Cuttack
About the city
The city of Cuttack started as a military cantonment because of its impregnable situation that further devolped into the capital of the state of Orissa. Inscriptions of Anangabhimadeva lll fefers the orginal city as Abhinab-Baranasi-Katak.Like the city of Baranasi situated in between Baruna and Asi,Cuttack is situated between the rivers Mahanadi and Kathajodi and was therefore named as Abhinab Baranasi (Newtype of Baranasi).Cuttack developed into a city out of fivevillage viz.Choudwar Katak,Saranasi Katak,Sarangagarh Katak, Viraja Katak and Amaravati Katak.In the remote past Cuttack was connected both by land routes and waterways with the renowned medieval ports like Chelitalo,Palur and Tarmalipti.Although politically Cuttack was not that significant before the eight century AD,but it was a flourishing mart of Eastern trade.However,Cuttack became a capital city as the end of the 10th centuary A.D.during the reign of somavanansi dynasty of Orissa.
The importance of Cuttack rapidly increased after the occupation of Orissa by Chohagangadeva early in the 12th century AD.Chodaganga transferred his capital from Kalinganagar to Katak which was more centrally located.The famous Barabati Fort was constructed in 1229 AD.by the famous Ganga ruler Anangabhimadeva lll.
After the Ganges,Orissa passed intothe hands of the Gajapati under whom Cuttack continued to be the capital of the state.The reference from Ain-i-Akbari clearly denotes That Cuttack was a flourishing capital city during the time of Mukunda Deva.On the eve of Afghan occupation,Cuttack was found a well guarded and heavily fortified capital.
The Afghans however were not destined to rule Orissa and they were soon ousted by the Imperial Mughals.Cuttack continued to be the capital of Mughal Orissa and Abul Fazl celearly mentions that Mughal Governor was residing in that city.
During the rule of Marathas,Cuttack greatly prospered as an emporium of trade and commerce and became a central market of exchange between the Marathas of Nagpur and the English merchants of Bengal and Northen Circar.
As per the treaty of deogaon,Cuttack came under British occupation in 1803 and the Enhlish set themselves to the task of consolidation and land revenue administration.As an after effect of the devastating famine of 1866,the government gave serious consideration to remove the isolation of Cuttack from the outsite world and at the same time to prevent the recurrence of such calamities in future. Along with several water ways,roads were also opened during the tater part of the 19th century toprovide Cuttack with internal communication. Then towords the last decade of the 19th century railway line of BNR connected Cuttack directly with Madras and Calcutta.
The first Newspaper of Orissa "UtkalDipika" was publish by the Cuttack printing Company due to the efforts of Gourisankar Ray in 1866.There was a great change in the educational scenario of Cuttack after British occupation with the establishment of first Government English school in 1841 and it slowly progressed as the Higher English school unitil the famine of 1886.Then the school was converted into a college with intermediate teaching in 1868 which in due course of time took the name of Ravenshaw college. Ravenshaw college was coverted to Ravenshaw University on 15th November 2006.Orissa Medical was established in 1875 following the establishment of Cuttack general hospital in 1874.The Cuttack Municipality came into existence in 1876.In 1923 two new educational insituions were opened in Cuttack.One was Cuttack Training College and the other wos Orissa School of Engineering,which developed out of the old survey school separated from the Ravenshaw College in 1915 and from the Government workshop located at jobra.
During Freedom Struggle,Swaraj Ashram of Sahebazada Bazar was the center of all nationalist activities. The Ashram is place of pilgrimage for all Gandhites as Gandhiji indoctrinated the youths of Orissa with the mantra of truth and nonviolence.
Cuttack has been enjoying all along the unique privilege of being the administrative and commercial nerve center of Orissa .It was the seat of the commissioner of Orissa Division till 1936 and with the formation of the province of Orissa in that year it was exalted to be the head quarter ofthenew province.the historic Lalbagh place which was being occupied by the commissinor became the Governor House.Now it was been converted to children,s hospital called "Sishu Bhawan" A stadium know as the Barabiti Stadium has been built on the famous Killa Maidan near the Barabati fort.The High court came into existence in 1948 and its building is another impressive structure of indo-European style.In 1948 Akasvani (All India Radio)was established in the old Madhupur building of Cuttack.
The city is reputed all over the country for its exquisite and delicate filigree works,artistic horn works, fine and multi-coloured textile products.
The state government finally selected Bhubaneswar situated at a diatance of eighteen miles from Cuttack as its new capital in accordance with the plan of grater Cuttack.Though Bhubaneswer has been made the new capital of Orissa,still then ,Cuttack acts as bridge linking the past ,present and future of state's History and Heritage.Till the date is ranked sa one of the old cities of India with her life spread over more than thousand years being famous as the :Millennium City".
This is one of Orissa's oldest towns, and possibly one of the greatest witnesses to the power transfers - the Kalingas, Ashoka, Mughals, Marathas and much more. It lacks the usual hype of crowds flock it during season. and it is best suited for people who like a laid-back holiday. Visit its fort-turned-stadium and its marvelous stone revetment, and the numerous temples dedicated to the all-powerful Shiva. Cuttack is also an ideal base for exploring the nearby towns of Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Konark and Chilika, and is a complete shopper's paradise with their remarkable intricate silver filigree work. The reasons are many, so head out for your discovery...
30 Km north of Bhubanewar was the medieval capital Cuttack, one of the oldest towns in Orissa. It was the capital and administrative centre until the end of the British Raj, still the year 1956. Cuttack was founded by Nripati Kesari (920-935). It occupies an important strategic position in relation to the network of canals in the region. The town is almost an island and situated at the head of the Mahanadi delta and surrounded by the great river and its tributary the Kathjuri.
Time stops in Cuttack, Katakis are a confident a lot, with thousand years of history behind them. Thousands of Katakis witness the century's worst floods in their unique style, eating Dahibaras and Aludam on the embankments of Kathjori and Mahanadi. Bhaichara, Parampara and Aitiho: these three words dominate every public discourse in Cuttack, roughly translated; these words mean brotherhood, tradition and history. We have seen all, is the predominant sentiment of Katakis. and truly so, Katakis have seen the glory of Kalinga empire, the might of Mauryan Ashoka, the Marathas and Mughals, the British and the fight for independence. Pride of thousand years of existence has an equalizing effect.
1803 is the foundation year of the Cuttack district under the Bengal Presidency of the British India. It was the capital of Orissa with Cuttack Commissioner as the head of the British Government. The district has contributed liberally to Orissa's who's who list. Cuttack district is a narrow strip of land spreading from East to West. Topographically Cuttack has two prominent divisions viz., hilly terrain on the west and Mahanadi delta plains in the East. The highly fertile and densely populated land in criss-crossed by hundreds of rivers and rivulets. These water bodies function both as tributaries of the Mahanadi river system. Large portion of the landmass is low lying and gets submerged during floods. With very limited industrialization, people of Cuttack depend upon agriculture as the primary means of livelihood. The vast network of irrigation canals established by the British after the great famine of 1866, is the backbone of agriculture. Cuttack city is still the commercial capital of Orissa with the Malgodown controlling the trade throughout the State. Following are some of the relevant facts about Cuttack district.