INSIGHTS OF ODISHA

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OVERVIEW :

Odisha borders on the Bay of Bengal. The eastern part, close to the sea is more prosperous, with a lot of tourist locations and religious places. The western part is a hilly and forested area, generally drought-prone. It is a predominantly tribal belt. However, the western part of the state contains enormous volumes of iron ore and other minerals that promise to herald major industrialization of the state. It is a culturally rich state. The Bhubaneswar-Puri-Konark golden triangle is the pride of the state. Traditionally, Odisha descended from the historical kingdom of Kalinga. The script for the Odia (Oriya) language derives from the Kalinga script which is one of the descendants of the Brahmi script.

GEOGRAPHY:

Odisha lies between the latitudes 17.780N and 22.730N, and between longitudes 81.37E and 87.53E. The state has an area of 155,707 km, which is 4.87% of the total area of India, and a coastline of 450 km. In the eastern part of the state lies the coastal plain. It extends from the Subarnarekha River in the north to the Rushikulya river in the south. Lake Chilika is part of the coastal plains. The plains are rich in fertile silt deposited by the six major rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal: Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Baitarani, Brahmani, Mahanadi, and Rushikulya.

RELIGION :

The majority (almost 94% of people in Odisha are Hindu and there is also a rich cultural heritage in the state.

CUISINE(ODIA CUISINE) :

Odisha has a culinary tradition spanning centuries. The kitchen of the Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri is reputed to be the largest in the world, with 1,000 chefs, working around 752 wood-burning clay hearths called chulas, to feed over 10,000 people each day.

The syrupy dessert Pahala rasagola made in Odisha is known throughout the world. Chhenapoda is another major Odisha sweet cuisine, which originated in Nayagarh. Dalma (a mix of dal and selected vegetables) is a widely known cuisine, better served with ghee.


The "Odisha Rasagola" was awarded a GI tag on 29 July 2019 after a long battle about the origin of the famous sweet with West Bengal.

The district-wise lip-smacking food of Odisha
Cuttack famous "Aludum-Dahibara"
 
Cuttack every lane and street, a Dahibara handcart is a common sight. Dahibara is served with hot and spicy aloo dum and ghuguni topped with finely chopped onions, coriander leaves, curd and sew (sev) which combine to produce a marvelous taste. 
  • Eshwar Dahibara Aloodum at Biju Patnaik Chaka.
  • Raghu Dahibara at Bidanasi
  • Deulasahi Dahibara stall opposite Kanika Chaka petrol pump, 
  • Rama Dahibara in front of SB women’s college, 
  • Bhoggie Dahibara near New Stewart School, 
  • Dahibara stalls in front of Barabati Stadium 
  • Trinath Dahibara near Masik Patna Colony, Kanika Chaka.  
  • Collectorate Chhaka, Dhenkanal
Nayagarh Best "Chhena Poda"
 
Chhena Poda is found in every corner of Odisha but Nayagarh’s Chhena Poda is the most tasteful among these varieties. Chhena Poda is a burnt cheese recipe in which cheese, sugar/jaggery, cashew nuts, and raisins are mixed and baked for hours until the cheese turns brown. The taste of Chhena Poda is unique and unforgettable.
 
"Rasabali" of Kendrapada
 
Kendrapada Rasabali is one the most authentic sweet dishes of Odisha, which has originated from the Baldevjew Temple and is offered to lord Baldevjew in Kendrapada. It is considered to be one of the Chappana Bhoga offered to Lord Jagannath in Puri Jagannath Temple.
 
 
Nimapada’s  "Chena Jhilli"
Nimapada, a small town in the Puri district is much renowned for its delicious and toothsome dessert, Chhena Jhilli. Deep-fried fresh cheese balls soaked in sugar syrup are an exquisite sweet. This sweet is indeed available in many places in Odisha but Nimapada Chhena Jhilli is the best in terms of taste and was first prepared by Aarta Sahoo, a man from Shyam Sundarpur Village of Nimapada in Puri. 

