Basic Facts about Odisha
● State: 1 April 1936 (Utkala Dibasa)
● Capital: Bhubaneswar
● Number of District : 30
● Governor: Ganeshi Lal
● Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
● High court: Orissa High Court
● Chief Justice:Justice Bibhu Prasad Routray (Took Oath in 11 November 2019)
● Members of the Legislative Assembly: 147
● Lok Sabha Seats : 21
● Rajya Sabha Seats : 10
Boundaries
It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the northeast, Jharkhand to the
north, Chhattisgarh to the west and northwest, and Andhra Pradesh to the
south.
State Symbols
● State Animal: Sambar deer
● State Bird: Indian roller
● State Flower: Ashoka tree
● State Tree: Indian fig tree
History of Odisha
● The ancient name of Odisha was Kalinga
which was invaded and plundered by
Mauryan King Ashoka.
● This region is also known as “Utkal” which is
mentioned in National Anthem also. The
foundation day of Odisha i.e. 1st April is
celebrated as “Utkal Divas”.
● Throughout the medieval and British period
Cuttack was the capital of Odisha. The capital
was changed from Cuttack to
Bhubaneshwar in 1948.
● As per 113th amendment of Constitution, the
name of Orissa was changed to Odisha and
language Oriya was changed to Odiya.
● ओडिशा का पराचीन नामकल िग था जो मौरय राजा
अशोक दवारा आकरमणऔर लटा गरा था।
● इस कषतर को "उतक " क रप म भी जाना जाता ह
डजसका उललख राषटर ीर गान म भी ह। ओडिशा का
सथापना डिवस राडन 1 अपर “उतक लिवस” क
रप म मनारा जाता ह।
● मधयकाल और डिडटश काल म कटकओडिशा की
राजधानी थी। राजधानी कोकटक स भवनशवर म
1948 म बिल डिरा गरा।
● सडवधान क 113 व सशोधन क अनसार, उडीसा
का नाम बिलकरओलिशा कर डिरा गरा और
उलडया का नाम बिलकरओलडया कर डिरा गरा।
Geography
● Odisha is drained by three main rivers – Mahanadi,
Brahmani and Baitarni.
● Chilka lake is the biggest and most famous
Brackish water (partial saline) lagoon.
● The largest Lion Safari of India and the only White
Tiger Safari in the world, are located in
Nandankanan National Park near Bhubaneshwar.
● Mayurbhanj is the largest district of Odisha by area.
Ganjam district is largest by population.
● Deomali is the highest peak of state with an altitude
of 1672 m.
● ओडिशा म तीन मखय नडिराा - महानिी, बराहमणीी और
बतरनी ह।
● लिलका झी सबस बडी और सबस परडसदध िडकश पानी
(आडशक खारा) लगन ह।
● भारत की सबस बडी लारन सफारी और िडनरा म
एकमातरवहाइट टाइगर सफारी, भवनशवर क पास
नििनकानन नशन पाकक म ससथत ह।
● मयरभिज कषतर क डहसाब स ओडिशा का सबस बडा
डजला ह। गिजम डजला जनसखया क डहसाब स सबस बडा
ह।
● िवमा ी राजय की सबस ऊा ची चोटी ह डजसकी ऊा चाई
1672 मीटर ह।
Odisha Legislative Assembly election took place in the month of April 2019, along with the 2019 Indian
general election.
Seats Won:
● Biju Janata Dal: 112
● Bharatiya Janata Party: 23
● Indian National Congress:9
Major Dams
● Hirakud Dam: Hirakud Dam is the longest major earthen dam in Asia, built across the Mahanadi River
in Sambalpur district.
● Jalaput Dam: Jalaput hydroelectric dam is built on the Machkund River at the border line between
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
● Mandira Dam: Mandira Dam is built across the Sankha River near Kansbahal in Sundergarh
district,located at a distance of about 25 kilometers from Rourkela.
