Odisha is one of the 29 states of India, located in the east of India. It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the north-east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and south-east. Odisha has 485 kilometres (301 mi) of coastline along the Bay of Bengal on its east, from Balasore to Ganjam. Odia (formerly known as Oriya) is the official and most widely-spoken language. The word Oriya is an anglicised version of Odia which itself is a modern name for the Odra or Udra tribes that inhabited the central belt of modern Orissa.
History of Odisha
It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The term Odisha is derived from Sanskrit word Odra Vishaya or "Odra Desa. The Ancient Odra desa or Ordesawas limited to the valley of Mahanadi and to the lower course of Subarnarekha River. It comprised the whole of the present districts of Cuttack and Sambalpur and a portion of Midnapur which is bounded on the west by Gondwana, on the north by the wild hill states of Jaspur and Singhbhum, on the east by the sea and on the South by Ganjam. Historically, it was a home of many powerful kings and kingdoms. It has rich history of art, architecture, culture and religion that has drawn attention from all over the world.
Facts about Odisha:
Area
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155,820 km2
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Population
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4.19 cr (Census 2011)
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Establishment
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1 April 1936 as Orissa Province (Utkala Dibasa/Odisha Day)
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Language
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Odia (official language), English
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Neighbouring states
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Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal
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Capital
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Bhubaneswar
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Members of Parliament
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Lok Sabha=21 , Rajya Sabha=10
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Legislature
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Unicameral, State Assembly Seats=147
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Major Cities
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Bhubaneswar,Cuttack,Raurkela, Sambalpur,Puri, Naleshwar,Bhadrak
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Lakes
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Hirakund, Balimela, Chilka (the largest brackish water inland lake in Asia)
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Rivers
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Mahanadi, Brahmani, Bitarni, Tel and Sabari
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National Parks
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The largest lion safari of india, and the only white tiger safari in the world located near bhubaneswar
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Economy Size
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US$ 53.421 billion, 64% of the working population is dependent on the Agriculture.
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Literacy
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73.45 %
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Districts
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30
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Sex Ratio (as per 2011 census)
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978 per Thousand Male
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Density
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270/km2 (700/sq mi)
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Principal Dances
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Odishi, Ghumura Dance, Chhau dance, Mahari dance, and Gotipua.
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Fair and Festivals
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Rath Yatra (Puri), Shravan Purnima, Ashokastami, Chandan Yatra,Konark Festival, Sanana Yatra
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Temples % tourist place
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Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneswar), Jagannath Temple, Puri and the Konark Sun Temple. Raghunath Temple(Nayagarh),Nandankanan Zoological Park
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Principal Crops
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Rice,Pulses,Oilseeds,Sugarcane,Turmeric,Mesta,Coconut,Silk,Rosewood
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Principal Minerals
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Iron, Bauxite, Chromite, Coal,
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