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Introduction To Orissa
Orissa, a state situated on the east coast of India, has Bhubaneswar as its capital. It can be divided into three broad regions: The Coastal plains, the middle mountainous range and the plateaus. Orissa has abundant natural resources of coal, bauxite, iron ore and chromite. The state economy is also benefiting from its industrial sector: steel, aluminium, power, refineries and ports. India's topmost Information Technology consultancies firms, including Satyam Computer Services, Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have their branches in Orissa. Orissa has several popular tourist destinations. The state is known for its temples, especially in the cities of Konark, Puri, and Bhubaneswar. Chilka Lake, the largest coastal lake in India is also located here. It also has Chilka Lake Bird Sanctuary, which houses over 150 species of migratory and resident birds. The other places of tourist interest are the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi and the hydel power station at Machkund. It has state of the art hotels to offer to its tourists.
The tropical state that flourished during the 13th century on India's central eastern seaboard, Orissa is famous for its temples, which draw thousands of pilgrims here throughout the year, predominantly to Jagannath Temple in the coastal town of Puri, to worship Vishnu in his avatar as the Lord of the Universe. Architecturally, the Sun Temple at Konark is of even greater significance, with its massive stone-carved chariot adorned with sculptures, rising to carry Surya, the sun god, to the heavens. Even Orissa's capital, Bhubaneswar (the third point of Orissa's Golden Triangle), is more important for its enormous collection of Hindu temples -- at one time 7,000 -- than it is as an administrative or industrial center. |
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Orissa remains largely tribal, with many villages still off-limits to outsiders, but the state is also well-known for its "Tribal Tourism." For the anthropologically inclined, this offers you a chance to get way off the beaten track and meet people who live almost completely on the fringes of civilization. The state is also a good place to pick up crafts, particularly textiles and paintings -- even when tending to the rice paddies, the women of Orissa are dressed in glamorous saris. Cottage textile industries are the mainstays for entire villages, which produce beautiful ikat (patterned) textiles, palm-leaf paintings, and bright patachitra (cloth) paintings (the best-known of Orissa's handicrafts). Note: Although Orissa has long, golden beaches that curve around the Bay of Bengal, the infrastructure here is limited and the sea can be treacherous; beach lovers are best off heading for Kerala or Goa.
The tropical state that flourished during the 13th century on India's central eastern seaboard, Orissa is famous for its temples, which draw thousands of pilgrims here throughout the year, predominantly to Jagannath Temple in the coastal town of Puri, to worship Vishnu in his avatar as the Lord of the Universe. Architecturally, the Sun Temple at Konark is of even greater significance, with its massive stone-carved chariot adorned with sculptures, rising to carry Surya, the sun god, to the heavens. Even Orissa's capital, Bhubaneswar (the third point of Orissa's Golden Triangle), is more important for its enormous collection of Hindu temples -- at one time 7,000 -- than it is as an administrative or industrial center.
Orissa remains largely tribal, with many villages still off-limits to outsiders, but the state is also well-known for its "Tribal Tourism." For the anthropologically inclined, this offers you a chance to get way off the beaten track and meet people who live almost completely on the fringes of civilization. The state is also a good place to pick up crafts, particularly textiles and paintings -- even when tending to the rice paddies, the women of Orissa are dressed in glamorous saris. Cottage textile industries are the mainstays for entire villages, which produce beautiful ikat (patterned) textiles, palm-leaf paintings, and bright patachitra (cloth) paintings (the best-known of Orissa's handicrafts). Note: Although Orissa has long, golden beaches that curve around the Bay of Bengal, the infrastructure here is limited and the sea can be treacherous; beach lovers are best off heading for Kerala or Goa. |
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