About Orissa
Situated on the coast along the Bay of Bengal, Orissa stands for its ancient glory and modern endeavor. 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.
Its lush green countryside and fertile plains, tiny hamlets fringed with palm, coconut trees and mango groves offer the charm of rural beauty while the urban pockets, the four cities in particular, with the splendor of modern technology provide the amenities necessary for a comfortable stay. This wonderful land of fascinating beauty boasts of colorful festivals round the year. Orissa is also the land of unique handicrafts and other excellent artifacts.
Orissa has a long tradition of art and architecture. The early monuments date back to the third century B.C. The remnant of an Ashokan pillar, turned into a Siva Lingam and enshrined in the Bhaskaresvara temple at Bhubaneswar and the lion capital of an Ashokan pillar, presently in the State Museum, speak volumes of Orissa's past glory. The rock-cut caves of Khandagiri and Udaygiri and the inscriptions recording Kharavela's short but eventful reign during the first century B.C. constitute the second phase of the evolution in Orissan art. The Naga and Yaksha images found in places around Bhubaneswar belong to the post-Kharavela era. The fortification of Sisupalgarh near Bhubaneswar is yet another monument of ancient Orissa.
Orissa is also known for her exquisite handicrafts. Silver filigree work of Cuttack, horn work of Cuttack and Parlakhemundi and the famous appliqué work of Pipili deserve special mention. Pattachitra, a form of folk painting of Orissa, is a unique craft. Brass and bell metal ware, particularly vases and candle stands, are beautiful and long lasting. The Blackstone bowls and plates of Nilagiri and Khiching and multi-colored stone statues are other attractions. Silk and cotton handloom products, especially saris are simply bewitching. The Sambalpuri saris and Maniabandhi patas are matchless in their texture and designs.
LOCATION:
It is located 17 o .49' and 22 o .34' North Latitude, and 81 o .29' and 87 o .29' East Longitude On the eastern coast of India between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras) The State of Orissa is like a bridge between northern and southern halves of India, representing multifaceted synthesis
AREA
1, 55,707 Sq. Kms (4.74% of India's land mass) There are 30 districts, which are administrative units of the Sate with Collector as the head. The geographic area of Orissa is 15.57 million ha, which constitutes 4.74 % area of the country. It lies in the tropical zone between lat. 170 47¢ and 220 34¢ N and long. 810 22¢ and 870 29¢ E. The state can be divided into four distinct physiographic regions viz. Northern Plateau, Eastern Ghat, Central table land and coastal plains. The state is drained by three major rivers, the Mahanadi, the Brahmani and the Baitarni.