facts.....: Selfie with Orissa

Highlights:

A halo effect created about Orissa as a backward state of India with poor infrastructure. This halo effect has to be removed. There are lots of wow factor which needs to be highlighted to get a better picture.

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Area: 155,707Sqkms
Latitude: Between 17°49' and 22°34' North
Longitude: Between 81°27' and 87°29' East
Population: 3.67 crores (as per 2001 census)
Literacy: 64.0% (as per 2001 census)
Major Languages: Oriya, Bengali, Hindi, English etc
Major Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Christianity
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Important Cities/ District: Bhubneshwar, Konark, Puri, Berhampur, Roulkela, Sambalpur and Cuttack
Major Tourist Attractions: Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Raja Rani Temple and Nine Planets' Shrine

History:

Orissa is very ancient & the oldest rocks (from Mayurbhanj) date back to 3 billion years (Our planet is believed to be 4.5 billion years old)
Orissa became the first state to enact the Lokayukta Bill law after the central act was passed in Parliament.
Bhubaneswar, the capital city was the home of over 600 magnificent temples in medieval times. It is called the“Temple City” of India. The only city in the world with such highest number of temples inside
A 23-feet giant Estuarine Crocodile in Orissa has been crowned the world’s largest.
The largest Lion Safari of India, and the only White Tiger Safari in the world, are located in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Rourkela Steel Plant is the first ever integrated steel plant under public sector which came into existence in 1954 – 55.
Bhuban, in the district of dhenkalnal is the largest village of Orissa
Handicraft: The handicraft of Odisha is world famous. The handicraft items includes silver filigree, glass beads, tussar fabric works, etc.

India Surf festival, a festival organised by like-minded people who combine surfing, yoga, and nature is observed Ramchandi beach, near Puri in Odisha. It is one of the unique festival observed in India.
According to mythology, Mahabharata was written by Lord Ganesha in a place called Vedvyas in Rourkela, which is named after Vedavyasa who was dictating to Lord Ganesha.
Odisha state museum is one of the world famous museum for having a wide collection of manuscripts of which Abhinava Gita Govinda dates back to 1496 but the text can date back to 2nd century.
Berhampur is Silk city of India and best food corner of Odisha
Odissi dance and music are classical forms at global level. It has a tradition of 2,000 years

Tourist Destination:

Bhitarkanika: is home to the largest crocodiles in the world, measuring close to 27 ft. It is also home to the endangered and mysterious King Cobras. There are only two white crocodile specimen (I mean white crocodiles) in India. Both are found here.

Odisha Coast : Gahirmatha, Rishikulya and Devi River mouth is the only place in India where Olive Ridley Turtles turn up in lakhs for laying their eggs. One of the biggest spectacles in the natural world.

Chilika Lake: The biggest brackish water lake and the largest coastal lagoon in India. It is home to abundant numbers of the shy, elusive and critically endangered Irrawady Dolphins. It also hosts thousands of migratory birds every winter, who travel from as far as Siberia, apart from having hundreds of species of local birds.

Similipal: Biodiversity Reserve is one of the most pristine Tiger habitats in the country. It was also the home for Khairi - one of India's only domesticated tigers.

Nandankanan Zoological Park: Itis the 2nd Largest and arguably the best managed of India's Zoos. India's only Zoo to have Tiger Safari and Lion Safari. Also the only Zoo where a Tiger from the wild embraced captivity to find a mate. Not once but twice! It is here that the Gharials were brought back to life from the brink of extinction.

Jagannath Temple (Puri): One of four Dham and famous Car Festival

At Puri Jagannath temple kitchen, 7 pots are kept one on top of another and cooked on firewood. In this process the contents in the top pot get cooked first & then the bottom one.

Puri Temple is the only Dhama(pilgrimage) in India where Folk, Shaiva, Sakta, Vaishnaba cult of worship is done.

The Jagannath temple kitchen is reputed to be the largest kitchen in the world, with 400 cooks working around 200 hearths to feed over 10,000 people each day.

The quantity of cooked food inside the Temple remains same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasadam can feed few thousand people & 20 lakhs people, still it won’t get wasted.

Konark Temple: built in 13th century, has 12 pair of wheels (24 wheels representing 24 hours) which are uniquely designed and has scientific significance. One can calculate the precise time of the day by just looking at the shadowcast by these 8 spokes signifying prahars (3 hour period).

The Leaning Temple of Huma : Situated near Sambalpur in India is the only leaning temple in the world

Sambalpuri Saree : is made from fabric woven on a hand-loom and is one of the most popular throughout India. This became popular when late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi started wearing.