Bhubaneswar
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| Bhubaneswar | |
  Bhubaneswar
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Orissa - Khordha |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
135 km² - 33 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2005) - Density |
800 000 est. - 4900/km² |
| Mayor | Shri Mihir K. Mohanty |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 751 0xx - +0674 - OR-02 |
Bhubaneswar pronunciation (Hindi: भुवनेश्वर - in Sanskrit and Oriya/oDiA, "The Lord of the Universe") or the temple city of India is a city located on the eastern coast of India. Once the capital of ancient Kalinga, the city has a long history and is today a bustling centre for commerce and religious activity. Bhubaneswar became the modern capital of the state of Orissa in 1948, a year after India gained its independence from Britain. The city is inhabited by over a million people and maintains a high rate of population growth. The Orissa government is keen on developing the city as an IT hub. The city has offices of Enterprise System Solutions, TCS, Satyam, Infosys, Wipro, Systems Technology International and FICUSSOFT India functioning under the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI).
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[edit] History and character
Modern Bhubaneswar was originally meant to be a well planned city with wide roads and many gardens and parks.The plan was made by Otto H. Koenigsberger, a german town planner[1]. A part of the city has stayed faithful to the plan[2]. But it has grown rapidly over the last few decades with the population almost doubling every decade. This has made the planning process unwieldy. The city now has a population of close to 0.6 million. But it is a part of the greater urban conglomoration that includes Cuttack, Khurda, Choudwar and Jagatpur and the population of this urban conglomoration, most probably, is more than two and half million.
Having merged its intriguing past so uniquely with its modern aspirations, it forms an integral link in the Golden Triangle that incorporates the holy city of Puri and Konark, for the tourists that flock to pay their homage to the religious, cultural and natural wonders that abound here. To the east are the famous Sun temple of Konark and the Jagannath Temple of Puri. The Lingaraj Temple of old Bhubaneswar, built in the 11th century, is another temple noted for its ancient history. The Khandagiri and Dhauligiri, situated on the outskirts of the city, carry monuments of the Jain monks since the times of the great king Kharavela. Another such monument is the Shantistupa, which was built as a symbol of peace at the site where the great Kalinga War took place between Emperor Ashoka and Kalinga (the old empire of Orissa).
The striking features of the city are the numerous temples and shrines that seem to be all around you. Bhubaneswar's skyline is dominated by some of the most spectacular engineering and artistic feats of its ancient heritage. The imposing spire of the Lingaraj Temple, the quiet beauty of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the pink translucence of the Mahavira Jain Temple in nearby Khandagiri, inspire feelings of wonder at their sheer beauty and their cross-- cultural permutations. These three alone offer an excellent insight into the ancient cultural strength of Orissa and are well-worth exploring at greater length. At least four of Bhubaneswar's temples must be on the tourist's agenda, to get a feel of the dynamic artistry and development of their indigenous perfection.
The temples have after all stood testimony to the area's history, which spans 25 centuries. The Lingaraj, the Parsurameswar, the Mukteswar and the Rajarani temples are unique in themselves, not only in their architectural beauty but also in the wonderful sculptures which enhance their presence. An interesting variation figures in the Vital and Brahmeswar temples. Though the Lingaraj is closed to non-Hindus, it can be viewed from the viewing platform constructed alongside.
Bhubaneswar is the place where temple building activities of Orissan style flowered from its very inception into its fullest culmination extending over a period of over one thousand years.
The State Museum of Bhubaneswar offers an excellent selection of archaeological artifacts, weapons, local arts and crafts as well as insights into Orissa's natural and tribal history. The museum has the world's largest collection of palm leaf paintings. The Tribal Research Institute Museum with its authentic tribal dwellings, created by the tribal craftsmen is a great place to get a bird's eye view of the State's tribal heritage. The Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) has about 500 acres (2 km²) of plantations, tissue culture and experimental laboratory and a huge lake where migratory birds make their home. The two unique features of RPRC are its status for housing the largest rose garden in the country with an area of 20 acres (81,000 m²) and having the largest collection of cacti (550) in Asia. Bhubaneswar is a shopper's delight. Saris woven by the master weavers in silk and cotton are available in the private shops and government emporia. You can also pick up all kinds of artifacts and jewellery produced in different parts of the State. The Handloom Weavers Co-operative is worth a visit.
