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Bhubaneswar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ?Bhubaneswar Orissa • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
135 km² (52 sq mi) • 33 m (108 ft) |
| District(s) | Khurda |
| Population • Density |
800,000 est. (2005) • 4,900/km² (12,691/sq mi) |
| Mayor | Mihir K. Mohanty |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 751 0xx • +0674 • OR-02 |
Bhubaneswar pronunciation (Oriya: ଭୁବେନଶ୍ବର, Hindi: भुवनेश्वर, in Sanskrit and Oriya/oDiA, "The Lord of the Universe") is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Orissa, India. Once the capital of ancient Kalinga, the city has a long history and is today a center for commerce and religious activity. However, the modern city of Bhubaneswar was designed by the German architect Otto Königsberger in 1936. It became the modern capital of the state of Orissa in 1948, a year after India gained its independence from Britain. With its vast variety of hindu temples, Bhubaneswar is often referred to as the temple city of India
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The history of the Bhubaneswar-Khurda region goes back 2000 years. Emperor Kharavela established his capital in Sisupalgarh which is on the outskirts of the city. The Hathigumpha inscriptions at the Udayagiri caves and Khandagiri caves are evidence of the region's antiquity. 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]. Though part of the city has stayed faithful to the plan[2], it has grown rapidly over the last few decades and has made the planning process unwieldy.
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. The area is attractive to tourists for its spiritual significance. 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).
Bhubaneswar is known for its architecture and ancient temples 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.
The State Museum of Bhubaneswar offers an extensive selection of archaeological artifacts, weapons, local arts and crafts as well as insights into Orissa's natural and tribal history. The Tribal Research Institute Museum with its authentic tribal dwellings, created by the tribal craftsmen offers a bird's eye view of the State's tribal heritage.
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 150 cm, most of which is recorded between June and October. This large variation in temperature is because extensive development and the accompanying loss of forest cover in North India provides no hindrance to the heat and cold waves which sweep that region every year.
Geographically, Bhubaneswar is situated in the eastern coastal plains of Orissa and south-west of the river Mahanadi. The city 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.
Bhubaneswar was meant to house the state's machinery and hence it was meant to be a largely residential city with outlying areas meant for industrial purposes. The city's economy had a few major players till the 1990s and was dominated by Public Sector Units, retail and small scale manufacturing.
With the economic liberalisation policy adopted by the Govt. of India in the 90s, Bhubaneswar received large investments in the fields of telecommunications, IT and higher education particularly engineering. The city accounts for almost all of the IT revenue of Orissa and is one of the fastest growing regions in India in this sector. Higher Technical Education is also a big market. The city is home to around 30 engineering colleges (as of 2007) and the number is growing every year. Around 20000 engineers graduate with the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree every year. The city is also home to many tutorials and coaching institutes who prepare students for various entrance exams. The large density has earned the city the sobriquet of "Kota of the East".
Retail and Real Estate have also emerged as big players. Although the first shopping mall opened in 2004, the response was positive enough for three more shopping malls to open up in the city. Large players like DLF and Reliance have entered the real estate market in the city. Despite this rapid growth, a large number of the populace live in slums and are below the poverty line. Migration from rural areas has led to the growth of slums which are a major challenge to the city's growth. The slum dwellers work as auto rickshaw drivers or small vendors but this is not true for everyone. A lot of them are unemployed and are being drawn into crime.
The present Chief Minister is Naveen Pattnaik and the present governor is M. D. Bhandare.
Bhubaneswar has air and rail linkages with most major cities in India. While the Biju Patnaik Airport is the only major airport in the state, an international airport is planned for 2010. In addition to airflight, Bhubaneswar is well-connected to other major Indian cities by highway.
As of India's 2001 census,[3] Bhubaneswar has a population of 647,302. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. The city has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Ten percent of the population is under 6 years of age.
==Tourist Attractions==
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.
The 10th- or 11th-century Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar has been described as "the truest fusion of dream and reality." It is dedicated to Shiva. 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. The surface of the 55 m-high Lingaraja temple is covered with 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.
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. Ashoka erected two main edicts in Kalinga, one in Dhauli and the other in Jayagarh. The principles of Ashoka which reflect his compassion were inscribed on all the other edicts in his empire except Kalinga. In the Kalinga edicts he warned the people of Kalinga not to revolt and that he would take appropriate action if they did. This is in sharp contrast to all of his other edicts and proof of his political acumen.
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.
Image:Kedargauri Bhubaneswar Kedargauri.jpg
The city is home to some of the best educational institutions in the eastern region. Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar (BJB) College is the oldest college and has been granted full autonomy. Ramadevi Women's College is a premier institution for women and has also been granted autonomy. The city is home to three state universities viz. Utkal University, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology or OUAT and Biju Pattnaik University of Technology or BPUT. It is also the base of two private universities, KIIT University and Shikshya O' Anusandhan, the governing body of ITER college.
With the opening up of the economy, skilled technical manpower is in great demand and hence a lot of engineering colleges have opened up in the state with 30 in Bhubaneswar alone. Although not as large as the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh (254), engineering colleges in Orissa are popular with students from the neighbouring states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh due to ease of communication, affordable costs etc. The Orissa Joint Entrance Examinations (O-JEE) and KIIT Entrance Examinations are contested by many candidates from India and abroad. Thw city is also home to three medical institutes.
The city also has good schools such as Central Schools, DM School, Delhi Public School,(DPS) B. J. E. M. School etc. With the city's growth, this sector will also grow rapidly.
On the day of Ashokashtami in the month of March, the image of Lingaraja (Lord Shiba) 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 inhabitants of Orissa.
Durga Puja is also an important festival. Various pandals are constructed throughout the city. The largest pujas are: the Shahid Nagar Durga Puja, the Nayapalli Durga Puja, and the Rasulgarh Durga Puja.
- ^ http://orissagov.nic.in/housing&urban/Vision-2030/Concept%20Paper-VISION-2030.pdf
- ^ Kalia, Ravi. Modernism, modernization and post‐colonial India: a reflective essay. Planning Perspectives, Volume 21, Number 2, Number 2/April 2006 , pp. 133-156(24). Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group.
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
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