● Patora Dam: Patora dam is constructed across Jonk River and one of the famous location in Nuapada
district along with near by places Nrusinghanath Temple,Harishankar Temple and Bull Yogeswar
temple.
● Rengali Dam: Rengali dam is constructed across Brahmani River and power station is situated near
village of Rengali of Talcher in Angul district.
General Facts
● Chandragupta Maurya was hesitant for 60 long years to attack Kalinga (old name of
Odisha) as the Kalinga army of 60,000 managed to annihilate one lakh enemy soldiers, a
quarter of the empire’s army.
● The main industries are Steel Plant at Rourkela, SAD complex at Chhatarpur, Heavy
water project at Talchar, Coach repairing workshop at Mancheswar, HAL at Koraput,
Fertilizer plant at Paradeep.
● Hirakud Dam which is built on Mahanadi river is the fourth largest dam of world.
● Paradeep is the major sea port of Odisha.
● Puri (Lord Jagannath) is one of the Char Dham (holy places of pilgrimages), other three are
Kedarnath in north, Rameswaram in south and Dwarka in west.
● Puri Rath Yatra is internationally famous Rath Yatra in which chariots of Lord Jagannath
(Sri Krishna), Balbhadhra(Balram- Krishna’s elder brother) and Subadhra (Krishna’s
sister) travels to Gundicha temple.
General Facts
● Lingaraja temple is the most famous tourist place of Bhubaneshwar. It is dedicated to Lord
Shiva.
● Over 62 distinct tribal groups live in Odisha, each one with its own culture and traditions
different from the other
● Odisha became the first state to enact the Lokayukta Bill law after the central act was
passed in Parliament.
● Rosaghara is a traditional kitchen of Jagannatha temple, Puri, Odisha, India. It is world's
largest kitchen.
● Odisha is popular for having 3 mass nesting beaches of rare Olive Ridley Sea Turtles
including world’s largest nesting ground of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, Lepidochelys Olivacea.
Largest wetland of Asia (Chilika) now designated as a Ramsar site in Orissa.
General Facts
● Odisha hosts the world’s largest open air theatre – Dhanu Yatra.
● The Leaning Temple of Huma, situated near Sambalpur in India is the only leaning temple
in the world.
● Odisha – highest producer of hematite ore. Odisha has 25% of Hematite ore of India.
● Wheeler Island, south of Chandipur in Odisha is a place where most of missiles of India are
tested such as Akash missile, Agni missile, Prithvi Missile of only some of them.
● Shanti Stupa at Dhauligiri is a place where the great king,
Ashoka laid the foundation when he witnessed the darkest side of
Kalinga war after seeing the river Daya turning red due to bloodbath and
became the propagator of peace.
Festivals of Odisha
● Durga Puja
● Prathamastami
● Ratha Yatra
● Raja Parba
● Bali Jatra/Kartika Purnima
● Nuakhai
● Sitalsasthi
● Dhanu Jatra
● Bhitarkanika National Park
● Simlipal National Park
Important National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Odisha
● Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary
● Balukhand Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
● Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
● Chandaka Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary
● Chilika (Nalaban) Wildlife Sanctuary
● Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
● Gahirmatha (Marine) Wildlife Sanctuary
● Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
● Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary
● Khalasuni Wildlife Sanctuary
Important National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Odisha
● Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
● Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary
● Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
● Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary
● Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary
● Simlipal Wildlife Sanctuary
● Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary
GI Tags of Odisha
● Kotpad’s handloom fabric
● Odisha Ikat saree
● Khandua
● Gopalpur’s Tussar cloth
● Pattachitra, Habaspur saree
● Ganjam’s Ketaki flower
● Odisha Rasagola
Famous persons of Odisha
● V V Giri – was the fourth President of India. he was born in Berhampur of Odisha.
● Sudarshan Patnaik – is the world famous sand artist.
● Sarojini Sahoo – is the famous writer who has won a number of literature awards.
● Pragyan Ojha – is the famous cricketer who was born in Bhubaneswar.
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