Orissa, the lush green state in East India, on the Bay of Bengal. Bhubaneswar is the capital.
Orissa has a long coastline of over 480 km on the Bay of
Bengal interspersed by a couple of lovely beaches. Added to their seductive
beauty is a vast hinter land of antiquities and holy shrines.
The relatively unindented coastline lacks good ports save for
the deepwater facility at Paradwip. The narrow level coastal strip including
the Mahanadi River delta is exceedingly fertile.
Rainfall is heavy and regular, and two crops of rice are grown annually. The
temple-dotted cities of Konarak, Puri, and Bhubaneswar attract many tourists.
The dense population, concentrated on the coastal alluvial plain, is
Oriya-speaking.
It has seen some of the best fusion of traditional Indian art in its many temples and monuments, and has been able to
preserve much of it, in an environment natural to its wonder and attractions. It
was in Orissa, that Buddhism found some of its strongest exposure, and cult
following. However, it was Hindu art that dominated the landscape, eventually,
and resulted in the profusion of temple traditions, that have endured till now.
Heavily forested, and isolated, Orissa was once famous for its majestic battle elephants.
Orissa is predominantly rural, with fertile green coastal
plains rising to the hills of the Eastern Ghats. The State is mineral rich and
is a big exporter of iron ore. The Oriyas are very friendly and hospitable and the atmosphere of the State is
generally relaxed. Most of the state's attractions are close to each other and
convenient access is provided out of the state capital, Bhubaneswar. The capital
itself is an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, an emerging modern
Indian city, that is steeped in the roots of the traditions of its glorious
past, without being overwhelmed by it.
Backed up by musical sway of Casuarina trees and creepered sand dunes, Chandipur
is one such beach, but with a unique distinction of its own. The sea water
here recedes away from the shore line about five km twice
a day, an unusual phenomenon, rarely found anywhere. You can see the sea
literally vanishing before your eyes and also watch it coming back rhythmically
at regular intervals, as if playing hide and seek.
Elsewhere, the waves come and go dashing on the shore like madcap but here they
are like a musical fountain, soothing to the eyes and ears. Elsewhere, the
waters wait for the visitors but here the visitors have to wait for the waters.
Elsewhere, the waves go wild and the visitors calm but here the ecstasy of
visitors will go wild while the waves remain calm.
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