Each morning the sun breaks over the Konark temple, bringing to life one of the most beautiful states of India Orissa. Blessed with the creativity of thousands of artists who have given expression to the miles of unspoilt coastline, lakes, ancient monuments, temples through their artisanship, Orissa is a land of plenty. It lies on the Bay of Bengal and is bordered by Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of India. It occupies an area of 60119 sq mi and its capital is Bhubaneshwar. The beauty of Orissa unravels like a story through its monuments, landscape and the history. Kalinga, as Orissa was known in ancient times, remained unconquered till King Ashoka captured this state. Orissa has preserved its past in about 500 delicately carved temples and monuments. Pilgrims looking for peace and happiness visit Bhubaneshwar and Puri. The annual rath yatra has for years attracted devotees from India and abroad. Konark or the Black Pagoda, with its striking Sun temple, is famous for the beautiful and quite open erotic images. Lake Chilika is an attraction not only to the tourists but also to the migratory birds. This lake is a treasure house of aquatic flora and fauna.

Odissi, the traditional dance of Orissa is well known for its beauty, stylishness and elegance. The complex parody and rhythm mix together giving birth to various graceful expressions. The fabulous handicrafts and paintings have added colours to simple life style of people in Orissa. The most popular crafts Patta-Chitra and palm-leaf engraving serve as souvenirs from the state. The silver filigree (jewel work of a delicate kind made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver) and Applique (Applique is the art of sewing smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger background) are distinct art forms of great detail holding the observer in admiration. The artists of Orissa still live and work in isolated tribal habitations, small villages, and traditional pilgrimage towns throughout the state. It is in these little nooks and corners of the state that traditions thrives and flourishes to its full extent.

History
Orissa, with a rich heritage that is more than two thousand years old, has a glorious history of its own. It was known under different names in different periods: Kalinga, Utkal or Odradesha. Vijaya, the first king of Ceylon, is believed to be a prince of Orissan origin. The land had its military glory in the past and the people had made their contact with the kingdoms South East Asia in ancient times. Kalinga had made its mark in the Indian history when the Nanda dynasty ruled the kingdom of Magadha. She posed a threat to the Maurya Empire. Ashoka, the Great invaded Kalinga in 261 B.C. and conquered her. But the terrible bloodshed on the banks of the river, Daya that preceded Ashoka`s victory changed his heart. The Kalingan Empire reached the pinnacle of glory during the reign of Emperor Kharavela who even pursued the Greek King Demetrius out of India.

The inscriptions on Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave) on the Udayagiri Hill in Bhubaneswar record the story of his reign. Kalinga maintained its trade links with overseas countries during the first three centuries of the Christian era but the kingdom itself was divided into a number of principalities. In the fourth century A.D. Emperor Samudragupta invaded Orissa and overcame the resistance offered by five of her chiefs. Orissa came under the rule of King Sasanka and later King Harsha Vardhana in the 7th century A.D. Towards the middle of the century the Somavamsi dynasty was firmly established in the land. 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. Orissa was at the height of her superb artistic glory during seventh to thirteenth century A.D. The Sailodbhava dynasty of Banpur is responsible for the earliest temples around Bhubaneswar. Orissa is also known for her exquisite handicrafts.

Location
Orissa is one of the States of India.It is located between the parallels of 17.49`N and 22.34`N latitudes and meridians of 81.27`E and 87.29`E longitudes. The Bay of Bengal on the east Madhya Pradesh on the west and Andhra Pradesh on the south bound it. It has a coastline of about 450 kms. It extends over an area of 155,707 square kms. Accounting about 4.87 of the total area of India. The modern state of Orissa is located between 170-48` and 220-34` North latitude and 810-24` and 870-29` East longitude. The territory may be divided into four distinct geographical regions the Eastern Plateau, the Central River Basin, the Eastern Hill Region and the Coastal Belt. The entire territory lies in the tropical zone as a result of which high temperature is recorded particularly during April-May. Situated on the coast along the Bay of Bengal, Orissa stands for its ancient glory and modern endeavour.

People of Orissa
Ancient Orissa was a union of racial streams. History mentions that the Aryans entered Orissa from the northeast, dominated the primitive people living there and imposed on them their language and culture. Majority of the people living in Orissa were not not primitive type, nor were they dominated culturally. Probably there was a racial and cultural blend. Geographically Orissa stands as a coastal corridor between the northern and southern India disconnected by the stubborn Vindhyas. It is therefore natural that an integration of the races and cultures of the Aryans and the Dravidians must have taken place here in the days of gore. At the same time there might have been a successive racial and cultural from both the sides, rolling in and breaking over the spring culminating in the indo-cultural fusion.

Orissa, which is largely rural, the traditional values are still kept alive. In general the values have weakened but they are still not lost. Among die innocent Advisees dwelling in the wooded hinterland and forested hill slopes, India`s earliest civilization is retained in its perfect form. The people of Orissa are living not only in their isolated hamlets, but also in the countless thousands of villages in the countrysides. One can catch a glimpse of the deteriorating perspective of humanity, through the innocent and gentle outlook of tile villagers. A sensitive person who happens to be a prisoner of the modern society with its stress and strain will not, fail to spot the relationship of its common people with God, nature and their fellow men while living in a sensitive village.

Economy
Situaed in a tropical savanna that is subject to cyclones it has a largely rural population which is engaged mainly in agriculture. Crops include rice,oilseed, jute and sugarcane.
More about Orissa
Cities of Orissa
Districts of Orissa
Festivals of Orissa
Folk Dances of Orissa
Museums of Orissa
Orissan Receipes
Temples of Orissa
Tribes of Orissa
Universities of Orissa