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Cuttack, the oldest city of Orissa was the capital
of the state for a long time. Today Cuttack is the active commercial capital
of Orissa. The beautiful city is located on the delta formed by the Mahanadi
and Kathjori rivers. It serves as a convenient base for touring the various
places of interest in the district. Cuttack was founded by Nripati Kesari in
the early 10th century. It was sited due to its strategic position in
relation to the network of canals in the region.
The capital of ancient Utkal, Kataka or the 'military camp', once prided
itself on its strategic location on the mouth of the Mahanadi River. The
infamous river has since been tamed, and with it has withered the youthful
charm of Cuttack. A pale reflection of its erstwhile glory, you can still
see the crumbling fort and the sleepy shrines. Yet, what dazzles now is the
delicate silverwork that adorns the shops lining the crowded streets. Come
here for the exotic Ikats and appliques, or for the delicious seafood spiced
up with local recipes. Come here, if you want to go watching rare turtles on
the sandy stretches of the Bay of Bengal. Come here to share an ancient
city's beleaguered tale.
LOCATION About 29 km north of Bhubaneswar, the state capital, this ancient
city in Orissa lies on the upper delta of the Mahanadi and Kathjuri rivers.
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HOW
TO REACH
By Air : The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhuvneshwar, which
is 29 km away. It the capital of Orissa so it is an important airport.
Indian Airlines flies regularly from Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai,
Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.
By Rail : Cuttack is well connected the major cite with express and regular
trains. It lies on the Kolkata-Chennai main railway line, so its an
important railway station..
By Road : Cuttack is easily accessible by road, the city is connected to the
rest of the state with a good road network. It is National Highway No.
5 passes through Cuttack and makes it the most accessible city of Orissa.
You can take Orissa State Transport buses or private luxury coaches. The
distances from some major cities to Cuttack are: Kolkatta, 416 km; Delhi,
1720 km; Gaya, 749 km; Mumbai, 1482 km; and Varanasi, 940 km.
WHEN TO GO
Cuttack can be travelled round the year, but avoid July and August due to
heavy rainfall. October to April is the best time to travel Cuttack.
Pleasant round the year with summer temperatures ranging between 40°C to
27°C and winters varying from 23°C to 16°C. Since the monsoon is heavy, it's
advisable to avoid visiting during that time.
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WHAT TO SEE |
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The Stone Revetments - The stunning stone
revetment located on the banks of river Mahanadi. It a great example
of fine engineering work, it was built in 11th century by Keshari
Kings.
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Even if you go for a relaxed trip, it should not take
you more than a couple of days to cover all the sights in and around
the city. However, you can always spare a day or two each for the
Bhitarkanika Sanctuary and the nearby Ratnagiri-Udaigiri-Lalitgiri
complex and Paradeep.
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Barabati Fort - Only the gateway and the moat of
this once majestic fort now remain on the banks of the River Mahanadi.
Built by Mukunda Harichandan of the Ganga dynasty in the 14th century,
there was once a magnificent nine-storeyed palace inside the fort but
today the ruins give you only a hint of the highly developed
architectural skills of the Oriyas. The shrine of Katak Chandi, the
presiding deity of the city, lies nearby.
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Kadam-i-Rasool - Near the congested old quarters
of the city lies this complex of domed mosques and shrines, spread
over an area of 57 acres. Dating from the 18th century, Prophet
Mohammed's footprints lie preserved in the central mosque. The place
is visited by both Hindus and Muslims alike. The other mosques,
alongwith the Nawabat Khana (the Hall of Music), are fine examples of
Indo-Islamic architecture. Also, being the main Muslim cemetery in
Cuttack, it has the graves of many Nazims who administered the area in
the early eighteenth century.
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AROUND CUTTACK
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Dhabaleshwar - A picturesque island located just
37 km away, in the middle of the Mahanadi, there's a Shiva Temple on
the hillock with carvings dating from the 10th and 11th centuries.
Take the regular ferry service from Chauthaghat to reach here.
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Lalitgiri-Ratnagiri-Udayagiri (55-70 km) - The
magnificent expanse of Buddhist ruins strewn across these three hills
date back to the 7th century when Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveller,
visited India. While black pagodas, prayer halls and Buddhist images
form the bulk of the excavations at Lalitgiri, a brick stupa and a
monastery complex have been unearthed at Udaigiri (8 km from Lalitgiri).
Ratnagiri (5 km from Udaigiri), with its huge stupa and two
monasteries complete with ornately carved gateways, of course, has the
best find. Relics of the Buddha are preserved inside a stone casket
inside the stupa. The ancient Pushpgiri University also thrived in
this region in the post-Gupta period.
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Kendrapara (65 km) - Apart from the temple of
Lord Baladeva, it's the grand car festival that draws a huge crowd to
this tiny town every year.
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Ansupa (70 km) - Lying in the shadow of the dark
Saranda Mountain, nestled among the fazed greenery of bamboo groves,
the rippling waters of the Ansupa Lake makes for an ethereal sight.
Apart from boating and angling, come here to watch the myriad flocks
of migratory birds.
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Jaipur (92 km) - Also known as 'Baitarani Tirtha'
(on the banks of the River Baitarini), it was the ancient capital and
one of the famous pilgrimage spots in Orissa. Among the profusion of
shrines here you will find the famous temple.
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Goddess Viraja (Durga) - the presiding deity of
the place, and that of the 'Sweta Varaha' (the white Boar incarnation
of Vishnu). The flight of steps on the ghats leading to the river is
believed to be a sacred site for Hindus offering pinda to their
ancestors.
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Paradeep (94 km) - One of the major seaports of
the country, Paradeep, on the estuary of the Mahanadi River, boasts of
a fabulous beach dotted with evergreen forests and numerous islands
and creeks. After you've been to the Puri beach, come here for a
different experience.
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Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary (195 km) - At
the place where the Brahmani River meets the Bay of Bengal, on the
Gahirmatha Beach, lies this wonderful stretch teeming with marine
life. Well off the beaten track, you can easily get there by hired
cabs and navigate the park by boat. Designed to protect the natural
habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, which come here to
roost in millions, this mangrove forest also boasts of numerous
species of migratory birds. |
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WHERE TO EAT
There are few good restaurants where you can get a large range of cuisines.
You can also try the special restaurant at the luxury hotels.
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