Odisha, formerly Orissa, Kalinga, and Utkala, is the “land of people” situated on the coast along the Bay of Bengal. Odisha is known for its ancient grandeur and progressive venture and has a coastline of 485 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal. Bhubaneswar, “ The Temple City” is the modern-day capital, and Cuttack, the former capital, is the state’s commercial capital.

Odisha in ancient times was a nexus of racial streams. Geographically, Odisha is a coastal corridor connecting northern and southern India, cut off by the impenetrable Vindhyas. As a result, it is natural that assimilation of Aryan and Dravidian races and cultures occurred here during the days of gore. Traditional values are still preserved in Odisha, which is predominantly rural.

Odisha has a rich history of art and architecture. The first monuments were built in the third century B.C. The oldest extant temple is the Parsurameswar temple in Bhubaneswar. The eleventh-century Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, the twelfth-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, and the thirteenth-century Sun Temple in Konark stand as silent witnesses to Odisha’s glorious past. Other examples of Odisha architecture include Rajarani Temple and Mukteswar Temple in Bhubaneswar. Odisha is also well-known for its beautiful handicrafts. Cuttack silver filigree work, Cuttack and Parlakhemundi horn work, and the famous applique work of Pipili Pattachitra, an Odisha folk painting style, is a one-of-a-kind craft. The texture of the Sambalpuri saree and Maniabandhi pata is unparalleled.