East India · Odisha
Cuttack, Odisha
Sources: wikimedia
About Cuttack
- Riverside
Where it is
Cuttack lies at the head of the Mahanadi delta in Odisha, on a strip of land between the Mahanadi and its branch, the Kathajodi, and forms a twin city with the state capital, Bhubaneswar, to the south.
History
Tradition says Cuttack was founded as a military camp, or kataka, in 989 CE, and it grew into the seat of Odisha's rulers, guarded by the Barabati Fort. It passed to the Mughals, the Marathas and, in 1803, the British, and remained the capital of Odisha until the government moved to Bhubaneswar from 1948.
People
Cuttack is a heartland of Odia language and culture, known for its silver filigree, theatre and music. Its Durga Puja, adorned with silver and gold, and the Bali Jatra fair, which recalls ancient Odia sea voyages to Bali and Southeast Asia, draw huge crowds.
Known for
- Silver filigree, known as tarakasi
- Bali Jatra fair on the Mahanadi
- Durga Puja with gold and silver decoration
- Barabati Fort and Barabati Stadium
- Dahibara aloo dum street food
Did you know?
Subhas Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack in 1897, and his family home, Janakinath Bhawan, is now a museum.
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