Cuttack (ˈkʌtək;
OriyaThe Oriya script or Utkala Lipi or Utkalakshara is used to write the Oriya language, and can be used for several other Indian languages, for example, Sanskrit.- History :...
: କଟକ kɔʈɔkɔ) is the former capital of the
stateIndia is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of
OrissaOrissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
,
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is the headquarters of
Cuttack districtCuttack district is one of the 30 districts in Orissa state in eastern India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Cuttack. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Orissa , after Ganjam.-Geography:...
and is located about 20 km to the north east of
BhubaneswarBhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of
Kataka that literally means
The Fort, a reference to the ancient
Barabati FortBarabati Fort is a 14th century fort built by the Ganga dynasty near Cuttack, Orissa. The ruins of the fort remain with its moat, gate, and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace, which evokes the memories of past days. Today it sits next to the modern Barabati Stadium, the venue of various...
around which the city developed. The city is spread across an area of 398 km² (154 sq mi) and is situated at the beginning of the
MahanadiThe Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
river delta.
Established in 989 AD, Cuttack was the seat of government in Orissa for close to a thousand years before its burgeoning size forced the creation of a new capital at
BhubaneswarBhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
in 1948. The two cities are collectively referred to as the twin cities today. Cuttack is famous for its unique silver
filigreeFiligree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver or stitching of the same curving motifs. It often suggests lace, and in recent centuries remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork, and French from 1660 to the late 19th century...
works and textiles of woven and also famous for Dussehra. Dussehra is famous for its silver and gold Medhas that one cannot get to see anywhere in India. The goddesses look very beautiful in their idols, which are adorned with huge amounts of gold and silver medhas.
silkSilk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and
cottonCotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
.
History
Early history of Cuttack is associated with the Keshari dynasty. As stated by the distinguished historian A. Stirling, present-day Cuttack was established as a military cantonment by king Nrupa Keshari of Keshari dynasty in 989 A.D. Stirling based his opinion on
Madala PanjiMadala Panji is a chronicle of the Jagannath in Puri, Orissa state, India. It describes the historical events of Orissa related to Lord Jagannath or Jagannath Temple. Though the actual date of starting of Panjis is not known, but it is believed that it might be started from 12th or 14th Century AD...
, a chronicle of
JagannathJagannath is a transcendental non-anthropotheistic Hindu god worshiped primarily by the people of Indian state of Orissa, and, to a great extent, West Bengal...
temple of Puri. The reign of Markata Keshari was distinguished for the stone embank built to protect the new capital from flood in 1002 A.D.
Historical evidence suggests Cuttack becoming capital of a Kingdom founded by Anangabhimadeva of
Ganga dynastyThe Eastern Ganga dynasty reigned from Kalinga and their rule consisted of the whole of the modern day Indian state of Orissa as well as parts of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh from the 11th century to the early 15th century. Their capital was known by the name Kalinganagar, which is...
in 1211 A.D. After the end of Ganga rule, Orissa passed to the hands of the Gajapati Kings (1435-1541 A.D.) of Solar dynasty under whom Cuttack continued to be the capital of Orissa. After the death of Mukunda deva, the last Hindu king of Orissa, Cuttack first came under Muslim rules and later undernMughals.
By 1750, Cuttack came under Maratha rules and it grew fast as a business centre being the convenient point of contact between the Marathas of Nagpur and the English Merchants of Bengal. It was occupied by the British in 1803 and later became the capital of Orissa division in 1816. From 1948 onwards, when the capital was shifted to
BhubaneswarBhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, the city remained the administrative headquarters of Orissa.
Remnants of an old fort called
Barabati KillaBarabati Fort is a 14th century fort built by the Ganga dynasty near Cuttack, Orissa. The ruins of the fort remain with its moat, gate, and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace, which evokes the memories of past days. Today it sits next to the modern Barabati Stadium, the venue of various...
still exist in the heart of Cuttack with the moat around the fort. Nearby is a modern stadium called the
Barabati StadiumThe Barabati Stadium is a cricket venue in the east Indian city of Cuttack, Orissa. It is home ground of Orissa cricket team and is operated by Orissa Cricket Association. The Barabati Stadium is one of the older grounds in India, having hosted several touring sides – including the MCC, the West...
