Cuttack
Cuttack (କଟକ Kaṭaka) is a large city in Northwest Odisha. It is the second largest city of the state after Bhubaneswar. It is also referred to as the Millenium City of Odisha and the Silver City because of its history of 1000 years and because it is world famous for its silver filigree work. It is also referred to as the business capital of the state. It was the previous capital of Odisha until the state government shifted base to Bhubaneshwar in 1948. Now, it is a modern city but with lots of old traditions attached to it; Cuttack has a perfect combination of traditional and modern lifestyle.
Understand
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Cuttack (କଟକ Kaṭaka kaw-ttaw-kaw) was established more than 1000 years ago as a military establishment. You can still see the remnants in the old city. There is a fort which is still being excavated by the ASI. Cuttack is said to have survived a dangerous past due to the presence of Maa Cuttack Chandi and Maa Gada Chandi who guard the cities from the evil eyes and the mighty Mahanadi. Its perhaps only the second lowest city in the world after Amsterdam which is below sea level. Cuttack is protected from the mighty Mahandi and Kathjodi by the Baimundi Mark which acts as an embankment to the city.
Cuttack is famous for its world famous silver filigree work. If you visit don't miss the mouth watering plate of "Dahi-Vada, Aludam ghuguni, seu". You will also get best of Mutton, Cham and Chicken Chops at Professor Para. If you happen want to have a lonely evening and fresh air .. Just hop in to Bidanasi River Embankment or have a drive/ride on the Baimundi Marg... you won't be disappointed.
Cuttack is known as a place of Bawan Bazar Tepan Gali(Meaning:'52 Markets, 53 Lanes'). This place might give you the impression of an old place with very small and dirty lanes, but that's how you define a lotus.
Climate
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Cuttack experiences a tropical wet and dry climate. The summer season is from March to June when the climate is hot and humid. The temperature around this season is 35–40 °C (95–104 °F). Thunderstorms are common at the height of the summer. The monsoon months are from July to October when the city receives most of its rainfall from the Southwest Monsoon.
Get in
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By plane
[edit]The nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar (BBI IATA, around 30 km (19 mi)). It has domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other destinations; and an international flight to Kuala Lumpur.
By train
[edit]1 Cuttack Junction ECoR 
is on the Kolkata–Chennai railway line, taking roughly five and a half hours from Kolkata, and roughly twenty hours from Chennai. For full timings, etc., check the official website of the Indian Railways.
Some important express trains that stop at Cuttack:
Get around
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Hired cars, auto rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are readily available for moving around. City/Town Buses cover part of the city. Bus Route: College square - OMP - Link Road - Badambari Bus Stop - Ring Road - High Court - Deulasahi - Bidanasi - CDA.
See
[edit]- 1 Barabati Fort. 13th-century fort built by the rulers of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Ruins of the fort remain with its moat, gate, and the earthen mound of the once nine-storied palace.
- 2 Cuttack Chandi Temple (Kataka Chandi Temple). An ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi, the presiding deity of Cuttack. It is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals.
- 3 Netaji Birth Place Museum. The birthplace of Indian independence activist Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, converted into a museum.
Do
[edit]Take a stroll on the banks of River Kathajodi and enjoy the sunset. This is a magnificent site. If you are visiting Cuttack sometime in mid-October or November don't forget to enjoy the Dusshera and Balijatra (the biggest trade fair held in the eastern region).
Events
[edit]If you arrive in autumn (September to November) you can see this city showing its cultural tradition, at the time of most of the festivals. Easily the second largest celebration of Durga Puja with a huge following, Cuttack hosts about 1000-1500 Puja pandals every year. Each of them is quite unique and distinct in shape and size. It is quite crowded during this time and chances are that you may not be allowed to travel in your vehicle through most of the parts of the city; if you have time and you are fit enough, just settle for walking throughout the city.
Buy
[edit]- Filigree work in silver and ivory.
- Textiles - the famous Cuttacki or Katki saris.
- Filigree Work - Ashok Jewellers Nayasadak Cuttack. 091-0671-2619203, 091 9861370725
Eat
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Mouthwatering, Roadside 'Dahibara(Dahiwada), Aaludum, ghuguni and seu'. (Its little spicy) Pav Bhaji near Gauri Shankar park. Hot tea and coffee near cantonment road.
Bidanasi--raghu dahibara
Manglabag---Pratap dahibara
Drink
[edit]These are readily available.
Sleep
[edit]- Aurobinda Lodge, College Square, ☏ +91 671 2648352. Tariff ₹ 30 – 70.
- Bikram Lodge, Thoria Sahi, ☏ +91 671 2621118. Tariff ₹ 57 – 81.
- Bombay Hotel, Ice Factory Road, to 18, ☏ +91 671 2649009. Tariff ₹ 90-850.
- Cuttack Hotel, College Square, ☏ +91 671 2610766. Tariff ₹ 70 – 200.
- Devlok Lodge, Madhupatna, ☏ +91 671 2344524. Tariff ₹ 50 – 130.
- Hotel Ambika, Pilgrim Road, College Square, ☏ +91 671 2610137. Also try the phone numbers; +91 671 2624117 and +91 671 2614434. ₹ 225 – 650.
- Hotel Anand, Ranihat, Canal Road, ☏ +91 671 23093296. Tariff ₹100-140.
- Hotel Adarsh, Choudhury Bazar, ☏ +91 671 2619898. Tariff ₹ 60 – 100.
- Hotel Akabari Continental, Dolamundai, ☏ +91 671 2423269, fax: +91 671 2423254, hotelakbari@yahoo.co.in. Also try the phone numbers; +91 671 2423251 and +91 671 2423254. ₹825 – 2,000.
- Hotel Ashoka, Ice Factory Road, College Square, ☏ +91 671 2647509, fax: +91 671 2647403, ashoka@dte.net.in. Also try +91 671 2647412 as a phone number. ₹ 225 – 1,100.
- Hotel Basanti, Mahatab Road, ☏ +91 671 2310613. Also try +91 671 2329461. ₹ 150 – 400.
- Hotel Bishal, Badambadi, ☏ +91 671 2310993. Also try +91 671 2310752 as a phone number. ₹ 300 – 400.
- The Blue Lagoon Premium Hotel, Puri Ghat, Ring Rd (Near Sunshinefield Square, Ring Rd), ☏ +91 671 2631884, +91 671 2632107, info@bluelagoonpremium.com. ₹ 900 – 1,200.
- Hotel Bombay Inn, Ice Factory Road, to 18, ☏ +91 671 2649009, fax: +91 671 2648888, bombayin@sancharnet.in. Tariff ₹ 400 – 1,200.
- Hotel Dwarika , Bajrakabati Road, Telephone +91 671 2421345/ 2422220, Fax +91 671 2424332, Tariff ₹650 – 1,500.
- Hotel Gayatri, Choudhury Bazar, Telephone +91 671 2616440/ 2620589, Tariff ₹ 60 – 450.
- Hotel Jashmine, Sikharpur, Telephone +91 671 2441762/ 2441633, Tariff ₹ 120–400.
- Hotel Lords, Haripur Road, ☏ +91 671 2422050. Tariff ₹ 120 – 600.
- Hotel Mahendra, Dolamundai, ☏ +91 671 2432146. Tariff ₹ 80 – 200.
- Hotel Maitry, Choudhury Bazar, Telephone +91 671 2619667/ 2629180, Tariff ₹ 275 – 700.
- Hotel Manorama Plaza, Mahatab Road, ☏ +91 671 2331681, fax: +91 671 2329139. Tariff ₹ 450 – 950.
- Hotel Mayur, Gandarpur, Telephone +91 671 2441406/ 2440128, Tariff ₹ 80-200
- Hotel Monalisa, Badambadi, ☏ +91 671 2621109. Tariff ₹ 150 – 600.
- Hotel Nilam, Dolamundai, ☏ +91 671 2433553. Tariff ₹ 40 – 200.
- Hotel Neeladri, Mangalabag, Telephone +91 671 2614221/ 2614331, Tariff ₹250 – 700. There is a very good restaurant attached to this lodge where you can find all types of foods: south Indian, north Indian etc. Very near the station, you can just take a rickshaw for just ₹30 and tell him to go to Neeladri Manglabagh.
- Hotel Puspanjali, Malgodown, Telephone +91 671 2611195/ 2629456, Tariff ₹ 70 – 100.
- Hotel Roxy, Badambadi, ☏ +91 671 2310722. Tariff ₹ 110 - 240.
- Hotel Sagar, Dolamundai, Telephone +91 671 2421148/ 2422838, Tariff ₹ 50 – 200.
- Hotel Sagarshree, Haripur, Dolamundai, Telephone +91 671 2430251/ 2433132/ 2429037, Tariff ₹ 450–1050.
- Hotel Shri Jagannath, Mahatab Road, Telephone +91 671 2310804/ 2327805/ 2327806, Tariff ₹ 120 – 750.
- Hotel Silver City, Badambadi, ☏ +91 671 2335320, +91 671 2335317, hotelsilvercity@yahoo.com. Tariff ₹ 230 – 600.
- Hotel Suryakiran, Cantonment Road, Telephone +91 671 234078/ 2307162, Fax +91 671 2301818, Tariff ₹ 430 – 1,200.
- Hotel Vaishali, Dolamundai, Telephone +91 671 2428308/ 2432707, Tariff ₹ 200 – 600.
- Hotel Veena, Choudhury Bazar, ☏ +91 671 2619326. Tariff ₹ 90 – 160.
- Hotel Vijoy, College Square, Telephone +91 671 2647557/ 2648560, Fax +91 671 2629666, Tariff ₹ 150 – 500.
- Indrapuri Lodge, Machhua Bazar, ☏ +91 671 2620890. Tariff ₹ 35-105.
- Kalinga Guest House, Near Municipality Office, Cuttack, ☏ +91 671 2616788. Tariff ₹ 50 – 200.
- Kathajodi Lodge, Government Press Chhak, ☏ +91 671 2343168. Tariff ₹ 60–120.
- Konark Lodge, Choudhury Bazar, ☏ +91 671 2617680. Tariff ₹ 25 – 80.
- Mohan Lodge, Thoria Sahi, Telephone +91 9437485558, Tariff ₹ 100–300.
- Panthanivas, OTDC, Buxi Bazar, Telephone +91 671 2306867/ 2306916, Tariff ₹ 350 – 1,000.
- Roxy Resorts, