Cuttack is the second-largest and the former capital city in Odisha. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district. The name of the city is an angry form of Katka which literally means this fort, referring to the ancient Barabati Fort around which the city was developed. Due to its 1000 year history and famous Silver Filigree work, Cuttack is known as the Millennium City as well as the Silver City. It is considered to be the judicial capital of Odisha as the Orissa High Court is located here. It hosts many trades and business houses in and around the city as it is the commercial capital of Odisha. Durga puja is the most important festival in Odisha and Cuttack is famous for it. Cuttack is also the birthplace of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Nandankanan Zoological Park
Nandankanan Zoological Park is a zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar and spread in 437-hectare. It was Founded in 1960 and opened to the public in 1979. in 2009 became the first Indian zoo to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). It also has a botanical garden and a part of it has been declared a sanctuary. Nandankanan, which literally means Garden of Heaven, and is located in the environment of Chandak Forest, near the capital city, Bhubaneswar, and it includes 134 acres of Kanjia Lake. every year more than 3.3 million visitors visit Nandankanan.
Barabati Fort
Barabati Fort was built by the Ganga Dynasty in Cuttack which is dating back to the 13th-century. The ruins of the fort remain with its cliffs, gates, and earthen mounds of the nine-story palace, evoking memories of bygone days. Today it is the venue of various sports and cultural events, next to the modern Barabati Stadium. Not far from the fort, there is a temple dedicated to the city’s chief deity Cuttack Chandi. To develop Old Gadakhai as a world-class tourist destination with boating facilities and world-class parks, There are now plans for it.
Cuttack Chandi Temple
It is an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Chandi, the chief deity of Cuttack. This temple is located on the banks of the river Mahanadi. It is famous for its annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. Durga Puja is the main festival at the Maa Cuttack Chandi temple which lasts for 16 days from the dark fortnight of Ashwina Krishna Ashtami to Ashwina Shukla Navami and Vijayadashami. The goddess, popularly known as Maa Cuttack Chandi, sits and rules in the center of the ancient city. Her four hands Paasha (Noose), Ankusha (Goad), remove fear (Abhay) with gestures and gives blessings. She is worshiped daily as Bhubaneswari Mahavidya (Queen of the Universe) by the Sevayats of Utkala Brahmins.