Dhenkanal "Prasiddha Bara" 

Dhenkanal Bara is one of the most scrumptious and mouth-watering street foods. The main ingredients of Dhenkanal’s bara are black gram, rice flour, chilies, chopped onions, some curry leaves, and cumin. This aromatic appetizing Bara is crispy from the outside and soft from the inside. 


"Mudhi Mansa" of Baripada
People of this district are emotionally connected with the dish and also apprise of it a lot. The “Garma Garm” Restaurant run by Jogeswar Behera which is more than 50 years old is the eatery that has gathered enormous mass recognition for this delectable and lip-smacking dish in the modern era.


Prasiddha Puri "Khaja"
One of the items of the Chappana Bhoga of Lord Jagannath, the taste of Puri Khaja is unique in itself. Prepared in the Shree Mandira of Lord Jagannath, Khaja is also available in many places within Puri. Khaja has an extraordinary taste due to its crispiness that is imparted by the layered fritters coated with sugar syrup.


Bhubaneswar "Kora Khai"
Kora Khai, a form of caramelized Lia is offered as prasad to Lord Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar (Khordha). It is prepared from spices like cinnamon and cardamom along with puffed rice caramelized with sugar or jaggery is made into Muan balls and then cut into pieces for Khai. Pieces of coconut and cashew nuts are added on top of the Khai to make it more delicious.


"Sweet Gajja"of Balasore
Gajja is one of the most popular cuisines of Odisha, especially in the Balasore district. Semolina, sugar, and cheese are combined and kneaded into a dough and then dried and deep-fried before dipping it into the sugar syrup. The Gajja is essentially the same as rassogolla and Chena Poda, though it is of a crispier kind.


"Special Palua Ladu" of Bhadrak
The special Palua Ladu has originated from the district of Bhadrak in Odisha. The best place to sample this laddu is from Sai Sweet Stall of Bhadrak. The recipe of this famous Ladoo is still not completely known, even after decades


"Crunchy Chaula Bara" of Bolangir

The savory Chaula Bara is one of the most famous street snacks in the Bolangir district. It is crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. This bara when served hot with some ketchup or chutney tastes both crunchy as well as savory.


"Chatpata Macha Besara" of Jajpur
Macha Besar is the most popular cuisine of the Jajpur district. This lip-smacking dish is made from Rohu fish which is deep-fried and then flipped in mustard gravy. The mustard flavor in the dish gives it an authentic taste.


DANCE (ODISSI):


Sharmila Biswas, Odissi dancer.

Odissi (Orissi) dance and music are classical art forms. Odissi is the oldest surviving dance form in India on the basis of archaeological evidence. Odissi has a long, unbroken tradition of 2,000 years, and finds mention in the Natyashastra of Bharatamuni, possibly written c. 200 BC. However, the dance form nearly became extinct during the British period, only to be revived after India's independence by a few gurus.

 
The variety of dances includes Ghumura Dance, Chhau dance, Jhumair, Mahari dance, Dalkhai, and Gotipua.


Tourism in 😇Disha (The Soul of Incredible India")




Odisha- the land of paddy fields and palm-fringed silver beaches, temples, rivers, waterfalls, and tribal people, is filled with major attractions such as the temples of Bhubaneshwar and Puri, miles of clean beaches, and the magnificent Sun Temple of Konark.

Visit the soul state of India and come back with a bag full of memories that will remain etched in your mind for a long time.


Puri- One of the four major Hindu pilgrim centers, Puri's landscape is dominated by the 65-meter high Jagannath Temple, built in the 12thCentury. Over a million people flock to this holy place every year to participate in the cart festival.
 
Bhubaneswar- THE CAPITAL CITY OF ODISHA, Bhubaneswar is scenic, lively, green, and clean, with a rich cultural life. Known for its temples, the city is a major center of attraction for tourists from far and wide. 
 
Simlipal-Similipal Tiger Reserve which spreads over 2750 Sq.Kms is a part of Central Indian Landscape. Not only a Tiger Reserve, but Similipal is also a National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve.
 
Sambalpur-Famous for its Sambalpuri Saree, the Sambalpur District is the western part of the state of Odisha. 
 