[edit] Geography
Bhubaneswar is situated between 21° 15' North Latitude 85° 15' Longitude and at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level, the average temperatures range between 15 °C in the winter to a maximum of 40 °C to 45 °C in the summer. The south-east monsoons appear in June. The average annual rainfall is 1,500 mm, most of which is recorded between June and October.
Geographically, Bhubaneswar is situated in the eastern coastal plains of Orissa and south-west of the river Mahanadi whose tributaries like Kuakhai, Bhargavi and Daya wash the fingers of this city.
Bhubaneswar is subdivided into a number of townships and housings. The most notable are the nine units which lie to the west of Janpath, the city's main arterial road. Initially meant to house the bulk of the city's population, the 9 Units are now emerging as commercial districts.
To the east of Janpath are Shahid Nagar, Satya Nagar and Bapuji Nagar. They are private residential areas, now fast changing their characters into commercial zones. Hotels, malls, departmental stores, coaching institutes vie for space in these prime localities.
[edit] Main Districts
The main areas and traffic-squares of the city from residential and commercial point of view could be classified as follows. (A traffic-square is locally called Chowk or Chhak)
[edit] Vani Vihar
Vani Vihar means 'Abode of Saraswati' -Goddess of Learning-, it is so named because Orissa's premier university, Utkal University is located here.
Utkal University is the 17th oldest University of India. It was established on 1943. National Highway 5 which connects Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras) runs right between Vani Vihar and Bhubaneswar proper. Vani Vihar has acquired 399.9 acres of area in the heart of the city. The growth surge has now made NH-5 one of the principal dividers of the city. Vani Vihar is a major Bus stoppage, Buses ply from here to many destinations principally Cuttack which is 22 km from Bhubaneswar. A section of this road is now under toll. Vani Vihar square is where Janpath starts finally terminates in Ganganagar where the city's airport is located. The railway station is 2 km from Vani Vihar and the airport is 5 km away.
[edit] Rupali Square
Rupali square is the first square along Janpath after Vani Vihar, it was named after a small restaurant which used to function in the 70's by the name Hotel Rupali. At that time there was no other landmark and the area where the IDCO and IPICOL building stand today was open ground. Hotel Rupali shut shop in 80's but the name stuck on. Now it hosts a major shopping district and principal state financial institutions like IPICOL (Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Limited) and IDCO (Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa). The IDCO and IPICOL buildings stand side by side with IPICOL in white and IDCO in slate grey. With 10 storeys, IDCO Tower is the tallest building in the city. It also houses many private sector players.
There is an empty plot of land right near the square which houses some cloth exhibitions now and then. On every [Durga Puja], this plot is taken over by the Shahid Nagar Durga Puja Samiti which celebrates the festival on a grand scale. From here one can take the road to Shahid Nagar, one of the principal commercial areas.
Rupali Square is also home to the reputed R.D Women's college. The regional headquarters of the Indian Oil is also around this place. Not to mention, it is a favorite haunt for boys from the local colleges as well. The main branch of BSNL is situated here.
[edit] Central School Square
This is the third square, it is named after Central School-1 which is located on the west side of the road. There is also the Human Life Center which imparts vocational training. In fact this area of the city caters to almost all the school students of the city. Central School-1, Capital Boys High School (Oriya Medium), Bharatiya Vidyalaya (Hindi Medium) and St. Joseph's High School are located right next to each other.
