2. Cuttack

2. Cuttack

Image credit – vivek jena, CC BY 2.0

Former capital of Orissa and now its business capital, Cuttack, is also one of the ancient cities of the state. Ancient monuments apart, Cuttack has a wide range of tourist attractions as it is home to picturesque destinations and pilgrim centers. It is famous for handicrafts too. Here are the leading attractions in Cuttack.

• Barabati Fort
• Stone Revetment of Cuttack
• Mahanadi Barrage
• Netaji Birth Place Museum
• Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Singanatha Temple
• Dhabaleswar Island
• Qadam-I-Rasool
• Bhattarika Temple
• Gurudwara Daatan Sahib
• Odisha Maritime Museum
• Ansupa Lake

• 1. Barabarti Fort

  
  Photo by Daniel Limma
  The titular fort of Cuttack, Barabati Fort was built in the 14th century by the rulers of the Ganga dynasty. However the fort’s origin goes back to 989 AD when King Marakata Keshari built embankments on the shores of the river to protect the city from floods. Later in the 14th century, Mukundadev Harichandan a Chalukyan King built a 9-storied fort in the embankments. Today the fort lies in ruins following several attacks and floods over the course of history but is a great place to visit during the winters.

  2. Kataka Chandi Temple

  
  Photo by Sidsahu, 
  Kataka Chandi Temple is also known as the Cuttack Temple and is dedicated to the Hindu Deity Chandika. The temple is a marvelous example of the Gajpati dynasty architecture and is located at the banks of the Mahanadi River. The best time to visit the temple is during the festivals of Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Dussehra. The temple is managed by the priests of the Utkala Brahmins and contains the idol of the goddess with was dug up by the Priest of the Gajpati Kingdom.

  3. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary

  One of the most popular attractions near Cuttack, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuaryis spread across an area of 672 sq kilometers. The Sanctuary is famous for being a home to the endangered and massive saltwater crocodile, White crocodile, Indian Python, Water Monitor Lizards, Black Ibis, The spectacled Cobra, Olive Ridley turtles and Chital etc. Again the best time to visit is during the winter season.

  4. Kadam Rasool Mosque

  
  Photo by Abhishek Kumar Jha,
  Founded in the 18th century, the Kadam Rasool mosque contains the foot print of the Prophet Mohammed and is spread across an area of 57 acres. The mosque is an immensely sacred place for the Muslims across the country and is visited by several tourists each year. The mosque is a marvelous example of the Indo-Persian architectural style and is said to have been built by a Hindu King.

  5. Netaji Birth Place Museum

  The erstwhile ancestral home of the great freedom fighter, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is now a museum after its completed renovation in 2007. The galleries which were once the living quarters of the Bose family now contain several photographs, antiquities and furniture used by the Bose Family and Netaji.