, host to many national and international cricket matches. Recently the stadium was upgraded with floodlights for facilitating Day and Night matches.
The introduction of the Sharadiya Utsav tradition in the city dates back to the visit of Saint Chaitanya in 16th century when the consecration of the idol of Durga by using the mask pattern was conducted in his presence at Binod Behari Devi Mandap.
Recent growth of the city has resulted in expansion across the river Kathjori and a newer township towards the head of the delta formed between the tributary Kathjori river and the main river Mahanadi has come up by the name of Markat Nagar(popularly known as CDA by the local residents) which is spread across 2000 acres. Cuttack is referred to as a city with
Babaan Bazaar, Teppan Galee i.e. a city having 52 markets and 53 streets.
Its a place where culture and tradition is seen to have a great fusion. The sense to be born as "Katakis" have a great impact on the ideologies of the inhabbitants of cuttack no matter they stay in Cuttack or any part of the world. People of cuttack respect all religions ,and they don't encourage racism based on religion.
Geography and climate
Cuttack is located at 20.5°N 85.83°E and has an average elevation of 36 metres (118.1 ft). Located at the apex of the Mahanadi delta, the city is surrounded by the river Mahanadi and its tributaries from almost all the sides. The tributaries include the Kathjori, the Kuakhai and the Birupa. Cuttack features a tropical wet and dry climate. The summer season is from March to June when the climate is hot and humid. Thunderstorms are common at the height of the summer. The monsoon months are from July to October when the city receives most of its rainfall from the South West Monsoon. The annual rainfall is around 144 cm. The winter season from November to February is characterised by mild temperatures and occasional showers. Temperatures may exceed 40°C at the height of summer and may fall to below 10°C in winter.
Due to the proximity to coast, the city is prone to cyclones from the
Bay of BengalThe Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
. Summer thunderstorms also cause a lot of damage. Cuttack is however safe from earthquakes, being situated in the relatively safe seismic zone II.
The Mahanadi provides much of the drinking water to the city. There are also numerous ponds (
pokharis) in the city that store rain water. The river is also used as a dumping zone for sewage produced in the city.
Religious places
Cuttack hosts Paramahansa Nath temple (near Biribati, 14 km away from the city center), the famous
Katak Chandi TempleThe Katak Chandi Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi, the presiding deity of Cuttack, Orissa. The temple is located near the banks of the River Mahanadi. It is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. The Durga Puja festivities are prominent in Maa Katak...
,
Bhattarika TempleBhattarika Temple located in sasanga village,baramba, Athgarh, Cuttack District, India is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Maa Bhattarika worshipped as a manifestation of Shakti. The temple is situated on the banks of the River Mahanadi...
, Dhabaleswar temple, Panchamukhi Hanuman temple and the most oldest temple is Paramahansanatha others. The Barabati fort houses the Gada Chandi temple which is one of the oldest temples in Cuttack. The Dhabaleswar temple is located on an island in the river Mahanadi and is connected to the mainland by a long hanging bridge. The pillar less hanging bridge is unique of its kind in India.
Here is situated a holy historical Sikh shrine 'The Gurdwara Daatan Sahib'. It is here that the first Sikh Guru, Shree Guru Nanak Dev halted on his way to Puri. It is believed that a tree branch planted by him after using it as a tooth cleaner still flourishes here, hence the name Daatan Sahib. Cuttack houses several churches that include holy rosary church, Oriya Baptist church etc.
Cuttack also hosts of various mosques namely,
Qadam-e-Rasool
Cuttack town enjoyed for a pretty long time the honour of being the seat of political authority of the Muslims in Orissa. During this period numerous Muslim monuments were built in Cuttack. The Qadam-E-Rasool is a monument of beauty built by Shujaddin Khan. At four corners of its high compound wall are four small yet strong towers constructed out of chiselled stone. It is adorned with four flat domes and pucca pavements from all direction of the grave yard to the main octagonal building with magnificent dome in the centre. It contains the foot print of the Prophet engraved in a circular stone. The dome outside is adorned with a golden pinnacle.