Ratnagiri-Lalitgiri-Udayagiri-Buddhism in Orissa (ancient Kalinga) is as old as the religion itself. Pali texts refer to Buddha's association with Tapasu and Bhallika, two businessmen from Kalinga, who are said to be the first disciples.
 
Koraput-Koraput District located in the backdrop of green valley’s contemplating immaculate freshness was established on 1st April 1936. Decorated by forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys, and darting springs.


Balasore-Balasore, the headquarters of the district, was an important maritime town in medieval times. Some portions of the town were occupied by the French and the Dutch which were named Farasidinga and Dinamardinga.


Cuttack-Cuttack is Odisha's oldest city and was established in 989 AD. A relaxed and laid-back city, Cuttack is today mainly a farmer and trader town, offering a refreshing array of landscapes, activities.


Gopalpur-Gopalpur is a coastal town located on the southern boundary lines of Orissa. The place is situated near the Bay of Bengal and is considered one of the top three tourist destinations of the state with beautiful beaches.


Paradip-A seaside holiday in Paradip promises excitement and diversity. Soak up the enchanting vibe at the marine drive. Enjoy a clear sight of the blue waters near the beaches. Stop at Muhana Point, an estuary point.
 

Things to do in Odisha 



HOW TO REACH ODISHA:


✈ By Air

Odisha is well connected and accessible by tourists from all over the globe. However, the most convenient and comfortable way to reach Odisha is by air. Being not just a popular location for film shoots, but also a popular tourist destination, Odisha is home to 17 airports comprising commercially-used, military-used, privately-used, and flying-used flights. The main airport however is the Biju Patnaik International Airport located in the capital city, Bhubaneshwar. The airport provides good connectivity with major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Raipur. 

🚄By Railways

Major cities and states are connected to Odisha and some of its cities by rail. The most prominent railhead in Odisha lies in Bhubaneshwar. 
Rajdhani, Konark Express, and Coromandel Express are some of the trains that serve this station. Bhubaneshwar Railway station also connects you to Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati, and Trivandrum via Express and Super Express trains. These run daily as per schedule. 

🚗By Road

Odisha is well connected with all the major cities in the country with its accessible national and state highways. National Highway 16 traverses along the east coast of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Coastal Odisha is a stop along the way with road routes between Kolkata and Chennai also passing through Bhubaneshwar. The road also connects Sambalpur with Kolkata, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. You can also avail of multiple bus services from neighboring states. You have access to local buses and comfortable Volvos to travel to and from Odisha. 
National Highway 5, 6, 23, 42, and 43 grant access to Odisha by road. 

Transportation In Odisha (Within Odisha)

🚌By Buses

A blessing in disguise for the tourist and locals is Bhubaneshwar’s numbered bus system. The city’s buses function between 7 am and 9 pm. Head to the master canteen and you will find a line of buses waiting, ready to take you to your preferred destination. Before you get in the bus, do check its route since some buses run along more than one course. 
Around 25 routes are planned to provide public transport services in the areas of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri. 
Odisha State Board Transportation Corporation runs buses across 45 cities in Odisha such as Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Jeypur, Vijayanagaram, and Vishakhapatnam. Buses also run from the Baramunda Bus Stand to places such as Cuttack and Konark. While the main bus stand in Puri runs frequent buses to Satapada and Bhubaneshwar. Private buses can also be availed to and from various parts of the state. 

🚙By Cab

Ola and Uber services in and around Bhubaneshwar cost approximately INR 100. If you want a full-fledged tour, then Odisha Tourism Development Corporation provides car and driver services to facilitate tours around the area. If you wish to travel to other cities, an air-conditioned car would cost you INR 12 per kilometer. Make sure you book the car a day prior to when you wish to travel.

🚕By Autorickshaw

You cannot miss out on the airy autorickshaw rides when in Odisha. Available at every nook and corner of Bhubaneshwar city, these rides cost around INR 200 to the airport if hailed on the street. If you are looking to share a ride with the locals along the main routes of the city, most rides cost around INR 10.


WORLD FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT ODISHA :



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