Orissa - Background
The name Odisha is derived from Sanskrit word 'Odra Vishaya' or 'Odra Desa'. The ancient province of 'Odra desa' or 'Or-desa' was limited to the valley of the Mahanadi and to the lower course of the Subarnarekha River. It comprised the whole of the present districts of Cuttack and Sambalpur and a portion of Midnapore. It was bounded on the West by Gondwana, on the North by the wild hill states of Jashpur and Singhbhum, on the East by the sea and on the South by Ganjam.
The Odisha state, which was once a land of Kings and Kingdoms, now boasts of being rich source of natural resources. Its people, temple architecture, classical dance, religions, fairs and festivals, unique handlooms and handicrafts, green woodlands, rock caves, charming blue hills have always attracted historians, tourists and travellers from all over the world. Its rich history, revolutionary freedom movement, fascinatingly sculptured temples and monuments, tribal life characterized by dance, music, rituals, hunting, gaiety and wild ways have become important topics of research for great historians and scholars.
Situated on the coast along the Bay of Bengal, Orissa stands for its ancient glory and modern endeavour. Endowed with nature's bounty, a 482 km stretch of coastline with virgin beaches, serpentine rivers, mighty waterfalls, forest-clad blue hills of Eastern Ghats with rich wild life, Orissa is dotted with exquisite temples, historic monuments as well as pieces of modern engineering feat. The land, while retaining its pristine glory, also offers the visitors modern amenities. The State of Orissa is like a bridge between northern and southern halves of India, representing multifaceted synthesis. Bhubaneshwar is the state capital.
Orissa is a tourist dream. It has the beaches like Puri, Gopalpur, where tourists can relax and enjoy sunbathing and surfing. Bhubaneswar is a famous city of temple. Lingaraj temple is only one of the hundreds of temples in the city. Puri is famous for Jagannath Dev temple. World famous Sun temple of Konark stands majestically on the sea. The wheel with nine spokes is the main attraction of this temple. Nandankanan is one of the major national parks in the country. This is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger. Other important tourist places are Chilika Lake, Dhauli Buddhist Temple, Udaygiri-Khandagiri ancient caves, Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Saptasajya scenic view of hill-beds, Simlipal National Park, Hirakud Dam, Duduma Water Falls, Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, Hari Shankar, Nrusinghanath, Taratarini, Taptapani, Bhitor Kanika, Bhimkunda, Kapilash etc.
On the eastern coast of India, perpetually washed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, lies the many splendour of State of Odisha. Endowed with a rich cultural heritage of old world charms and bestowed liberally with the bounties of nature, sometimes tender, sometimes awe-inspiring, it is a kaleidoscope of past splendours and present glamour, a fascinating state with unspoiled beaches, sprawling lakes, luxuriant forests, teeming wildlife, superb monuments, exotic handicrafts, traditional tribes, colorful fairs and festivals, scintillating music and dances. It is a land of unforgettable memories and hidden treasures. Many parts of this fascinating land remain relatively unexplored.
It is also worth mentioning that Orissa is the only state in which no major communal riot has occurred since 1975. Open and violent caste conflicts are also uncommon.
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