Juma Masjid
As the name suggests Juma, means Big, this masjid is the oldest, biggest, and the most beautiful
masjid of Cuttack. It was built during the Mughal era. It possesses several rooms for visitors and students. Earlier there used to be a Madrasa in this mosque. However, since last 10 years, the Madrasa is shifted out of the mosque. The neighbourhoods surrounding the Juma Masjid are inhabited both by Hindus and Muslims, who live peacefully with perfect communal harmony.
Shahi Mosque
The Shahi mosque is situated inside the Barabati fort. It is structurally similar to the Ujale Khan mosque at Mohammadia Bazaar. All these mosques are adorned with beautiful domes on hexagonal base. Stones and tiles are used in construction of the mosque. It seems that during the British rule of Orissa, it was used as a Magazine as it is apparent from the two Mehrabs on the flanks which are closed with bricks.
Festivals
Cuttack, being the aesthetic capital of Orissa for a long period of time, celebrates all festivals from all religions with much fanfare and devotion.
DussheraDurga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, the festival of goddess Durga, is very popular in Cuttack. Idols are worshipped in many streets and localities. In this city, Dussehra is famous for its
Chandi Medhas, in which the idols are adorned with huge amounts of gold and silver, with localities trying to outsmart each other by constructing more attractive idols. Indeed, the whole city comes to a standstill on Astami, Navami and in Dashami burning of effigy of the demon Ravana (the eighth, ninth and tenth days of Dussehra) as people travel all over the city appreciating all the idols put forth by the neighbourhoods.
Kali pujaKali Puja or Shyama Puja is a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Ashwin in Bengal. It coincides with the pan-Indian Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali...
, Just after Durga puja gets over, cuttackis gear up with all their vigour to celebrate Kali puja.On the auspicious day of Diwali amidst the bursting of firecrackers on the banks of Mahanadi (called Gadgadia ghat) people not only celebrate the victory of good over evil but also pay tribute to the goddess Kali.
Bali Yatra,But the festival which Cuttackis look forward to most is the Bali Yatra. In olden times, merchants from Orissa used to trade with South-East Asian countries. And whatever items they brought from those places after trading Oriya goods used to be put up for sale in the capital city (which was then Cuttack). People from all over the state and beyond used to come to Cuttack to buy these items. Bali Yatra is the festival of continuing this ancient tradition. It is held every year in the month of November on the banks of the
MahanadiThe Mahanadi in East Central India. It drains an area of around 141,600 km2 and has a total course of 858 km. The river flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Orissa.-Source:...
("Bali Yatra" literally means a festival to celebtate the trade that the ancient Oriyas had with the island of Bali in the ancient days), where many stalls are set up selling both local and exotic goods. People from all over Orissa come to the Baliyatra to buy items, as was the custom back in those days.
Kartikeshwar puja: The organized puja committees incharge of carrying out the worship of the deity of Cuttack get ready for Kartikeswar Puja.
KartikeshwarMurugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
is the eldest son of Lord Shiva. Nowhere else except
SabarimalaSabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
is the Kartikeswar puja carried out with so much elan.
Kite flying is also celebrated with much enthusiasm and energy in the city. Kite-flying culminates with the Makar Sankranti, with kite-flying competitions being held all over the city. All the other regular Indian festivals like
Ganesh ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...
,
Vasant PanchamiVasant Panchami , sometimes referred to as Vasant Panchami or Shree Panchami , is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh , the first day of spring...
,
HoliHoli , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
,
IdEid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
,
Good FridayGood Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
,
Rath YatraRatha Yatra is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July. Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area...
,
DiwaliDiwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
,
ChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
and the numerous Hindu festivals are also celebrated here.
Cuisine
Among the culinary delights unique to the Millenium City, none compare the famed Dahi Bara and Aludum, a spicy concoction of three basic dishes i.e., dahibara - vadas soaked in skim yoghurt, ghuguni - curried chickpeas and aludum - whole size potatoes immersed in fiery curry. All and sundry sample this traditional dish nearly every day and is a must on most tourists' itinerary.
Other popular fast foods include Chat, Gup-chup (pani puri).
There are several nice restaurants in Cuttack that serve very good food at reasonable price. Some of the nice restaurants of Cuttack are situated near College square (close to Railway station).
Demographics
India
censusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Cuttack had a population of 606,007. Males constituted 52% of the population and females 48%. Cuttack has an average literacy rate of 77% with male literacy at 86% and female literacy at 67%. 29% of the population is under 14 years of age.
Around 94% of the city's population is
HinduHindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
. Muslims account for around 5% while Christians and Sikhs comprise the rest.
Politics
At the Parliament
Cuttack has been the seat of Orissa politics since a long time.In the Indian parliament, Cuttack parliamentary constituency is represented by Mr. Bhartruhari Mahatab of
Biju Janata DalThe Biju Janata Dal is a state political party of the Indian state of Orissa led by Naveen Patnaik, son of former state chief minister Biju Patnaik. It was founded on 27 December 1997.-History:...
(BJD).
At the state Assembly
Cuttack City is divided into three constituencies viz. Barabati-Cuttack, Choudwar-Cuttack and Cuttack Sadar. Cuttack sadar is represented by Mr Kalindi Behera of (BJD) Biju Janata Dal whereas Cuttack Barabati is represented by Mr.Debasish (Rishi) Samantaray of BJD at the State Legislative Assembly while Choudwar-cuttack is represented by Mr. Pravat Biswal (BJD).
At the Municipal Corporation
Mr. Soumendra Ghosh is the Mayor of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). He is a lawyer by profession and won the municipal elections with a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ticket.
Industries
Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys (IMFA), the country's largest producer of ferrous
alloyAn alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
s is situated at
ChoudwarChoudwar is a city and a municipality in Cuttack district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Choudwar is located on the banks of the river Mahanadi, on National Highway 42. Choudwar has the unique distinction of being an industrialzone in Orissa state. The principal language spoken here is...
, Cuttack.
There are a few more industries in Chowdwar. For example the paper mill and the Orissa textile mill.
OSL Group one of the leading stevedoring firms of the country is also head quartered in Cuttack.
Media
Electronic Media
Cuttack has a Doordarshan centre which telecasts Oriya programs.It also has a branch the All India Radio which broadcasts AM as well as FM radio in the twin cities. At present BIG 92.7 FM, RED 93.5 FM, Radio Chokolate 104 and FM Rainbow are available in the twin cities.
Print Media
There are many print media houses in Cuttack. The Samaj (founded by Pandit Gopabandhu Das), The Prajatantra (founded by Harekrushna Mahatab, former Orissa CM and Maharasthra Governor).
Hospitals
General Hospital
Cuttack has the largest medical college in Orissa, the SCB medical college and hospital. The hospital has emergency centre, outdoor (for walk in patients), and in house facilities. In SCB medical campus there is an operative eye bank in the name of Guru Nanak Dev.
Sishu Bhavan (paediatric hospital)
Cuttack has a big Sishu bhavan (paediatric hospital). The hospital has close collaboration with Japanese/Korean government. The hospital is well equipped with many modern health care instruments.
Eye hospital
At sector 6 of CDA in Cuttack, there is a very nice eye hospital run by rotary association. The hospital is well equipped with the instruments required for advanced eye surgeries. The hospital employs very high quality doctors. Anathor well equipped eye hospital at Buxibazar is run by the Lions Club International.
Private hospitals and nursing homes
Apart from public run hospitals, Cuttack has also plenty of private nursing homes and clinics. These nursing homes carry out many surgeries and other advanced treatments. In general, the private medical homes have a good reputation in Cuttack.
Primary and Secondary Schools
Schools in Cuttack are affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Orissa (BSE), the all-India Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the
Central Board of Secondary EducationThe Central Board of Secondary Education is a Board of Education for public and private schools, under the Union Government of India.-History:...
