Orissa




About Orissa

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.

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 splendour of modern technology provide the amenities necessary for a comfortable stay. This wonderful land of fascinating beauty boasts of colourful festivals round the year. Orissa is also the land of unique handicrafts and other excellent artefacts.

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 applique work of Pipili deserve special mention. Pattachitra, a form of folk painting of Orissa, is a unique craft. Brass and bell metalware, particularly vases and candle stands, are beautiful and longlasting. The blackstone bowls and plates of Nilagiri and Khiching and multi-coloured 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.
Puri being a coastal district of Orissa , is famous for its Historic antiquities ,Religious sanctuaries , Architectural Grandeur , Sea-scape beauty,moderate climate.It holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors.

Orissa unlike many other parts of India has the prized distinction of possessing an uninterrupted series of temples illustrating the history of the well-defined Kalinga (former name of Orissa) from its very inception to decline, and the Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement.

Encircled by Hills all along its arched shape, Chilika Lake’s colorful changes with passing clouds overhead and the shifting sun. The water ripples languidly , occasionally rippling with a gentle breeze across from the Bay of Bengal .

Famous for its white tiger population ,Nandankanan or the Garden of Gods has become a hot family favorite,with an excellent opportunity to enjoy these regal animals in their natural habitat.Over 67 kinds of mammals, 18 varieties of reptiles and 81 species of birds coexist in the deeply forested boundaries.

www.mahanadi.com

News papers in orissa

Dharitri – Website of this newspaper with text in English and Oriya.
Hotnhit News – Provides news from Orissa.
Newspapers from Orissa on the Net – List of web editions of dailies from Orissa including non English sites.
Orissa Diary – News on Orissa with information on culture, people, politics, business, industry, tourism, entertainment, administration.
Orissa Infoline – News and information about Orissa.
Orissa Net – Orissa news from various sources with links to other sites on Orissa.
Orissa Today Network – News and Discussions on Orissa.
Orissa TV – Cable news channel with news video clips
Orissa Uncensored – Provides news and views on Orissa.
Orissasambad – National and regional news from this state newspaper’s site, also available in Oriya.
Pragativadi – Website of this daily Orissa paper. Has pages in Oriya also.
Samaya – Oriya newspaper published from Bhubaneswar
Tajanews – Includes a variety of stories and news links, and Oriya news in real audio.
Tathya Media Pvt. Ltd. – News Agency site with local news.

favorite links orissa

Beladhwani – A gateway to Oriya Literature, songs, art, culture, heritage, and dance.
Gandhi Mandir – Website of temple where Mahatma Gandhi is worshipped.
Information on Orissa – Information on Orissa including Culture, Language and Literature, Arts, Industry and Tourism.
ORISSA – The Soul Of India – Information on Orissa.
Orissa Blogs – Blogs on Orissa with videos and music.
Orissa Forum – Discussion forum for topics related to Orissa.
Orissa Politics – A platform for intellectual intercourse born out of objective outlook and humanistic vision of a host of youth intelligentsia pursuing higher studies outside Orissa.
Oriya Recipes – Recipes of food typical to Orissa.
Swayambar.com – Matrimonial website for people belonging to Orissa.
WelcomeOrissa.com – Information on Orissa, with Oriya songs, astrology and photo gallery.
World Orissa – Orissa news, panji/calendar, travel tou
rism, links, Oriya E-magazines, personal pages.

guides

Cyber Orissa – Providing listings of exhibitions, lectures, auctions and events relating to the state.
Orissa Medical Guide – Information on Orissa’s medical colleges and on the medical personnel and facilities available in western Orissa.
Orissa NGO guide – Directory of NGO’s in Orissa.
Orissaa.com – Where Oriyas meet – Information on culture, religion, heritage, temples, wildlife, geographic and demographic details of Orissa.
OrissaGateway – Directory of information on Orissa including news, art, education, entertainment, travel.
Orissainfo.com – An Oriya portal, in English. Information about the state, its people and their culture, for the worldwide Oriya community.
Wikipedia – Orissa – Guide to the state. Includes information on geography, language, history, and economy. Links to district and more specific data.