[edit] Ram Mandir Square
The very ambiguity of the square's name as well as the fact that the most popular Hindu temple in the city and its only Catholic Church co-exist side by side is testament to the city's peaceful heritage. It is one of the major traffic hotspots. Exhibition Road (so called because further down it has Exhibition Ground on its banks, is one of the principal connectors between Janpath and Secretariat Road, this road houses the city's administrative machinery and is comparatively less busier than Janpath.
Ram Mandir was established in the year 1975, it was established by Seth Jhunjhunwala, one of the city's principal affluents. Today it is the most popular temple in the city and celebrates all Hindu festivals in great gaiety.
Shubham Market, a shopping complex is opposite the Church on the eastern side, with the rise of Big Bazaar, a major retail chain just a few minutes walk form the square, Shubham Market has had to play second fiddle.
Opposite Ram Mandir is The Marrion Hotel (previously Prachi), it is one of the best hotels in the city and is well suited for the business traveller. The square also hosts a major fruit market.
[edit] Master Canteen
This is one the oldest squares of Bhubaneswar, it was so named after an eatery which opened shop where the Lalchand shopping complex now stands. It has a large roundabout and in its center is one of the stone horses of the Konark Temple. It is a major bus stoppage. From here, roads branch off to the railway station and Bapuji Nagar. Lalchand Complex is one of the major departmental stores in the city and has Asia's largest Jewellery shop.Swosti Hotel is nearby.
[edit] Raj Mahal
Master Canteen's twin, it was named after Hotel RajMahal, which still exists near the square. It is Bhubaneswar's principal commercial district. Bapuji Nagar, to which it leads, is home to many businesses including Venus Inn, the city's best South Indian Eatery.Of course now so many other good restaurants and hotels came up in Bhubaneswar.
[edit] Jaydev Vihar
Jaydev Vihar area is a recently developed area of Bhubaneswar. The name was initially for the road-square where the Road to Nandankanan from Governor House is cut through by National Highway No.5. But now the area upto 1.5 kilometers of the square in the West- North West direction is called as Jaydev Vihar. This place has developed a lot in last 6 years and marked as a Hot-spot of Bhubaneswar after completion of the NH bridge. This area includes both residential and non-residential estabilishments. There are 3 top-notch hotels of Orissa - The Mayfair Lagoon, The Swosti Plaza and The Trident Hilton. Biju Patnaik Science College is the Student Center here. IIT Kharagpur's Extension Center is located here along with 6-7 small shopping complexes. 1 Kilometer from the Jaydev Square is located the Mahatma Gandhi Park and the Xavier Square. In the Xavier Square there has been developed a beautiful Coffee House - a good hang out place. Bhubaneswar Center for Survey Of India is located there as a tall beautifully designed building of Survey Bhawan. In this area since 1996 a place for Radha-Krishna Devotees has been estabilished called as Shyama Shyam Dham. The Regional Research Laboratories build an wall to this area as a sign of demarkation. The residential area of Jaydev Vihar is beautiful with full of greenery and flanked by RRL's vast tall trees and agricultural developments, the 7th OSAP battalion and Nayapalli area.
[edit] ChandraSekharpur
ChandraSekharpur is the largest residential area of Bhubaneswar. It is definitely the most thriving institutional area. It houses Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Deemed University) in Patia and five other engineering colleges, one medical college(Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences) and three management colleges(mainly I.B.A.T.). This locality also houses Infocity, a software park that houses software firms. The area has adequate green cover and is one of the most pleasant areas of the city to settle down in.
[edit] Tourist Attractions
[edit] Khandagiri & Udayagiri (Jain Heritage)
The twin hills of Khandagiri & Udayagiri, 8 km from Bhubaneswar, served as the site of an ancient Jain monastery which was carved into cave like chambers in the face of the hill. Dating back to the 2nd century BC, some of the caves have beautiful carvings. The Rani Gumpha ( Queen's Cave), one of the largest and double-storied, is ornately embellished with beautiful carvings. In the Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave), King Kharavela has carved out the chronicles of his reign.