(CBSE) boards. Oriya and English are the usual language of instruction. Secondary board high school (S.B.H.S), considered to be one of the finest schools in the state, is situated here.
Cuttack houses a number of excellent public schools both in ICSE and CBSE such as D.A.V. Public School (C.D.A. Colony Branch), Cambridge School, Stewart School, New Stewart School, , Cambridge school, St. Joseph's Girls High school, D.P.S. Kalinga, Kendriya Vidyalaya etc. Together, these schools have brought pride and recognition to the city, state and country in the field of education.
The other important school in Cuttack is the famous Ravenshaw Collegiate school which proudly boasts many eminent personalities in its alumni including Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Biju Pattnaik, Harekrishna Mahtab, etc. Among other notable schools (run by Orissa state board) are Christ Collegiate School, Peary Mohan Academy, Badambadi New Colony High School,Matrubhaban etc.
Colleges
General Colleges
Cuttack has a number of high level colleges giving education in science, social science, and humanities. The colleges teach both +2 (intermediate) and +3 (bachelor) classes. Some of the prominent colleges are: Ravenshaw, Sailabala Women's College, JKBK, Stewart Science college, Christ college,Sri Aurobindo institute of higher studies & research. etc.
Medical Colleges
SCB medical College, one of the premier medical colleges in India and the largest medical institution in Orissa, proudly associates its origin to the Silver city - Cuttack. This college produces one of the finest brand of doctors every year. The quality of education imparted in SCB medical college is quite high. SCB medical college has produced some of the very first licensed medical practitioners of India medical fraternity. SCB medical college also has a dental college which gives bachelors degree in dental surgery.
Law Colleges
Cuttack houses NLUO, one of the premier National Law Universities of the country. It also has the Madhu Sudan Law college, named after Madhusudan Das.
Technical Colleges
Cuttack is home to several technical institutions which includes Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering & Management Studies
DRIEMSDRIEMS is a technical institute in the Cuttack district of Orissa, India. Located in Tangi, the campus is 15 kilometres from Cuttack and about 40 kilometers from the capital city of Bhubaneswar. The institute was established in 1999. In the academic year 2004-2005 the MBA program was started...
, Bhubananda Orissa School of Engineering (BOSE)the 1st technical school of Orissa,
Image Institute of technology & managementImage Institute of Technology & Management , Cuttack is an authorized Learning Center of Punjab Technical University offering UGC Recognized IT & Management Degree programs. The institute is a trust registered Under Indian Trust Act 1882...
(IITM), IPSAR, IMIT, Ajay Binay Institute of Technology (ABIT), and JIET. The twin cities house around 40 engineering colleges. There exists a textile engineering college in Chowdwar. There is also a Biju Pattnaik film and television institute offering professional courses.
Research Institutes
Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI)
Cuttack hosts several national research laboratories such as the Central Rice Research Institute, located in Bidyadharpur, Cuttack. This is a premier institute of rice research in the whole of South Asia.
Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation and Training (NIRTAR)
The Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. It is located in a beautiful rural area at Olatpur at a distance of 30 km from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. It conducts three Bachelor Degree courses in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, two Postgraduate courses in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.
Regional Spinal Injury Centre (RSIC)
The Regional Spinal Injury Centre, Cuttack has been functioning inside the S.C.B. Medical College Campus since 2001. RSIC is an autonomous organization under the administrative and financial control of Dept. of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Orissa and is headed by Director of the RSIC. This is one of the institutions which provide rehabilitation measures to persons with disabilities especially spinal injury.
Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC)
The AHRCC, the only one of its kind in east India, carries out high-end research and treatment in cancer.
Universities
Ravenshaw University
Ravenshaw University came into existence on the 15th day of November, 2006. It was an upgradation of Ravenshaw College established in 1868, one of the oldest and largest colleges in India.
National Law University, Orissa
The National Law University, Orissa, at Cuttack, is a premier Law University established by the National Law University Orissa Act of 2008 and is a member of the existing group of National Law Universities of India.
