Tourism of Orissa
Puri and Konark are major tourist attractions. Hirakud Dam, the fourth largest in the world is also worth seeing. Chilka, the largest brackish water inland lake in Asia, stretches over an area of 1100 sq. km. The largest Lion Safari of India, and the only White Tiger Safari in the world, are located in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Odissi, one of the dance forms of India continues to draw admirers throughout the world.
| State Capital | Bhubaneswar |
| Population ('000s in 1991) | 31,660 |
| Area ('000 sq. km) | 156 |
| Females per 1000 males (1991) | 971 |
| Literacy rate (1991) | 49.1 |
| Ratio of urban population (1991) | 13.4 |
| Net Domestic Product (Rs. million at current prices in 1992-93) | 129,220 |
| Per Capita Income (Rs. at current prices in 1992-93) | 3,963 |
| Principal Language | Oriya |
| No. of Districts | 30 |
Orissa is located on India's east coast. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east and by the states of West Bengal in the northeast, Bihar in the north, Madhya Pradesh in the West, and Andhra Pradesh in the south. The state occupies an area of about 156,000 square kilometers. The capital of Orissa is Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar is also the most populated city in Orissa. Cuttack and Puri are two other cities with high populations.
The history of Orissa has a place of distinction in the Indian folklore. The famous Battle of Kalinga was fought near the city of Bhubaneswar in 260 BC. The battle transformed Emperor Ashoka into a philanthropist and patronizer of the Buddhist faith. Many battles took place during this time period, and the next rulers of the Orissan area were the Kesari, a Hindu people, and then the Ganga. Then in the 16th century the Mughals brought Orissa in its empire followed by the Marathas. The British rule entered the political scene and took control of the state in 1803 with the rest of India. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism flourished in Orissa.
As of 1991, the time that the last recorded census was taken, there were approximately 31, 660, 000 people living in the state of Orissa. Fewer than 14% of all citizens of Orissa live in cities. This number illustrates the great number of people who live in the country and work on farms. The ratio of males to females is about 1: 9.7. About one half of all the people living in Orissa can read, a high number for a relatively rural state. The most common language spoken in Orissa is Oriya. The average individual income, annually, is 3,963 Rupees.
Over 76% of the people are dependent on agriculture. Out of the gross cropped area of 87.46 lakh hectares are 87.79 lakh hectares are irrigated. Rice, pulses, oil-seeds, jute, mesta, sugarcane, coconut and turmeric are important crops. The state contributes one-tenth of the rice production in India.
The Central Sector Projects are: Steel Plant at Rourkela, SAND Complex at Chhatrapur, Heavy Water Project at Talcher, Coach Repairing Workshop at Mancheswar, Aluminium Complex at Koraput, Captive Power Plant at Angul, Aluminium Smelter at Angul and Fertilizer Plant at Paradip. Major thermal and hydel power stations are Talcher, Hirakud, and Chiplima. Major rhermal and hydel power stations are Talcher, Hirakud and Chiplima. Other power projects are Upper Indravati, Upper Kolab, Rengali and Ib.
Industry also plays a key role in the economy. Products manufactured in Orissa include textiles, paper, leather goods, cement, soap, glass, aluminum, and flour. Some of the natural resources that are mined are iron, coal, and zinc. Orissa has trade relations with other states of India, the United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany.
There are many products that are shipped in and out of Orissa annually. The main exports are expensive gems, fish, fancy jewelry, baskets, and clothing. Orissa is known world-wide for its fine cloths and the painstaking effort with which they are made. Orissa also imports many things. The chief imports are machinery, steel, and fuel.
Places of interest are: Lingaraja Temple,Mukteswar Temple, Ananta Vasudeva Temple and Rajarani Temple, the Jain and Buddhist rock-cut caves of Khandagiri, Udayagiri and Dhauli together with Ashoka's edict.
The State has hotels of star and non star category catering to the needs of the tourists visiting Orissa. Besides it has resorts, restaurants and cafes which cater to the needs of all segment of travelers.
Orissa is a major state in India. It forms a part of Southeastern India. The entire state can be divided into three territories - Coastal Orissa, South Orissa, and Northwest Orissa. The capital and biggest city of Orissa is Bhubaneswar.
Popular Tourist Destinations in Orissa
- Chilka Lake - The lake is a haven for migrant birds. The site is famous for dolphins and sea turtles as well.
- Bhitarkanika National Park
- Pipli - It is known all over the globe for its handicraft items.
- Daringbadi - For its scenic features, it is dubbed as the Darjeeling of Odisha.
- Simlipal National Park - It is a big wildlife reserve in the northern part of the state and contains a number of elephants and tigers.
Important Cities of Orissa
- Brahmapur (formerly known as Berhampore) - The place is called as Silk City as well
- Bhubaneswar - The capital of the state and main transportation center
- Koraput
- Cuttack - The erstwhile capital of the state
- Puri - Is known for the Jagannath Temple and lively seashores. This famous religious hub is a major tourist draw in Odisha.
- Paradip - Named as the Port City.
- Sambalpur - The largest city in the western part of the state.
- Rourkela - Famous for the fertilizer factories and steel plants it houses.
- Sunabeda - Known as the Kashmir of Odisha
About Orissa provides detailed information on the capital of the place, its historical background, and geographical topography. Spread over a total area of 155,707 km2, Orissa holds a population of 36,706,920. The state of Orissa has a vast reserve of minerals and is an important center for development of IT related industries.
The rich history of Orissa can be further sub divided into ancient, medieval and modern history. During the ancient times, Orissa was known as Kalinga. Orissa has been the cradle of civilization of several dynasties who ruled over the region. The region of Kalinga flourished under the Magadha rulers.
Orissa played an important role in the Indian Independence Struggle. The spread of modern education through the medium of English language helped in the development of new social consciousness among the indigenous inhabitants of the state. After independence, Orissa became one of the prominent states of India because of its industrial and commercial growth.
The heterogeneous topography of Orissa is reflected in its distinct geographical divisions. Orissa comprises of five geographical areas of the Central Plateau, Coastal Plains, Western Rolling Upland, Middle Mountainous and Highlands Region and the Flood Plains.
The Blue Jay is the state bird and the Sambar is the state animal of Orissa. Orissa mostly comprises of Hindu religious groups. However Muslims, Christians and Sikhs also form a considerable part of the huge population of the state. Orissa has a sizeable population of minorities of Schedule Tribes and Schedule Castes.
Last Updated on: 30thMarch 2013
