Orissa Tourism

About Orissa

Situated by the Bay of Bengal, in the eastern coastal region of the country, Orissa is the eleventh largest state of India in terms of population. It is also the ninth largest state in terms of area. Modern day Orissa was established on 1st April, 1936 as a state and this date is celebrated as Utkal Day or Orissa Day. Bhubaneshwar is the capital and the largest city of Orissa. In ancient times, Orissa was named as Kalinga. Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty invaded it in 261 BC and it became a part of the Maurya Kingdom. The modern name of the state is derived from the Sanskrit word Odra Vishaya or Odra desa. Odra refers to the native people of Orissa. Odra people are also mentioned in various ancient literatures; most prominent among them is the epic Mahabharata. Orissa was inhabited since a very early age and there are paintings which prove the existence of human civilization in the pre-historic era. After the fall of the Maurya Dynasty in 185...