Sri Sri University
The university is being established by the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Vidya Mandir Trust, conceptualized and under the guidance of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at Naraj, Cuttack. The legal process of establishing the University was completed on January 2010. Sri Sri University will be functional from academic year 2011-12. Sri Sri Institute of Management Studies – the first college of SSU will induct the first batch of students in June 2011.
Notable people born in Cuttack
- Subhas Chandra Bose, Prominent Figure of Indian independence movement activism and reorganizing and leading the Indian National Army in 2nd world war
- Samuel Tickell
Colonel Samuel Richard Tickell was a British army officer, artist and ornithologist in India and Burma.Tickell was born at Cuttack in India. He was educated in England, returning at the age of nineteen to join the Bengal Native Infantry. He served in Bengal until 1840, when he was made commander...
, British army officer, artist and ornithologist in India and Burma
- Biju Patnaik
Biju Patnaik was an Indian politician. Also known as Biju Babu.Son of Lakshminarayan and Ashalata Patnaik, Bijayananda Patnaik was born in Cuttack, Orissa on March 5, 1916..-Role in Indonesian freedom struggle:Biju...
, Indian politician & Former Chief Minister of Orissa.
- Naveen Patnaik
Naveen Patnaik is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Orissa, India and the chief of Biju Janata Dal, a regional political party in Orissa.-Personal life:...
, Chief Minister of Orissa and the chief of Biju Janata Dal, a regional political party in Orissa
- Giridharilal Kedia
Giridharilal Kedia was an Indian businessman and entrepreneur. He served the Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack for 12 years as the Working President and Trustee. Kedia was also the founder and chairman of Image Institute of Technology & Management. He was awarded the Samaj Gaurav award for his service...
, Former Working President of KVK, Cuttack; Past District Governor of Lions Club International 322C & Former Chairman of IITM cuttack.
- Gour Prasad Ghose, Director, Producer, Actor; Recipient of several National Awards and numerous other awards
- Parbati Ghose, Director, Producer, Actress, Writer; Recipient of several National Awards and numerous other awards
- Akshaya Mohanty
Akshaya Kumar Mohanty was a multi-faceted music personality from Orissa, India. Though most popular as a singer-composer, he was also a lyricist...
, Composer, Chakadola Karuchi Leela
- Malaya Ranjan Mahapatra, The Only Oriya to be a part of the First Indian Antarctica Expedition in 1981 and a Prime Minister(Indira Gandhi) Award holder.
Air
The nearest airport is the
Biju Patnaik AirportBiju Patnaik Airport , also known as Bhubaneswar Airport, is situated in the city of Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. It is currently the only major airport in Orissa...
at
BhubaneswarBhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, about 28 km away. A domestic airport, it has flights to almost all major Indian cities. The Charbatia Airbase located in Cuttack is for the exclusive use of the
Indian Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
.
Rail
Cuttack is an important station on the Howrah-
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
mainline of the
East Coast RailwayThe East Coast Railway is one of the sixteen railway zones of Indian Railways came into existence from 1 April 2003.The geographical jurisdiction of this railway zone extends over three states encompressing almost all parts of Orissa along with parts of Srikakulam, Vizainagaram and Visakhapatnam...
and falls under the Khurda Road division. A branch line to Paradeep starts from Cuttack. It is connected to all parts of India through trains run by the
Indian RailwaysIndian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
.The Cuttack Railway station is selected to be developed as a multi functional railway station with food courts shopping plaza, theaters to be developed .
Road
National Highway 5 passes through the city. A part of the
Golden QuadrilateralThe Golden Quadrilateral is a highway network connecting India's four largest metropolises: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, thus forming a quadrilateral of sorts. Four other top ten metropolises: Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Surat, are also served by the network...
project, this highway runs from
ChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
to
KolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Feeder state highways connect Cuttack to Jajpur, Paradeep,
TalcherTalcher is one of the 4 sub-divisions of Anugul district in the Indian state of Orissa . Situated on the right bank of the river Brahmani, the capital of the erstwhile Talcher State is one of the fastest growing industrial and mining complexes of the country.-Geography:Talcher is located at...
