From Konark to Chilika: REDISCOVERING ODISHA

Rediscovering the old state of Odisha, where splendid monuments and sculptures, golden beaches, swift rivers, azure lakes, roaring waterfalls, verdant hills and wildlife parks beckon a growing number of visitors

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In the popular perception, the eastern seaboard state of Odisha (pop. 41 million) known mainly for the Puri Jagannath and Konark Sun temples and ancient cultural landmarks is a distant place, situated somewhere out there in the great Indian outback. Formerly, the epicentre of the historic Kalinga kingdom of Emperor Ashoka, Odisha with its 4,000 stunningly crafted monuments, famed archaeological sites, early Jain cave temples, Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, mosques, forts, palaces and splendid colonial architecture, is re-impacting itself upon the national consciousness as a tourism destination.

Little is known about the state's early history except that the region was originally inhabited by Buiya and Gond tribals. Circa 400 BCE the region was united under the Kalinga dynasty which established a fiercely independent kingdom. In 260 BCE Emperor Ashoka (232-273 BCE) of the neighboring Mauryan empire based in Pataliputra invaded and subdued Kalinga after a long and bloody war of conquest.

The conquest of Kalinga was a turning point for Ashoka, who, anguished by the horror and destruction of the war, converted to Buddhism and established one of the most peaceful and prosperous kingdoms in Indian history. Later in the second century, the Kharavela dynasty established strong rule over the region and built numerous temples.