[edit] Lingaraj Temple
The 10th- or 11th-century Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar has been described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality." A rare masterpiece, the Lingaraja temple has been rated one of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India by Ferguson, the noted art critic and historian. Every inch of the surface of the 55 m-high Lingaraja temple is covered with elaborate carvings. Sculpture and architecture fused elegantly to create a perfect harmony. Devout pilgrims, who wish to go to the Jagannath temple at Puri, must first offer worship at the Lingaraja temple.
[edit] Dhauli Giri
Just 8 km away from Bhubaneswar looking down on the plains that bore witness to the gruesome war waged on Kalinga by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, stand the rock edicts of Dhauli. It was here that King Ashoka, full of remorse after the Kalinga War in 261 BC, renounced his blood-thirsty campaign and turned to Buddhism. The edicts are a living testimony to the King's change of heart. He urges his administrators to rule the land with justice and compassion. The edicts are so remarkable that they have been excellently preserved, despite the fact that they date back to the 3rd century BC. A sculpted elephant, the universal symbol of Lord Buddha, tops the rock edicts. The Shanti Stupa or the peace pagoda, built through the Indo-Japanese collaboration, is located on the opposite hill.
[edit] Few Other Temples
Built in 650 AD, Parashurameshwara Temple is one of the best examples of the Orissa style of temple architecture. This temple followed very rigid parameters set by the ritualistic books. The temple has some exquisite carvings and sculpture.
Vaital Deul (800 AD) has a double-storied wagon roof, which in turn is an influence of the Buddhist cave architecture. The interior of the temple has the image of Chamunda (an incarnation of Goddess Kali).
Mukteshwar Temple (7th-8th century AD) is one of the most ornate temples in Bhubaneswar. The intricate carvings of the deities stand testimony to the influence of Hindu, Buddha, and Jain style of architecture. The carvings on the roof are specially striking.
The Rajarani Temple (1100 AD), which derives its name from the stone known as the Rajarani, was built earlier in comparison to the impressive Lingaraja. Set amongst picturesque paddy fields, the relatively small Rajarani temple is noted for its fascinating female figures portrayed in a stunning variety of amorous poses and moods.
Brahmeswara Temple (1050 AD) is situated about a kilometer east of the main road. The temple stands in a courtyard flanked by four smaller temples.
[edit] Sisupalgarh
Just two km from the famed Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar lie the ruins of Sisupalgarh. Dating back to the 3rd or 4th century BC, these ruins show that even at that early date there was a well fortified city here, and establish the fact that the Oriya civilization has very ancient roots.
[edit] Atri
The Atri hot sulphur spring is believed to have medicinal properties and has become a popular outing spot for vacationers. The drive from Bhuhaneswar (42 km) alone is worth the trip. The countryside is gorgeous. Atri is also famous for its temple dedicated to Lord Hatakeswar.
[edit] Hirapur
The Yogini shrine at Hirapur (dated 7th century BC) is important for its architectural variation from the main Oriya architectural genre. The temple is open to the sky (hypaethral). There are only four temples of this kind in India and two of them are in Orissa (the other one is at Ranipur-Jharial). Yogini Goddesses were worshipped in the hope of acquiring supernatural powers. It is 20 km from Bhubaneswar.
[edit] 64 Joginis Temple (Chausathi Jogini Mandir)
[edit] Other Notable Sites
[edit] State Museum
The State Museum houses many important artifacts of Orissan past, exhibits include stone artifacts, traditional dresses, ancient & medieval tools & weapons, few rare ancient manuscripts, etc. There is also a souvenir shop. The official website of Orissa State Museum gives detailed info about its resources and activities.
[edit] State Planetarium
Bhubaneswar houses the ' Pathani Samanta Planetarium', the Orissa State Planetarium named after the legendary Oriya astrologist Pathani Samanta ChandraShekhar, the author of the astronomical treatise - 'Siddhanta Darpana'. It is situated right on NH-5, at Acharya Vihar square. Besides arranging regular shows on Astrological events, it also carries out science-popularization drives on special occasions.
