Facts and Interesting Points About Odisha

Interesting Points About Odisha

• The state of Odisha formerly known as Orissa is located in Eastern India. Areawise it is the 8th largest state in India.
• Odisha is the first state in India to be formed on a linguistic basis. On 1 April 1936, Orissa was split from Bengal into a separate state.
• Odisha is bordered by West Bengal and Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the south and Bay of Bengal to the east.
• Odisha has the third-largest population of Scheduled Tribes in India after Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. A total of 62 distinct tribal clans live in different parts of Odisha.
• Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha. The literal meaning of the name Bhubaneswar is “Lord of the Earth”. The capital city Bhubaneswar is also known as the ‘Temple City’ of India as it is home of more than 600 ancient temples.
• The Lord Jagannath temple in Puri is one of the four Dhams of Hindu Religious people. The temple has the largest temple kitchen in the world and makes food for over one lakh devotees every day.
• Odisha has a Leaning Temple at Huma village in Sambalpur district. The temple is one of the two leaning temples in the world.
• The world-famous Odishi dance is a major ancient surviving classical dance. In the first of its kind, the dance has been included in IIT Bhubaneswar’s B.Tech syllabus.
• Hirakud Dam is the longest earthen dam in the world. The dam is situated in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. With a total length of 25.79 km, it is the longest dam in India.
• Dhanu Yatra of Baragarh District is the world’s largest open-air theatre festival and is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
• The rocks found from Champua of Kendujhar district and some parts of Mayurbhanj district dates back to approximately 4.2 billion and 3 billion years old respectively.
• Asia’s largest brackish water lake is situated in Odisha. It is the largest coastal lagoon in the country, the largest internal saltwater lake in Asia and the second largest saltwater lagoon in the world.
  • The lake is home to critically endangered Irrawady Dolphins.
  • It is one of the largest wintering grounds for migratory birds. Birds from the far north places like the Caspian Sea, Russia, Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas migrate here and make it paradise on earth for the bird watchers.
• The Bay of Bengal coast of Orissa state at Gahirmatha beach, Kendrapara is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive-ridley sea turtles.
• The Bhitarkanika National Park in the Kendrapara district of Orissa is home to the unique saltwater crocodiles. Some are measuring about 23-foot long. The national park is also safe haven for other animal species like the Indian python, Cobra Snakes, Monitor Lizards, Wild boars and Chital.
• Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island of Odisha serves as the test facility otherwise called Integrated Test Range for most missiles developed by India.
• Bhuban village located in Dhenkanal is the largest village in Asia.
• Rasagola, one of the famous sweets originated in Odisha.
• Bhitarkanika Mangroves and Chilika Lake are two Ramsar sites in Odisha.

More Informations About Odisha

General Details About Odisha
Formation	1 April 1936
Capital	Bhubaneswar
Governor	Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister	Naveen Patnaik
Chief Justice	Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar
Districts	30
Area (km2)	155,707
Lok Sabha Seats	21
Rajya Sabha Seats	10
State Legislative Assembly Seats	147
Languages	Odia, Hindi, Bengali, Telgu, Urdu

State Symbols of Odisha
State Animal	Sambar
State Bird	Indian roller
State Tree	Sacred Fig
State Flower	Ashoka

Demography of Odisha
Population (2011 Census)	41,974,218
Population Density (per km2)	270
Sex ratio (Females per 1000 males)	979
Literacy Rate (%)	72.87
Per Capita Income (₹)	1,09,071

Forest & Wildlife Reserves in Odisha

1. Bhitarkanika National Park
2. Simlipal National Park
3. Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
5. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Satkosia Tiger Reserve
9. Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary

Major Rivers in Odisha

1. Mahanadi
2. Baitarani River
3. Brahmani River
4. Rushikulya River
5. Subarnarekha River
6. Budhabalanga

Important Mountains in Odisha

1. Mahendragiri (1502 m)
2. Malayagiri
3. Nīmgiri
4. Deva Giri
5. Megasini
6. Murali Soru
7. Raegara
8. Kodigunda Konda
9. Sunakania

Agriculture in Odisha
Major Crops	Rice, Arhar, Mung, Kulthi, Gram, Cowpea, Lentil, Oil seeds, Patato, Ragi, Soyabean
Cash Crops	Jute, Coconut, turmeric, Sugarcane, Tea, Cotton, Groundnut, Rubber
Vegetables	Okra, Watermelon, Pea, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Beans, Potato, Beat, Capsicum, Carrot, Brinjal
Fruits	Lemon, Guava, Papaya, Watermelon, Pineapple, Mango, Jackfruit Banana, Sapota, Litchi

Mineral Deposits in Odisha

1. Manganese
2. Lead
3. Bauxite
4. Tin
5. Chromite
6. Nickel
7. Graphite
8. Iron
9. Dolomite
10. Vanadium
11. Limestone
12. Gemstone
13. Coal

Airports in Odisha

1. Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar)
2. Nuagaon Airport
3. Utkela Airstrip (Bhawanipatna)
4. Jeypore Airport
5. Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda)
6. Rourkela Airport

Sea Ports in Odisha

1. Paradip Port Trust

Traditional Dances in Odisha

1. Odishi Dance
2. Sambalpuri Dance
3. Paika Dance
4. Chaitee Ghoda
5. Danda Nacha
6. Ranapa Nacha
7. Kela Keluni Dance
8. Chhau Nacha

Art and Crafts of Odisha

1. Sand Art
2. Palm Leaf Paintings
3. Jhoti Chita
4. Horn Work
5. Lacquer Work
6. Applique Work of Pipili
7. Stone Carving
8. Textiles
9. Silver Filigree Work
10. Bell Metal and Brass Handicrafts
11. Pattachitra
12. Papier Mache

Regional Festivals Odisha

1. Magha Saptmi
2. Chandan Yatra
3. Chhau Festival
4. Kalinga Mahotsav
5. Naukhai
6. Konark Dance Festival
7. Makar Mela
8. Rath Yatra
9. Raja Parba
10. Chatar Jatra
11. Mahabisuva Pana Sankranti
12. Hingula Yatra
13. Sitalsasthi
14. Chhau Festival
15. Gamha Purnima
16. Puri Beach Festival