Orissa - The Ancient Kalinga

Information of Orissa Land


Orissa - a coastal state is located on the eastern coast of India extended to an area of 155,707SqKm. The region is restricted by Madhya Pradesh in the west, Andhra Pradesh in the south ,West Bengal in north-east, Bay of Bengal in the east and Bihar in the north. Orissa was carved out of its parental state- Bihar and got the status of and independent state in 1936. Bhubaneswar- the capital city of Orrisa is one of the most planned modern town and also a pilgrimage center of Hindus.

The entire region faces the tropical climate as a result of which high temperature is recorded particularly during April-May. Also being a coastal region, the sea has a moderate influence over the climate of the coastal belt whereas the mountain regions experience an extreme cold climate. The rich mineral belts lie in the western and north-western parts of the state.


¤ Geographical Features

Orissa can be divided into three broad regions 1) The Coastal plains, (2) The Mountain Region (3) The Plateaus


¤ Coastal Plains

In the eastern cost of India the coastal plains of Orissa extends from the Mayurbhanj in the north-east to the Malkangiri in the south-west. The terrain of the region is narrow in the north, widest in the middle, almost tapering in the south. This fertile region is known as the 'rice bowl' of Orissa. The plains are fed by the pristine water of its numerous rivers -- the Subarnarekha, the Baitarani, the Brahmani, the Mahanadi.


¤ The Salt Tract

The salt tract is a narrow belt which stretches the shore line for about 4 to 9km in land. The places is completely absorbed with salt resulted into barren land. The innumerable slow and inactive waterways makes it difficult to traverse. Amidst Mahanadi delta, this salt area is throng with forest known as the Little Sunderbans.


¤ The Mahanadi Delta

The Mahanadi delta has formed raised platform as a result of which sand dunes developed along the coast. These raised sand ridges brought changes in the drainage systems. The formation of the sand dunes can be seen between the Chilika and the Devi up to the north of Dhamra.


¤ The Coastal Line

Orissa has a coastal line of 529 Km from the marshes of Ichhapuram in the south to the east of Subarnarekha in the north-east. The Orissa coast has enlarged in the center of the region where the Mahanadi, the Brahmani and the Baitarani have formed a combined delta.


¤ The Lakes, Lagoons and Marshes

The most important feature of Orissa lakes are they are sub-divided into natural and artificial lakes. There are also lakes that have salt content in them. The most important reservoirs are at Balimela, on the river Sileru, Mandira over the Sankh, and Indravati in the river Indravati.

Chilika Lake forms the natural reservoir and is one of the largest lake in India also a home to numerous aerial population. Government of Orissa has declared the lake as a bird sanctuary that makes it one of the most important tourist destinations with its exquisite picturesque splendor. The Sar lake, the Samagarapata and the Tampara are important lagoons in the region.


¤ Mountain Region

Orissa has a hilly terrain, almost three-fourth of entire state is covered with mountains. The elevated plateaus are located in the mountain ranges with an average height of 300-600m they are also festooned with deep river valleys.
The uplands are much lower in heights and varies between 150 and 300m. These lands are fertile lands and have much scope for cultivation of paddy in wet areas. The Baragarh uplands of the Jira and the Jhaun basins are the most renowned one.


¤ The Rriver Valleys

The major rivers of Orissa have formed valleys due to fluvial action. These valleys are mostly narrow and deep in the upper reaches, wide in the middle and broaden in the lower reaches - a gate-way to the plains of Orissa. The Valley of the Mahanadi , The Valley of Brahmani, The Valley of the Vamsadhara are some of the most famous river valley formations. Six important rivers water the state -- the Subarnarekha, the Budhabalanga, the Baitarani, the Brahmani, the Mahanadi and the Rusikulya, covering an area of 155,707sq.km.