Fast Facts
Location : Orrisa, 29 kms from Bhubaneshwar
Attractions : Stone Revetment, Barabati Fort,
Qadam-i-Rasool, Cuttack Chandi, Netaji Seva Sadan etc.
Best Time To Visit : October to March
Introducing Cuttack
Cuttack,
the former capital of Orissa is now the Business capital of Orissa. Situated
close to capital city Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack alongwith Bhubaneshwar together
known as the 'twin cities' of Orissa. Cuttack is set at the apex of the
delta formed by the rivers Mahanadi and Kathajodi.
One of the oldest towns of Orissa, Cuttack is now a bustling commercial
center. Cuttack is known worldover for its exquisite filigree works in
silver, ivory and brass works and textiles of woven silk and cotton. In the
ancient time Cuttack assumed significance due to its strategic location and
ruled by a number of dynasties. Over the centuries the rulers had built a
number of fort and other interesting structures in Cuttack region. Today
those rulers and their descendants are no more, but still you can get a
glimpse of the bygone are in the monuments in and around the city.
On the whole, plan a trip to the charming city of Cuttack this vacation and
return your home with some lifelong memories.
How to Reach Cuttack
By Air : Bhubaneshwar (29 km) is the nearest airport from
Cuttack. Domestic Airlines operate a number of flights to Bhubaneshwar from
Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and other important cities of India.
By Rail : Cuttack is a major rail head
on the Kolkata-Chennai main railway route. Several express and superfast
trains connect Cuttack with Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and
many other railway stations of the country.
By Road : NH 5 passes through Cuttack and connects it to
important places of Orissa. Cuttack is served by regular buses from
Bhubaneshwar, Puri and other important destination of the state. Distances
of some major cities from Cuttack are Kolkata (416 km), Varanasi (940 km),
Delhi (1720 km) and Mumbai (1482 km)
Local Transport : Taxis and cycle rickshaws are modes of
local transport in Cuttack.
Places Where You Can Stay
Plenty of accommodation options are available in Cuttack. You need not to
worry about your budget, as the hotels are available rates. Equipped with
contemporary facilities, the hotels of Cuttack provide a pleasant stay. Some
of the famous hotels of Cuttack are Pantanivas, Hotel Akbari Continental,
Hotel Bombay, Hotel Dwarka, Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Monalisa, Hotel Lords, Hotel
Roxy and Hotel Blue Lagoon.
Tourist Attractions in Cuttack
Stone Revetment : Stone Revetment is a major attraction of
Cuttack. An 11th century engineering marvel, stone revetment is a
masterpiece of ancient technological skill of Orissa.
Barabati Fort : One of the attractions of Cuttack,
Barabati Fort is set on the bank of the river Mahanadi close to the Barabati
stadium. Built by the Ganga dynasty, most of the fort is ruined now, but the
gateway to the fort is still intact. Presently the excavation work is done
by Archaeological survey of India.
Qadam-i-Rasool : Located in the centre of town,
Qadam-i-Rasool is a sacred shrine both for Muslims and Hindus. The shrine is
surrounded by a wall, having towers at each corner. Qadam-i-Rasool houses
three mosques and a Nawabat Khana (music gallery). It is said that the
shrine contain the holy relics of the prophet Muhammed (SAW) from Mecca.
Cuttack Chandi : Cuttack Chandi is shrine dedicated to the
presiding deity of the city. It is a must visit place for tourist visiting
Cuttack.
Netaji Seva Sadan : Situated in Oriya Bazarr of the city,
Netaji Seva Sadan is the birthplace of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Barbati Stadium : Set close to the fort, Barabati Stadium
is a new attraction of the Cuttack city. Barbati Stadium hosts international
and domestic cricket matches.
Paramahansa : A pilgrimage place, Paramahansa is situated
on the out skirts of city. Paramahansa is named after Paramahansa Nath, a
form of Lord Shiva.
Other Attractions of Cuttack : Orissa High Court,
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Swaraj Ashram, Gadagadeswar Mandir and Ravenshaw
Collge.
Tourist Attractions Around Cuttack
Naraj
: A picturesque picnic spot, Naraj lies at a distance of 5 km from
Cuttack. Naraj is situated at the confluence of Mahandi and Kathajodi. The
place is also popular for Buddhist culture and you can see some Buddha
images here.
Bhubaneshwar :
Bhubaneshwar is just 29 kms away from Cuttack. A modern city, Bhubaneshwar
has a number of interesting tourists spots. Temples are major attraction of
Bhubaneshwar. Lingaraj Temple, Vaital Deul Temple and Parasurameswar Temple
are some of the famous temples of the city. Bhubaneshwar also houses Orissa
State Museum and Tribal Research Museum.
Nandan Kanan Biological Park : Set on the way to
Bhubaneshwar, Nandan Kanan Biological Park deserves a visit. Nandan Kanan
has the highest population of white tigers in the country. In addition to
white tigers, you can spot a variety of other animal species here.
Chatia : Chatia is 30 km away from Cuttack. A historic
place, Chatia houses a number of shrines and the remains of an ancient fort.
Dhabaleswar : Set 35 km away from Cuttack, Dhabaleswar is
a picturesque spot and a home to Shiva temple. Actually Dhabaleswar is a
tiny island on the Mahanadi river. Every year on Bada Osa Day, which falls
in November devotees come visit the temple in large number. The temple
premises houses archaeological sculptures of 10th - 11th centuries.
Accommodation is available for the tourists on Dhabaleswar island.
Banki : Banki is situated at a distance of 52 km from
Cuttack. Here you will see the shrine of eight-armed Goddess Charchika set
on the bank of Mahanadi river. Banki also has a number of other interesting
structures.
Bhattarika : Located 108 kms away from Cuttack, Bhattarika
houses the famous shrine of Goddess Bhattarika.
Other nearby destinations : Besides the above mentioned
places, a number of other interesting tourist places are located close to
Cuttack. Some of the famous places are Choudwar (14 kms), Nemal (42
kms)Nialimadhab (50 kms), Lalitgiri (64 kms), Ansupa (68 kms) and Singhanath
(96 kms).
Festivals of Cuttack
Durga Puja is the most popular festival of Cuttack. As Cuttack is close to
West Bengal and inhabited by a large population of Bengali people hence the
Durga Puja festival is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm. Durga Puja
in Cuttack is as interesting as the festival celebrated in Kolkata.
Baliyatra is another important festival of Cuttack, held every year in
November. The festival is celebrated to remember the ancient tradition of
trade between Orissa and java, Bali and Sumatra. Kite flying festival of
Cuttack is also famous and held in the month of January.
Shopping in Cuttack
Any trip to Cuttack is incomplete without some shopping. In fact, the city
is the major shopping centre of Orissa and you can not return back without
doing some shopping. Cuttack is dotted with a number of government emporium
and private shops, which offer a variety of items. Some of the must buy
include the handicrafts and textiles of the Cuttack region, both in silk and
cotton. Cuttack is noted for exquisite silver filigree work, from which
jewelry, utensils, and decorative items are prepared.
