Cuttack

Cuttack,the former capital and one of the oldest cities of Orissa is the administrative headquarters of the district. Cuttack today is a bustling commercial center. The town is situated at the apex of the delta formed by the rivers Mahanadi in the North and Kathajodi in the South. It serves as a convenient base for touring the various places of interest in the district.

Stone Revetment of Cuttack : The river banks of Cuttack are protected by stone revetment,a great engineering marvel of the 11th century A.D. and a remarkable example of ancient technological skill of Orissa.

Barabati Fort : The ruins of a medieval fort with its moat and gate and the earthern mound of the nine-storeyed palace on the bank of the river Mahanadi are noteworthy. Adjacent to the fort is a modern stadium.

Temple of Cuttack Chandi : Being the shrine of the presiding deity of the city,the temple of Cuttack Chandi is normally visited by every Hindu visitor.

Quadam-i-Rasool : A sacred shrine both for the Hindus and Muslims,Quadam-i-Rasool,having a compound wall and towers at each corner has inside three mosques with beautiful domes and a Nawabat Khana (music gallery). It is an object of veneration for Hindus and Muslims alike.

Cuttack draws the travellers not only as a major transport hub but also because of its historical heritages like Ratnagiri,Udayagiri and Lalitgiri that are the remains of three ancient Buddhist universities.

Ratnagiri is the most impressive of the sites,lies on the top of a hill overlooking the River Keluo. When the Chinese chronicler Hiuen T'sang visited the university in 639 AD,it had already been a major Buddhist centre for at least tow hundred years. The focal point of the site is the enormous stupa at the top of the hill.

Udayagiri is located at 10 kilometres back towards the main road. Its main structure is a large stupa,better preserved than its counterpart at Ratnagiri,standing on a square pedestal with a carving of the Buddha in different postures on each side.

Lalitgiri the most accessible of the three sites,is about 10km further along the main road towards Paradwip. Most of the ruins on the two adjacent hills are the thought to date from the ninth century,though an inscription in the ancient Brahmi script has recently come to light that suggests that it may have been occupied seven hundred years earlier.

Singanatha Temple is situated in a rocky island in the Mahanadi river and can be approached from the village Gopinathpur in the Cuttack district. It is also one of the earliest standing temples of Orissa and it shows close affinities both in art and architecture with the earliest group of standing temples.

Located in the country's second largest mangrove forest in Orissa's coastal belt is Bhitarkanika Sanctuary and National Park for the protection of the estuarine crocodile since 1975. The sanctuary is 160 km from Cuttack via Chandhali and 100 km via Kendrapara and Rajnagar. Further down at Gahirmatha,the Giant Olive Ridley Sea Turtles travelling annually from South America,come to nest by millions. Numerous migratory birds come to nest amongst the large mangrove islands.

Kendrapara is famous for its presiding deity Lord Baladeva. It is called the `Tulasi Kshetra' of Orissa. A grand Car Festival is held here annually which draws a mammoth crowd. It is only 65 km from Cuttack.

Paradeep is located at 94 km from Cuttack is a hectic tourist spot today. It offers a beautiful fine-grained white beach,lovely creeks,and a riveting estuary with evergreen forests abounding on the estuarine islands of the Mahanadi.

Dhavaleswar is a small but beautiful island in Mahanadi,Dhavaleswar enchants all with the spell of the river. It is 37 km by road from Cuttack and 4 km through water. The Shiva Temple is perched on a hillock. As a religious centre,Dhavaleswar throngs with religious activities throughout the year.

Chandikhol is a perfect picnic spot with its thickly wooded hills and sylvan springs that flow perennially through its green glades. It lies about 40 km north of Cuttack. At Mahavinayak,5 km away,there is a shrine of the five godheads on one lingam.

• By Air : The nearest airport from Cuttack is Bhubaneswar,which is around 29 km away.
• By Rail : Cuttack is an important station on the Calcutta-Chennai main railway line and connected to Calcutta,Chennai,Delhi,and Mumbai through regular trains.
• By Road :The city is connected by road with Bhubaneswar,Puri,and other important cities of the state.
  
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