Odisha Facts and Information
General Information
| Capital | Bhubaneswar |
|---|---|
| Formation Date | 1 April 1936 (as Orissa); renamed 2011 |
| Largest City | Bhubaneswar |
| Official Language | Odia (classical language status, 2014) |
| State Animal | Sambar deer |
| State Bird | Indian roller |
| State Flower | Ashoka |
| State Name | Odisha (previously Orissa) |
| Utkala Dibasa | 1 April (Odisha Day) |
Government and Administration
| Chief Minister | Mohan Charan Majhi |
|---|---|
| Governor | Kambhampati Hari Babu |
| High Court | Orissa High Court at Cuttack |
| Legislature | Unicameral (147 Assembly seats) |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 21 |
| Number of Districts | 30 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 10 |
Geography and Environment
| Area | 155,707 km² |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical, cyclone-prone |
| Coastline | 485 km (Bay of Bengal) |
| Famous Lake | Chilika (Asia's largest brackish water lagoon) |
| Forest Cover | ~32.3% |
| Major Rivers | Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani |
Demographics and Social Structure
| Density | ~270/km² |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate | 72.87% |
| Population (2011 Census) | 41.97 million |
| Sex Ratio | 979 |
| Tribal Population | ~22.85% (62 tribal communities) |
Economy and Industry
| Aluminum | NALCO Smelter |
|---|---|
| Mineral Wealth | Largest producer of bauxite, chromite; major iron ore, coal |
| Port | Paradip (major), Dhamra, Gopalpur |
| Steel Hub | Rourkela Steel Plant |
Education and Research
| AIIMS | AIIMS Bhubaneswar |
|---|---|
| IIM | Not located here; planned |
| Premier Institute | IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Rourkela |
| Sports Institute | Kalinga Institute (KIIT), KISS (largest tribal residential school) |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Major Airport | Biju Patnaik International, Bhubaneswar |
|---|---|
| Major Port | Paradip Port |
| Smart City | Bhubaneswar (India's first planned modern city of independence era) |
Culture and Heritage
| Classical Dance | Odissi (one of 8 classical dances) |
|---|---|
| Cuisine | Pakhala, Dalma, Chhena Poda |
| Major Festival | Rath Yatra (Puri), Durga Puja, Bali Yatra |
| Temple Architecture | Kalinga style — Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple |
| UNESCO Site | Sun Temple, Konark |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Beach | Puri, Gopalpur, Chandipur (vanishing sea) |
|---|---|
| Lake | Chilika (Asia's largest brackish lagoon) |
| Pilgrimage | Jagannath Puri (one of Char Dhams) |
| UNESCO Site | Sun Temple, Konark |
| Wildlife | Similipal Tiger Reserve, Bhitarkanika |
Fun facts
| Ancient Heritage | Ashoka's Kalinga War (261 BCE) fought here |
|---|---|
| Olive Ridley Turtles | Gahirmatha hosts world's largest mass nesting |
| Vanishing Sea | Chandipur Beach water recedes up to 5 km during low tide |