Cuttack

Cuttack is a big city in India.

It sits near many rivers. The water flows all around the city.

Many rivers run through the land. This makes the area look like roots.

One river is the Mahanadi.

The city is very old. It has a history of 1000 years. It is also called the Silver City.

People make pretty silver art there. They also make yummy sweets.

Cuttack is a busy place to live. It is a place of many stories.

Cuttack is a large city in the Indian state of Odisha.

It sits near many rivers. The Mahanadi River flows by the city. Other rivers like the Kathajodi also run through it. These rivers split into many small paths. This makes the land look like roots.

The city is very old. It has a history of 1,000 years. People call it the Millennium City because of this. Cuttack is also called the Silver City. This is because people make beautiful silver filigree. Filigree is fine silver wire used to make art.

Cuttack is a busy place for business. It is also a place for law. The Orissa High Court is located there. Many people visit for tasty foods. You can find sweets and snacks like Dahibara.

The city has a maze of small streets. It is often called the Twin City of Odisha. This is because it is close to Bhubaneswar. Together, they have a population of 1.862 million people.

Cuttack is a large and busy city in the Indian state of Odisha.

It sits near the coast and is part of a large area called a metropolitan area. Many people call Cuttack the "Twin City" of Odisha because it is so close to Bhubaneswar. Together, these two cities have a population of 1.862 million people as of 2018. The city is also known as the "Millennium City" because it has a history spanning 1,000 years. Another nickname is the "Silver City" due to its famous silver filigree work. This is a special type of art made with fine silver wires.

Water is a huge part of life in Cuttack. The city sits at the top of the Mahanadi River delta.

Four different rivers flow through or near the city. These include the Mahanadi, the Kathajodi, the Kuakhai, and the Birupa rivers. The Kathajodi River even splits into two more paths called the Devi and the Biluakhai. This makes the rivers look like a web of roots across the land. Many ponds, known as pokharis, also sit in the city to hold rainwater. The Mahanadi River provides much of the drinking water for the people living there.

Cuttack has a very long and changing history. It was first established as a military base by King Nrupa Keshari in 989 CE.

Later, in 1211 CE, it became the capital for a kingdom under Raja Anangabhimadeva III. Many different groups ruled the city over the centuries, including the Ganga dynasty and the Suryavamsi Gajapati dynasty. Eventually, the city came under Muslim and Mughal rule. By 1750, the Maratha Empire took control and helped the city grow as a business center. Later, the British occupied the city in 1803. Even after the capital moved to Bhubaneswar in 1948, Cuttack remained an important headquarters.

Today, the city is a major center for business and law. It is known as the commercial capital of Odisha.

It is also the judicial capital because the Orissa High Court is located there. The city is organized into 59 different wards under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation. Visitors often come to Cuttack to try its famous foods. People love eating snacks like Dahibara, Lassi, and various kinds of Chat. The city is also a cultural hub where many poets and artists enjoy spending time. It is famous for its big Durga Puja festival, which is very important to the people of Odisha.

Life in Cuttack can feel like walking through a maze. The city is full of many small streets and narrow lanes.

Some parts of the city are very old and crowded, while other areas are more planned. For example, Markatnagar is a newer area that covers about 2,000 acres. The weather can change a lot depending on the season. Summers are very hot and humid, with temperatures often between 35 °C and 40 °C. The monsoon season brings a lot of rain from July to October. In the winter, the weather is much milder and very pleasant for walking around.

Cuttack is a major urban center in the Indian state of Odisha.

It serves as the judicial capital of the state. This is because the Orissa High Court is located there. The city also acts as the commercial capital of Odisha. It hosts many large trading and business houses. Cuttack is often called the "Millennium City" due to its 1,000-year history. It is also known as the "Silver City." This name honors its famous silver filigree work. This delicate art uses fine silver wires to create jewelry.

The geography of Cuttack is defined by its relationship with water. The city sits at the apex of the Mahanadi River delta.

Four major rivers flow through or near the city. These are the Mahanadi, the Kathajodi, the Kuakhai, and the Birupa. The Kathajodi River further divides into the Devi and the Biluakhai. This branching pattern makes the geography look like fibrous roots. The Mahanadi River flows along the northern side of the city. It separates the main urban area from the Jagatpur Industrial Area. Many local ponds, called pokharis, store rainwater throughout the city.

Cuttack has a complex and long history of different rulers. Historian Andrew Stirling suggests the city began as a military cantonment. King Nrupa Keshari of the Keshari dynasty established it in 989 CE.

In 1002 CE, Maharaja Markata Keshari built stone embankments. These were designed to protect the new capital from flooding. Later, Raja Anangabhimadeva III of the Ganga dynasty made it a capital in 1211 CE. The Suryavamsi Gajapati dynasty ruled from 1434 to 1541 CE. Eventually, the city saw rule from the Mughals and the Maratha Empire. The Marathas conquered Cuttack in 1750. This helped the city grow into a major business center.

The British occupied the city in 1803. By 1816, Cuttack became the capital of the Odisha division. In 1948, the state capital moved to Bhubaneswar. However, Cuttack remained the administrative headquarters for Odisha. Today, it is often called a "Twin City" with Bhubaneswar. The metropolitan area of both cities reached 1.862 million people in 2018. Recently, there has been a proposal to rename the city to "Katak." The Mayor suggested this to honor the city's original historic name. He cited archival records from Ravenshaw College to support this idea.

The city is organized into 59 wards under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation. It is classified as a Tier II city by the Government of India.

The urban layout is very diverse. Much of the old city is a maze of narrow streets and lanes. This earned it nicknames like "52 markets and 53 streets." In contrast, some areas are modern and planned. Markatnagar, also known as CDA, covers about 2,000 acres. This area has 15 sectors, with 11 being residential. The population of the CDA area is around 150,000. Other newer areas include Jagatpur and Mahanadi Vihar.

Cuttack experiences a tropical wet and dry climate. The summer lasts from March to June. During this time, it is hot and humid. Temperatures usually range from 35 °C to 40 °C. Sometimes, temperatures can exceed 45 °C. The monsoon season occurs from July to October. Most of the city's rainfall arrives during these months. The annual rainfall is approximately 1,450 mm. The winter season runs from November to February. It features mild temperatures and chilly northerly winds. Temperatures can drop to around 15 °C during this time. Because it is near the coast, the city faces risks from cyclones.

Culture and religion are very important in Cuttack. The city is a cultural hub for poets and artists.

The Durga Puja festival is a major event. This tradition grew after the visit of Saint Chaitanya in the 16th century. The Cuttack Chandi Temple is a famous pilgrimage site.

Another notable site is the Dhabaleswar Temple. It sits on an island in the Mahanadi River. A suspension bridge connects the island to the mainland.

The city is also famous for its unique food. People enjoy local delicacies like Dahibara, Lassi, and various types of Chat.

These flavors make the undivided Cuttack district very well known.