[edit] NandanKanan
Named after two tigers, this wildlife park is home to many rare species of animals and birds. It houses white tigers which are a rarity in the country now. It is 15 km away from the centre of the city and 5 km away from Chandrasekharpur, newly developed area of the capital. It is an ideal place to spend the day and a delight for children and wildlife lovers. One acn hardly afford to miss the Botanical garden which is situated nearby, just within walking distance.
[edit] Regional Science Centre
Situated near Acharya Vihar square, this children's favourite houses several science models and is aimed at making science popular among the youth.
[edit] Ram Mandir
Although its one of the youngest temples in Bhubaneswar, it is the most popular. Ram Mandir provides a tranquil environment to the citizens right in the midst of their hectic life. There are temples of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Devi Durga and Devi Lakshmi.
[edit] Ekamra Haat
Ekamra Haat located near Exhibition Ground is the place where the indigenous trade and handicrafts of Orissa are put up for display and sale. Beautifully landscaped, it has become a hot favourite for the city's teenagers and the young crowd. Prices are reasonable though not the lowest among all other outlets in the state.And its a fine place to cool your heels.
[edit] Transportation and City Access
Bhubaneswar has excellent air and rail linkages with most major cities in the country.
[edit] Air
Bhubaneswar is connected to the cities of Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Raipur through regular flights. Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the only major airport in the state.
[edit] Rail
Bhubaneswar is directly connected by rail with Kolkata, Puri, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Trivandrum.
[edit] Road
The city is linked with Berhampur, Chilika, Cuttack, Konark, Paradip, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and other places. Interstate bus services operate daily between Kolkata and Puri via Bhubaneswar and Tatanagar (Jamshedpur).
[edit] Fairs & Festivals
Bhubaneswar plays host to major exhibitions on books, arts, culture, trade etc. These exhibitions are held in 'Exhibition Ground', a vast plot set aside for the purpose in Unit 3. These fairs are generally held in the summer and December. The largest annual book fair in the state is held last week of February and the first week of March.
On the day of Ashokashtami in the month of March, the image of Lingaraja (Lord Shiva) and other deities are taken in a procession from Lingaraja Temple to the Rameshwara Temple. Hundreds of devotees participate in pulling the chariot that carries the deities. The deities remain in the Rameshwara Temple for four days.
At the end of January comes Adivasi Mela, a fair that displays the art, artifacts, tradition, culture, and music of the tribal folks of Orissa.
Raja Sankranti is celebrated with a lot of gaiety, markets are stocked with fresh ruits and vegetables which are consumed on Raja, exorbitant prices are charged.
Durga Puja is also an important festival. Various pandals are constructed throughtout the city. The largest pujas are:
- Shahid Nagar Durga Puja
- Nayapalli Durga Puja
- Rasulgarh Durga Puja
The Durga Puja of 2006 saw 185 pandals dedicated to the Goddess Durga throughout the city.
Kali Puja is another important festival, it coincides with Diwali. The largest puja is organised in the Satya Kali Mandir of Satya Nagar, a fair is also organized there which runs for more than a week.
[edit] Education
Bhubaeswar has been developing into the hub of education in Orissa in recent years. Entry to various institutes (especially medical and engineering) for post-school education is through a centralized Joint Entrance Examination on the basis of merit.
[edit] Research Institutions
- Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
- Regional Research Laboratory
- Regional Plant Resource Center (RPRC)
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Nano Bio-science
- Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture(CIFA)
- Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar
- Regional Medical Research Centre
- Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET)
- National Research Centre for Water Technology
- National Researc Centre for Women in Agriculture
- Orissan Institute of Maritime and South-east Asian Studies (OIMSEAS)
- Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, Bhubaneswar.
- Odissi Research Centre
[edit] Universities
- Utkal University
- Utkal University of Culture
- Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology
- Biju Pattnaik University of Technology
[edit] Technical Institutions
- Regional College Of Management, Bhubaneswar {[RCM]]}
- Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)
- [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology * College of Engineering & Technology, Bhubaneswar (CET)
- Orissa Engineering College, Bhubaneswar (OEC)
- Silicon Institute of Technology (SIT)
- Krupajal Engineering College (KEC)
- Konark Institute of Science & Technology (KIST)
- Eastern Academy of Science & Technology (EAST)
- College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar (CEB)
- Gandhi Institute of Technological Advancement(GITA)
- C.V. Raman College of Engineering
- School of Hotel Management-ITER
- Rajadhani Engineering College
- Gandhi Engineering College
[edit] Medical & Pharmaceutical Colleges
- Government Hospital, Unit VI
- Kalinga Hospital Limited
- Hemalata Cancer Hospital
- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS)
- Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital
- Indira Gandhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (IGI)
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences ,ITER
- Sri Jayadev College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- IMS & SUM Hospitals at Bharat pur, Chandaka
[edit] Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Colleges
- Indira Gandhi Ayurvedic College
- Dr. Abhina Chandra Homoeopathic Medical College
[edit] Rehabilitative Education
- Institute of Health Sciences
- Training Centre for Teachers of the Visually Challenged
- Chetna Institute for the Mentally Challenged (Jewels International)
- Training Centre for Teachers of the Deaf (A Joint Project of State Govt. & AYJNIHH,)
- Open Learning System
- Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre
- Digital Audio Studio audio lab & Trainning Centre
[edit] General Colleges
- Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar College (BJB College), Bhubaneswar
- College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Bhubaneswar
- RamaDevi (RD) Women's College, Bhubaneswar
- Maharshi College of Natural Law, Bhubaneswar
- Rajdhani College, Bhubaneswar
- Capital Law College
- Gokulananda Law College
- Dhauli College of Art and Crafts, Bhubaneswar
- National Institute of Design Management and Technology, Bhubaneswar.
[edit] Notable Schools
- St. Joseph's High School
- Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Bhubaneswar
- D.A.V Public School, Unit-8
- D.A.V Public School, ChandraSekharpur
- St.Xavier's High School , Kedargouri
- B.J.E.M School, B.J.B Nagar
- Capital High School, Bhubaneswar
- Demonstration Multipurpose (DM) School
- Unit-8 Govt. Boys' High School
- Government Boy's High School
- Stewart school, Bhubaneswar
- Government High School, Sahidnagar
[edit] Development Work
The Government of Orissa under the Orissa Technology Mission initiated a proposal towards making a Development Plan for their Capital Region. This was followed by an interactive process between Department of Architecture & Regional Planning IIT Kharagpur and Government of Orissa. Eventually, a memorandum of understanding was signed where The Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Orissa assigned the task of preparing 'Perspective Plan Vision-2030' and Comprehensive Development Plan for Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Urban Complex, to the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning IIT Kharagpur, for the holistic and integrated development of the region.
This concept paper is being initiated to invite inputs from the stakeholders as a first step towards participatory planning process.
Bhubaneswar has signed a Memorandum of Understand with ICLEI - Local Government for Sustainability to become a Model Community under the Local Renewables Model Community Network funded by the German agency GTZ.
Lot of entreprenurial activities have also started in this small city. XIMB (Xavier Institute of mangement Bhubaneswar), India's one of the leading B-schools is surely fueling this new wave. One such initiative is located at Kinabika.com, a buy & selling facilitating company setup and run by a student entreprenure. Lot of IT companies like Wipro,Mindtree are looking forward to setup there development center in bhubaneswar too. In steel sector HUGE investments are being made which will not only create new oppurtunities of the inhabitants of the city but also improve the infrastructure.In a nutshell the citis future looks bright.
