Orissa is one of the most interesting states in East India. The State is predominantly rural but industrialisation is changing its face. Bhubaneshwar is the modern capital of Orissa. Orissa is known for the famous Sun Temple at Konark and Jagannath Temple in Puri. Although, Orissa is one of the least visited states of India, it is also easily accessible. Orissa lies just south of the Tropic of Cancer and is very warm throughout the year. The best season to visit Orissa is from October to March. Oriya, Hindi and English are the main languages which are spoken in Orissa.

The origin of Orissa can be known from its history. In the ancient times, the state of Orissa was known as Kalinga, and is often mentioned in Hindu epics. According to the legend, Kalinga, one of the five sons of a sage, travelled as far as the hills of the Eastern Ghats. While looking down at the valleys below, he was fascinated and decided to settle down here with his people. Since then, Orissa was known as Kalinga. Orissa’s recorded history begins from 260 B.C. Emperor Ashoka installed carved Rock Pillar at Dhuli, only 5 km. from the present capital of Bhubaneshwar. The pillar has stood for almost 23 centuries. The carved inscriptions carry the message of Buddhist principles. Having fought a bloody war with the people of Kalinga and having won it, he repented at the loss of life and the devastation caused by him. He accepted the faith of the people of Kalinga who were Buddhists. The zenith of Orissa civilization reached between the 4th and 13th century under the great builders – Kesari and Gang kings. During their rule, thousands of temples and monuments were built all over the country. The state remained outside the power of Muslim invaders till late 16th century. When the Muslims invaders reached Orissa they destroyed about 7,000 temples that once lined the banks of the sacred lake of Bhubaneshwar. Today only 500 temples are there. In 1803, the British took over Orissa. Since Orissa was not strategically important for them, they did very little to improve its economic conditions. Orissa was divided into 26 vest-pocket sized states ruled by Rajas leaving little scope for economic development. After India's independence, the state was amalgamated into a compact province of Orissa. Now, Orissa is a democratically elected state.

The land of Orissa is a flat alluvial plain. Orissa lies on the shore of Bay of Bengal, and has an area of 1,56,000 square km. In the west are the tablelands of the Eastern Ghats, part of the central plateau and in the midst are the green valleys of five big rivers which flow into the Bay of Bengal. In the upland region and on the upper slopes are the lush green forests that abound in wild elephants, Bengal tiger and other rare species. All the land in Orissa is covered by flat paddy fields, but in some places it is covered occassionally by the low mounds of granite. The delta stretches for 170 km from its northernmost point southwards to the Chilka lake. The Chilka lake is only a few metres deep and covers an area from 900 to 1200 square km. In order to overcome the floods created by the Mahanadi river, the Hirakud Dam was built about 20 kms. northwest of Sambalpur. It is a colossal structure, over 60 m high and so drains an area of 133,000 square km, twice the size of Sri Lanka. The key section is an over 1100 m long masonry dam, with a further earthen dam of over 3500 m. The dam has a 270 MW hydro electric power station and also allows the irrigation of nearly 750000 hectares of high quality land.

Orissa has its own way of celebrating the fairs and festivals. Some of the famous fairs and festivals of Orissa are the Makar Mela on Kalijal Island, Chilka Lake, the Tribal fair of Bhubaneshwar, Durga Puja, the Car festival of Lord Lingaraja of Bhubaneshwar and the Rath Yatra in Puri. Various pilgrims visit Puri from India and abroad in the Rath Yatra. The three deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are taken in a chariot procession to their summer temple for a week. Their magnificent chariots are drawn by the devotees. The Bali Yatra of Cuttack is another festival which is celebrated on the Kartik Purnima in October-November. In memory of the traders who had set sail for the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra in the olden days, people go to the Mahanadi river, and bath and sail tiny boats made of pith and paper. From daybreak till late in the evening, a huge fair is held on the river-bank, in front of the Barabati fort for four days.

Cigar boxes, jewellery, and decorative trays with extremely intricate silver filigree work, Pattachitra, the folk painting of Orissa, brassware. Papier mache masks, colourufl canopies, awnings and umbrellas with applicaque work from Pipli are some of the famous items which can be bought from Orissa. Orissa is also the home of exclusive silk and cotton handloom saris and fabrics that can be made into dresses, bedspreads, table linen and furnishings.

The main crop grown in Orissa is rice which forms the staple food. The traditional meal of Orissa is spicy and comprises of rice, vegetables, pulses, chutneys and pickles. The fresh sea-food especially prawns and the flat pomfret fish are included in the coastal areas. Orissa is mainly known for the sweetmeats prepared from milk. Some of the typical sweetmeats are Rasagolla, Rasamalai, Chenapoda, Khiramaohan, Rajabhoga, Rabdi, Chhenajhilli, Rasabali (both made of milk) and Pitha (cakes). Mahaprasad, the food of the gods, is available only at temples, and is cooked in earthen pots over a wood fire. The steamed food includes rice, dal, vegetables, curry and sweet dishes.

Orissa is also blessed with quiet beaches that invite the traveler to share their charm. Gopalpur-On-Sea, an ancient seaport, is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled beach resort in Orissa. Today, it is a modern, luxurious beach resort, and offers excellent facilities for surfing and sailing. Chandipur is undiscovered beach resort and here the sea retreats for several kilometers everyday. Balighat is another beach, where the river merges with the ocean. Chilka Lake is situated just south of Puri. Chilka Lake is a place of enchanting beauty. Chilka Lake is one of the largest mixed salt and fresh water lake in Asia. Marshes, lowlands and islands dot the shallow waters. Various migratory birds can be seen along the banks of the lake in winter.

The principal tourist attractions of Orissa are the temple towns of Puri and Bhubaneshwar and Konark. These three tourist attractions form a convenient and compact little golden triangle. Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark are easily accessible by rail and road. The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Sun Temple in Konark, Lingaraj and Raja Rani Temple in Bhubaneshwar and Chandrabhaga and Puri Beaches are a few main attractions of the region.

Buddhism had considerable influence in some parts of Orissa. The three hills of Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri provide an immense Buddhist monastic complex in Orissa. Ratnagiri has the most extensive of ruins. Various excavations have unearthed sculptures and inscriptions belonging to the 8th and 9th centuries. Lalitgiri is known for the discovery of an ancient stupa containing relics preserved in caskets of stone. Its antiquity and silver and gold contents have led to speculation that these are relics of the Buddha. The Ratnagiri stupa is known for the Lokeshwara image, with 8th century inscriptions. The Buddhist influence can also be seen in the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, where caves cut from rocks seem to form a honeycomb. Udayagiri has the famous Rani Gupha or Queen’s Cave, a two-storeyed structure with a spacious courtyard and elaborate sculptural friezes and Hathi Gupha, the elephant cave.