ABOUT ORISSA

ORISSA is an ancient state flourished in Architecture & Monuments located around Bhubaneswar & Puri. Orissa portrays nature in all its glory, with its beaches, rivers, waterfalls, wild & tribal life. The modern state of Odisha was established on 1 April 1936 as a province in British India. It is the ninth largest state by area in India, and the eleventh largest by population. Odia is the official and most widely spoken language.
The marvels of the Konark (Sun temple), the Sanctum Sanctorum at Puri, the aquatic habitat at Chilka and the art of Oddisi all these together speak about the exemplary socio-cultural tradition of Orissa. Odisha is home to Hirakud Dam, one of the longest dams in the world.

Odisha excels in rural craftsmanship. The artists carve traditional stone and wood sculptures, etch palm leaves with intricate sacred designs, and paint elaborate canvases with scenes from the ancient Indian epics with great dexterity.

Pala (literally meaning “turn”), a unique form of balladry in Odisha, artistically combines elements of theatre, classical Odissi music, highly refined Odia and Sanskrit poetry, wit and humour.

The different colors and varieties of sarees in Odisha make them very popular among the women comminity. The value of Sambalpuri sari is of great importance in national as well as international markets owing to its high quality fabrics and designs. The handloom sarees available in Odisha can be of four major types; these are Ikat, Bandha, Bomkai and Pasapalli. The tie-and-dye technique used by the weavers of Odisha to create motifs on these sarees is unique to this region.

ABOUT BHUBANESWAR

Once the capital of ancient Kalinga, the city has a history of 3000 years and is today a center of economic and religious importance. The modern city of Bhubaneswar was designed by the German architect Otto Königsberger in 1946. The specialty of the culture that grew here lies in its remarkable continuity and the tenacity with which it survived through various vicissitudes. It became the political capital of the state of Odisha in 1948, a year after India gained its independence from Britain. With its large number of Hindu temples, Bhubaneswar is often referred to as a ‘Temple City of India’. The city is surrounded by dense canopy of forests, picturesque Chandaka and Nandankanan makes it one of the cleanest and greenest cities of India next to Chandigarh. Its unique sculptural and architectural heritage, coupled with the sanctity as Ekamrakshetra make this one of the five great religious centers of Odisha since early medieval days.

The weather at capital city of Orissa, Bhubaneswar during February is pleasant ranging from 23 to 28°C. The city is quite comfortable with its great tradition of architecture & sculptural arts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhubaneswar