ODISHA

ODISHA

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ODISHA

• Odisha (formerly Orissa) is one of the 29 states of India, located in the eastern coast.

• It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the north-east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and northwest and Andhra Pradesh to the south.

• Odisha has 485 kilometres (301 mi) of coastline along the Bay of Bengal on its east, from Balasore to Malkangiri.

• It is the 9^th largest state by area, and the 11^th largest by population. It is also the 3^rd most populous state of India in terms of tribal population.

HISTORICAL FACTS

• The ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE resulting in the Kalinga War, coincides with the borders of modern-day Odisha.

• The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April 1936, as a province in British India, and consisted predominantly of Odia-speaking regions. It was created as First Linguistic based province in British india.
• April 1 is celebrated as Odisha Day.

• The region is also known as Utkala and is mentioned in India’s national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”.

• Cuttack was made the capital of the region by Anantavarman Chodaganga in c. 1135, after which the city was used as the capital by many rulers, through the British era until 1948. Thereafter, Bhubaneswar became the capital of Odisha.

Official Symbols of Odisha

• State Tree – Fig (Peepal)
• State Flower – Ashoka (Saraca Asoca)
• State Animal – Sambar
• State Bird – Indian Roller

Geographical Facts about Odisha

• Odisha borders with 4 states – Jharkhand in north, West Bengal in northeast, Andhra in South West, Chhattisgarh in west.

• Odisha is drained by three main rivers – Mahanadi, Brahmani and Baitarni.
• Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga are the important seasonal rivers.

• Chilka lake is the biggest and most famous Brackish water (partial saline) lagoon. This is India’s biggest and World’s second biggest coastal lagoon. (Sambhar salt lake near Jaipur is the biggest saline lake of India, Wular lake of Kashmir is the biggest fresh water lake of India and Asia).

• Chilka lake is about 64 km long and about 20 km wide. There are two beautiful islands in the lake Parikud and Malud.

• The largest Lion Safari of India and the only White Tiger Safari in the World are located in Nandankanan National Park near Bhubaneshwar.

• Mayurbhanj is the largest district of Odisha by area. Ganjam district is largest by population.
• Deomali is the highest peak of state with an altitude of 1672 m.

Economic Facts about Odisha

• Mineral Resources of Odisha – Chromite, Bauxite, Dolomite, Graphite, Iron-ore, Coal, Copper, Kaolin, Lead, Quartzite, Steatite and tin.
• Agricultural Products of Odisha – Rice, pulses, oil seeds, jute, mesta, coconut and turmeric. Sugarcane is important cash crop of Odisha. 64% of population is dependent on agriculture. The state contributes one-tenth of rice production of India.
• The main industries are Steel Plant at Rourkela, SAD complex at Chhatarpur, Heavy water project at Talchar, Coach repairing workshop at Mancheswar, HAL at Koraput. Fertilizer plant a Paradeep.
• Hirakud Dam which is built on Mahanadi river is the fourth largest dam of world.

• Paradeep is the major sea port of Odisha. Gopalpur is the all-weather port.

Social and Cultural Facts about Odisha

• Odissi is the famous classical dance of the state.

• Chadya, Dandanata and Chhau are the popular folk dances of Odisha.

• Puri (Lord Jagannath) is one of the Char Dham (holy places of pilgrimages), other three are Kedarnath in north, Rameswaram in south and Dwarka in west.

• Puri Rath Yatra is internationally famous Rath Yatra in which chariots of Lord Jagannath (Sri Krishna), Balbhadhra (Balram-Krishna’s elder brother) and Subadhra (Krishna’s sister) travels of Gundicha temple.

• Konark is famous for great temple of Sun god. The temple is of the shape of huge charriot with 24 carved wheels, drawn by seven horses.

• It is also called as Black Pagoda while Puri Jagannath temple is called White Pagoda.

• It is designed in such a fashion that first Sun rays falls on the main entrance of temple. It was built in 13^th century by king Narsimhadeva I. This temple is also known for its erotic sculptures.

• Lingaraja temple is the most famous tourist place of Bhubaneshwar. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

• Literacy rate of Odisha is 73.4% which is just below national average of 74.04%. Odisha is 19^th most literate state of India.

Famous Persons from Odisha

• V. Giri – was the fourth President of India. He was born in Berhampur of Odisha.
• Biju Patnaik, Janki Ballabh Patnail, Navin Patnaik, Giridhar Gamang are some famous politicians of Odisha.

• Sudarshan Patnaik – is the world famous sand artist.

• Mira Nair – is a famous Film producer. She was born in Rourkela in Odisha. She has done popular films like Monsoon Wedding and Salam Bombay.
• Sarojini Sahoo – is the famous writer who has won a number of literature awards.
• Nandita Das – is the famous actress who has done movies like Earth and Fire etc. She is daughter of famous Odiya painter Jatin Das.
• Archita Sahu – is the famous Odiya actress and model.
• Pragyan Ojha – is the famous cricketer who was born in Bhubaneswar.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

• The Jagannath temple kitchen is reputed to be the largest kitchen in the world, with 400 cooks working around 200 hearths to feed over 10,000 people each day.

• Odisha became the first state to enact the Lokayukta Bill law after the central act was passed in Parliament.
• Pahala Rasagolla, famous sweet originated in Odisha. It has been traditionally offered as bhog to Goddess Lakshmi at Jagannath Temple, Puri.

• The Chandipur Beach is a hide and seek beach of Odisha that appears and disappears with every high and low tide to approximately 5 kms.

• Bhubaneswar, the capital city was the home of over 600 magnificent temples in medieval times. It is called the “temple city” of India. The only city in the world with such highest number of temples inside
• The Sinhala (people of Sri Lanka) are named after Raja Jai Sinha, an ancient Oriya King.
• Odisha is popular for having 3 mass nesting beaches (Gahirmatha, Devi Nadi and Rushikuliya) of rare Olive Ridley Sea Turtles including world’s largest nesting ground of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.
• This largest arribada or turtle nesting ground in the world is found at Gahirmatha beach of

• Largest wetland of Asia (Chilika) now designated as a Ramsar site in Orissa.

• World’s largest egg, with approximate dimension of 13 inches and width of 9.5 inches is of the gigantic herbivorous flightless elephant bird (zoologically termed as Aepyornis maximus) that lived last till 1650 AD, is preserved at Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar.
• The Leaning Temple of Huma, situated near Sambalpur in India is the only leaning temple in the world.
• The Sambalpuri sari is made from fabric woven on a hand-loom and is one of the most popular throughout India. This became popular when late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi started wearing.
• DHAMRA is one of the deepest port of India after Gujarat port.

• Wheeler Island, south of Chandipur in Odisha is a place where most of missiles of India are tested such as Akash missile, Agni missile, Prithvi Missile of only some of them. Now it is renamed as Abdul Kalam Island.

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