,
AngulAngul may refer to:* Angul, town in India* Angul district, India...
and nearby towns in
Cuttack districtCuttack district is one of the 30 districts in Orissa state in eastern India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Cuttack. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Orissa , after Ganjam.-Geography:...
. Intra city transport is primarily through Cycle rickshaws. There is a threadbare bus service that serves the outermost parts of the city.It is a major junction connecting all the major parts of the state. The bus terminus at cuttack is the largest and thousands of private and government buses ply to hundreds of destinations.
Sports and Entertainment
Sports facilities
Modern Cuttack is the home to
Barabati StadiumThe Barabati Stadium is a cricket venue in the east Indian city of Cuttack, Orissa. It is home ground of Orissa cricket team and is operated by Orissa Cricket Association. The Barabati Stadium is one of the older grounds in India, having hosted several touring sides – including the MCC, the West...
, an important venue for
international cricketInternational Cricket is a cricket video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System that was only released in Australia in 1992. Developed by Melbourne-based Beam Software, it was the only cricket game released for the NES. There were no attempts to release a cricket video game to the North...
matches. Cuttack also possesses Jawaharlal Nehru indoor stadium. The 18th and 24th National Games were held at Cuttack in 1958 and 1970 respectively.
Cuttack has a branch of sports authority of India (SAI) training centres, which was established on 26 March 1987, under Sports Hostel Scheme at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Government of Orissa has provided accommodation facility at Barabati stadium for boys and at Jawaharlal Nehru indoor stadium for girls. The centre gives training for athletics, basketball, football, volleyball, and gymnastic.There is a quite nice athletic track at the Satyabrata stadium, near Barabati stadium.
The ring road (that surrounds Cuttack) along rivers Mahanadi and Kathajodi is a popular (and safe) morning-walk route for the residents of Cuttack.
Libraries
Cuttack is blessed with the huge collection of books and journals in Kanika Library.
For Oriya literature, there is Padhiari Pathagara with a decent collection of books.
The municipality run library called Biswanath pandit library(situated close to Badambadi by the Kathajodi river side) has a very good collection of books, magazines, and journals.
Theatres
Cuttack had been the centre of art and literature in the past.
Cuttack has several movie theatres playing movie in Oriya, Hindi, and English languages. To carter the need of a large Telugu audience in Cuttack, a few theatres also play Telugu movie. Some of the well-known theatres are Grand, Jayashree (Badambadi), Nishamani (Link road), Samrat, etc.
Parks
Cuttack has a deer park, near Barabati stadium, overseeing the beautiful Mahandi river.
There are other parks run by the Cuttack municipality (for example, one at CDA, or at Badambadi).
Biju-Pattnaik park at Bidanasi (on the way to Dhabaleswar temple) is quite a large and nice park for spending your afternoons and evenings. Its also a popular destination for a mini-picnic.
Freedom Fighter's Memorial
It was inaugurated by Hon Chief Minister of Orissa Mr Naveen Patnaik on 23 January -Netaji Jayanti (Netaji Subas Chandra Bose Birthday) in the year 2010.It is situated at the old jail complex (near Big Bazar),Dargha Bazaar , Cuttack.
Netaji Museum
Cuttack takes pride in being the birthplace of the prominent Indian statesman, independence leader and freedom-fighter
Subhash Chandra BoseSubhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose studied in an Anglo school till standard six which is now known as Stewart School and then shifted to Ravenshaw Collegiate school of Cuttack. The birth place of Netaji
Subhash Chandra BoseSubhas Chandra Bose known by name Netaji was an Indian revolutionary who led an Indian national political and military force against Britain and the Western powers during World War II. Bose was one of the most prominent leaders in the Indian independence movement and is a legendary figure in...
which is known as Janakinath Bhawan in Oriya Bazar has now been converted to a museum named Netaji Birth Place Museum where original letters written by Netaji along with other Netaji's important materials are exhibited.
Oriya Film Industry
The Oriya Film Industry has its base in Cuttack.
External links