Toshali Sands :: Orissa

Orissa

Kabibar Radhanath Ray, the architect of modern Oriya Poetry describes Orissa, in a Sanskrit hymn ‘Bharat Gitika’ as Bharata-pankajadalarnidarn Utkala-mandalamiti viditam, that is, this land of Utkal is well-known as a petal of the lotus Bharat. The tone is one of reverent adoration for the symbol of sacred beauty that is Utkal or Orissa.

Kapila Samhita, an epic describes Orissa as the best land in India. It states, Barsanang Bharat Srestha, Desanang UtkalSruti, Utkalasya Sarna Desa, Desa Nasti Mahitale. That mear1s- “Of all countries India is the best and of all states, Orissa”.

The modern state of Orissa, which came to be constituted as such on April I, 1936, is a land with a hoary past. In terms of history, it is the heart-land of ancient and powerful kingdoms as Kalinga, Utkal, Odra, Kosala, Tosali and Kangoda. From the early fifteenth century onwards it has come to be consistently called ‘Odisha’ both in official and private records. Since ‘Kalinga’ is associated with Orissa’s overall prosperity and maritime glary in its early history, and ‘Utkal’ with its rich sculptural and artistic excellence in the subsequent periods, the two names are still evoked honour to designate the whole of Orissa. On similar grounds, ‘Kosala’ too is applied to its western part, while other names have been relegated to the pages of history.

Orissa is surrounded by West Bengal on the north-east, Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar) on the north, Chhatisgarh (formerly part of Madhya Pradesh) on the west and Andhra Pradesh on the south while the Bay of Bengal washes its shores on the east. It is located between the parallels of 17°49′E and 22°34′N latitudes and the meridians of 81°27′E and 87°29′E longitudes. The geographical area of the state is 1,55,707 sq.km. It got its final shape on January 1, 1949 when Mayurbhanj, the last among the princely states, merged in it.

Owing to its peculiar geographical location and wide range of physical features, Orissa embraces a diversified floristic composition. The extensive ranges of hilly forests, several lofty peaks, long stretch of coastline, excellent riverine system, brackish waters and coastal plains altogether have endowed the state with a wide range of ecological habitats for a diverse and broad spectrum of vegetation. NATURAL REGIONS: The eyecatching beauty of this land is enhanced by the diversity of the natural regions.