule of the Maurya dynasty, under the mighty Ashoka. Puri used to be a hilly region in the ancient times and is believed to have been inhabited by the Sabaras, a tribe belonging to pre-Aryan and pre Dravidian Austric linguistic group.

Most famous for the Jagannath temple, Puri also has a beautiful and virgin beach. This is one of the most unexploited beaches in India. This is a small town and the life of this town is all centered round the activities related to the Lord Jagannath and the temple. It is as if the sleepy town wakes up to the glory of the Lord during the annual Car festival or the Rath Yatra of the Lord; this when the whole town comes alive with devotees and enthusiasts who come from all over the world to watch this mega event.

KONARK - Famous for the Sun TempleSun Temple, Konark

The Sun temple in Konark in the state of Odisha was built by King Narasimhadeva in 13th century. This magnificent temple to Surya, the Sun God, is one of India’s architectural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage. Built on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha, its main image is a superb statue of the sun god standing on his chariot. Twelve superbly carved wheels, each representing a month of the year and seven stone horses, representing the days of the week, pull the sun god in his journey across the skies. The temple is covered with exquisite sculptures of beautiful maidens, erotic couples, dancers, deities and animals. It is a magnum opus of Odisha’s architectural grandeur. The drive along the seashore from the temple town of Puri to Konark is delightful. The wheels of the chariot at the base of the temple are the main attraction of the Sun Temple. The shadow created by the spokes of the wheel act as sundials and gives the exact time of the day. The roof of the temple which is pyramid shaped is made from sandstone and is about 30m in height.

The temple walls are adorned with floral, geometrical, human, animal, divine and semi divine figures. Pair of monolithic elephants and horses depicts the dynamism of medieval sculpture.

This temple is also referred as the Black Pagoda, since it was built in black granite. The Sun temple looks magnificent even in its ruined state. Only a personal visit to Konark gives a clear picture of the imposing yet exquisite temple.

CHILIKA - Asia's Largest Brackish Water LakeChilika Lake

nce of 100 Km from Bhubaneswar ( capital of Odisha ). The Chilika Lake is connected to see by 30 KM long irregular mouth with sand islands and low depth water areas. Chilika is famous for its migratory birds coming from distance places like Siberia in winter seasons. Other than bird watching Chilika is famous for boating , fishing and popular picnic spot for locals residing around Chilika

ROURKELA - The Steel City of OdishaROURKELA

Rourkela is located in the northwestern tip of the Indian state of Odisha at the heart of a rich mineral belt. It is surrounded by a range of hills and encircled by rivers. One of the largest steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited, i.e. Rourkela Steel Plant is situated here. It also has one of the National Institutes of Technology of the country.
Woman relaxing in the New Royal Bath at Thermae Bath Spa, Britain's original and only thermal bath spa set in the busy city of Bath, England © Britainonview / Jon Spaull

Art, culture & heritage

Odisha has an art and craft that are the products of a long historical process in which the spiritual, philosophical and the human dimensions have merged to yield the finest effects of a cultured and civilized life. This art and craft only have made the state a land of rich and diverse artistic achievements.

The cultural heritage of Odisha is reflected in its vibrant art forms. Having distinct traditions of painting, architecture, sculpture, handicrafts, music and dance, Odisha boasts of a long and rich cultural heritage.

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Cities & towns

city

Bhubaneswar

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places to stay

place

Swosti Palm Resort

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HERITAGE

heritage

Cultural Heritage

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HISTORIA Y...

history

Ratnagiri

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Odisha Profile

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Odisha, bounded on the west by the thickly forested hills of the Eastern Ghats and on the east by nearly 500 km coastline of the Bay of Bengal, is a beautiful state covering an area of 156, 000 sq. kms. It is surrounded by Jharkhand on the north, West Bengal on the north-east Andhra Pradesh on the south and Chhattisgarh on the west. Odisha is one of the prosperous states of India owing to its fertile land and rich mineral resources viz. coal, iron and bauxite. The state is booming towards a big industrial growth in the near future. Odisha is also emerging as a player in outsourcing IT and IT services.

Land And People
Eminent Personalities
Odiya Classics
 

Upcoming Events

  1. 1 Odisha's population rises to 4.19 crore in 2011 ; literacy rate rises to 73.5 per cent
  2. 2 Odisha government to set up panel to verify diversion of tribal funds
  3. 3 Odisha-based KISS Joins Hands with National ST Commission
  4. 4 Odisha's leading channel ETV organizing second Etv Odia Film Awards

Odisha Profile

Capital city : Bhubaneswar
Population : 36,706,920 (11th)
Area : 155,707 km² (9th)

Administrative Units :

30 Districts | 314 Blocks/316 Tahasils



On a budget?
    • ew

      Visit Odisha's most popular tourist Destinations

    • odisha

      Drench yourself in fun at Odisha's pristine beaches, lakes and waterfalls

    • sddf

      Mingle with denizens of the jungles at Odisha's numerous wildlife sanctuaries

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      Immerse yourself in the myriad moods of Odisha's arts and crafts

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      Step back in time through the ancient temples and monuments