The Saga of Cuttack, Odisha’s Silver City

Time stops in Cuttack. Katakis are a confident lot, with thousands of years of history behind them. Thousands of Katakis witnessed the Century’s worst floods in their unique style, eating Dahibara and Aloo Dum on the embankments of Kathajodi and Mahanadi. Bhaichara, Parampara, and Aitiho: these three words dominate every public discourse in Cuttack. Roughly translated, these words mean brotherhood, tradition, and history. We have seen all, is the predominant sentiment of Katakis. And truly so, as Katakis have seen the glory of the Kalinga Empire, the might of Mauryan Ashoka, the Marathas and the Mughals, the British, and the fight for independence. Pride of a thousand years’ existence has an equalizing effect.

1803 is the foundation year of the Cuttack district under the Bengal Presidency of British India. It was the capital of Odisha with the Cuttack Commissioner as the head of the British Government. It is one of the three districts that formed Odisha, viz., Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore. Always known for its complexity, Cuttack was divided into four districts on 1st April 1993. The rest, while subdivisions of Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara are now separate districts.

Land of antiquities, monuments, and art and crafts, the district Cuttack has a modern port at Paradeep. The growing industrial centers at Choudwar, Vyasnagar, and Dhanamandal, and handicraft centers at Maniabadi, Ghantimunda, and Lalitgiri have made Cuttack district, and all the more paddy fields with patches of hamlets thickly shaded with trees, have their serene appeal to the eye of the visitors.

Cuttack is a city of a thousand years old, flanked by the rivers Mahanadi and Kathajodi. The District of Cuttack is named after the Principal town as well as the headquarters of the district of the same name. The word Cuttack is an anglicized form of the Sanskrit word ‘KATAKA’ that assumes two different meanings, namely “military camp” and, secondly, the fort of the capital, the seat of the Government, protected by the army.

The city, however, attained glory early in the 12th century as the Capital of the imperial Gangas whose empire stretched from the river Ganges in the north to the river Godavari in the south. This Capital town continued to prosper during the rule of the successive dynasties, except for a brief period of unrest when, in the mid-14th century, Firoz Shah Tughluq invaded Odisha and let loose an orgy of vandalism, loot, and destruction. After the death of Mukunda Deva, the last Hindu king of Odisha, the suzerainty of Cuttack passed into the hands of Muslims and Mughals.

This is one of Odisha’s oldest cities and was the State capital till 1950, before being shifted to Bhubaneswar. The present capital is only 35 km south. Cuttack is popularly known for its traditional values and rich cultural heritage. It is also famous for silk and cotton textiles, horn, and brassware. The exquisite, delicate silver filigree work and casting of metal sculptures of Cuttack are world famous. The sights to see here include the ruins of a 14th-century Barabati Fort. Kadam Rasool, located in the centre of the city, is a sacred 18th-century shrine that is revered by both Hindus and Muslims. It contains the footprint of the Prophet Mohammed. There is an 11th-century stone Revetment on the Kathajodi River, which protects the city from seasonal floods. It’s a remarkable example of the ancient technological skill of Odisha.

Cuttack is the centre of the Odisha canal system, which is used for transport and irrigation. Nearby are the deltas of the Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers. Inland, the region is hilly, and a third river, the Baitarani, also traverses the area. Entrance to the rivers is impeded by silting and sandbars. The principal agricultural produce of the district is rice. The chief industrial products of the city are silver filigree work and leather. Many educational institutions are here, including a medical school, a school of engineering, and Ravenshaw College.

How to reach there?

• Airways: The nearest airport to Cuttack is Bhubaneswar, which is around 29 km away. Flights to other important cities in India can be taken from here.
• Railways: Cuttack is an important station on the Kolkata-Chennai main railway line and is connected to Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai through regular trains.
• Roadways: NH-5 passes through Cuttack and makes it the most accessible city of Odisha. The city is connected by road with Bhubaneswar, Puri, and other important cities of the State.

Where to stay?

There are several big and small hotels available at Cuttack as well as Bhubaneswar, which is just 25 km away from Cuttack. Cuttack is an important city of Odisha, so the accommodation facilities are also available here according to the budget of the individual traveler.