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History of Orissa
Kalinga of the Mauryan age and Utkala of Mahabharata
fame, popularly known as Orissa today, boasts of
splendid architecture and magnificent beaches.
Spread over a sprawling area of 1.55 lakh sq kms, it
lies in the tropical zones along the eastern seaboard of
India. One can find an unmatched blend of rural
tranquility with boisterous modern adroitness here. The
scenic beauty of the place so much overpowers your
spirit that the poet inside you is awakened.
Ancient History of Orissa
The mention of Orissa dates back to 260 BC, the reign of
Emperor Ashoka. While spreading the boundaries of his
kingdom, the emperor reached the gates of the then
Kalinga and invoked its king to fight or flee. In the
absence of her father, the princess of the state took
reins and fought bravely with the emperor. The war was a
true massacre and the bloodshed that took place moved
the emperor so much that his killing instinct was
capsized. A warrior was thence transformed into a great
apostle of Buddhism. Buddhism followed by Jainism held
sway until after the reassertion of Hinduism in the
state in 7th century AD.
The Orissan culture and architecture flourished
immensely under the rein of Keshari and Ganga Kings at
Orissa. A number of masterpieces of that golden era
still stand today as mute evidences to a glorious past. |
