Cuttack, the oldest city in Orissa, is located at 20°5' N and 85°83' E, close to the east coast of India. The city spread over 398 square kilometers has an average elevation of 36 meters. The city is located at the mouth of the Mahanadi river delta and is surrounded by the Mahanadi River and its tributary Kathjori River. Because of its proximity to the coast, Cuttack has a tropical climate. The temperatures touch 40°C in summer and fall to 10°C in winter. Cyclones and thunder showers are common in monsoon months of July and August.
Cuttack, named for the 'kataka' or fort in Sanskrit, referred to the ancient Barabati Fort around the area of the city. Although historically Cuttack was the seat of the government in Orissa, it relinquished the position to Bhubaneshwar after the new city was created close to it, a few kilometers down south. Today Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa, are together called the twin cities in the state.
Cuttack lies on the route of the National Highway 5 and is connected to Chennai and Kolkata. There is no Airport in the city; the closest airport is at Bhubaneswar, 30 kilometers away. However, Cuttack is well connected by rail at it falls on the mail line of the Eastern Railways. There are direct trains from Cuttack to Kolkata and Chennai.
Cuttack is famous for its silver filigree work and textiles, specially the cotton saris. The Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations in the city are magnificent and are probably one of the biggest in the eastern region. Another popular festival is the Balijatra.
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Last Updated on 09 November 2012
