Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Bhubaneswar

geography Maturity 7-9 war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Bhubaneswar is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha.

Bhubaneswar Map
Bhubaneswar Map

It is located within the Khordha district on the eastern coastal plains. The city sits along the axis of the Eastern Ghats mountains. It is part of the Mahanadi River Delta. The Daya River flows 4 km to the south. The Kuakhai River flows 4 km to the east.

Kalinga battlefield daya river dhauli hills
Kalinga battlefield daya river dhauli hills

The geography is divided into western uplands and eastern lowlands. The soil consists of 65% laterite, 25% alluvial, and 10% sandstone. The city is a major center for tourism, sports, and information technology (IT). It is also recognized as a "smart city" in India.

The history of the region is extremely deep. Evidence of human life can be traced to the 1st century BCE.

Sisupalagada Bhubaneswar
Sisupalagada Bhubaneswar

Near the city lie the ruins of Sisupalgarh. In 261 BCE, the Kalinga War took place at Dhauli.

Historical landmark in Dhauli Shanti Stupa 7
Historical landmark in Dhauli Shanti Stupa 7

The Mauryan emperor Ashoka invaded and annexed Kalinga during this time. Later, the Mahameghavahana dynasty ruled the area. Its most famous ruler was Kharavela. He left the Hathigumpha inscriptions at the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.

Over many centuries, the land was ruled by the Satavahanas, Guptas, and the Eastern Gangas. The Eastern Gangas ruled until the 14th century CE.

Bhubaneswar is famously known as the "Temple City." This nickname comes from the many ancient temples located there. Most of these Kalingan temples were built between the 6th and 13th centuries CE.

Muktesvara deula
Muktesvara deula

Notable examples include the Lingaraja, Nilakantha Siva, and Rajarani temples. The Ananta Vasudeva Temple is the only old temple dedicated to Vishnu in the city. The old town is the oldest part of the city. It is characterized by narrow roads and dense residential areas. This area serves as a confluence of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain heritage.

The modern city was a planned development. In 1946, a proposal was made to move the capital from Cuttack. Cuttack was the previous capital, but it faced space constraints and floods.

ORISSA SECRETARIAT
ORISSA SECRETARIAT

The foundation for the new capital was laid on 13 April 1948. German architect Otto Königsberger designed the modern city in 1946. It was one of the first planned cities in modern India, alongside Jamshedpur and Chandigarh. The design included wide roads, gardens, and parks.

Governor House Road
Governor House Road

The city is divided into the old town, the planned city, and added areas.

Population growth has changed the city significantly. In the 1951 census, the town had only 16,000 people. By the 1991 census, the population had reached 411,542. Today, the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack areas are known as the "twin cities of Odisha." In 2011, this combined area had a population of 1.7 million. The city is classified as a Tier-2 city. Growth has been most rapid in the north, northeast, and southwest. The city's shape is somewhat dumbbell-shaped.

The climate is a tropical savanna climate, known as Aw in the Köppen classification.

Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Temperatures usually range between 15°C and 45°C. Summers are hot and humid, occurring from March to May. May is the hottest month, with daily temperatures often reaching 45°C. The monsoon season brings most of the rain from June to September. The highest rainfall occurs in August. Winter is short, lasting about ten weeks from December to January. The city is located in seismic zone III, meaning it has some earthquake risk. It also faces a very high damage risk from cyclones.

Bhubaneswar is a major hub for education and business. It is home to many research and learning institutes.

Utkal University Main Gate
Utkal University Main Gate

These include Utkal University and the Institute of Physics.

IOP Bhubaneswar library
IOP Bhubaneswar library

The city also hosts the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology. In 2014, the World Bank ranked Bhubaneswar as the best place to do business in India. It is a growing commercial center with a strong IT presence.

DLF Cyber City, Bhubaneswar
DLF Cyber City, Bhubaneswar

The city's development is managed by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority.

638 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (35)
File:Sisupalagada Bhubaneswar.jpg
Sisupalagada Bhubaneswar.jpg
File:Hatigumfa.jpg
Hatigumfa.jpg
File:Historical landmark in Dhauli Shanti Stupa 7.jpg
Historical landmark in Dhauli Shanti Stupa 7.jpg
File:Kalinga battlefield daya river dhauli hills.jpg
Kalinga battlefield daya river dhauli hills.jpg
File:Bhubaneswar Map.png
Bhubaneswar Map.png
File:Governor House Road.jpg
Governor House Road.jpg
File:Pathani Samanta Planetarium.JPG
Pathani Samanta Planetarium.JPG
File:Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.JPG
Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.JPG
File:DLF Cyber City, Bhubaneswar .jpg
DLF Cyber City, Bhubaneswar .jpg
File:Bhubaneswar, India, ca. 1906 (IMP-CSCNWW33-OS14-56).jpg
Bhubaneswar, India, ca. 1906...
File:Krushi Bhavan Bhubaneswar.jpg
Krushi Bhavan Bhubaneswar.jpg
File:ORISSA SECRETARIAT.jpg
ORISSA SECRETARIAT.jpg

+ 23 more

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.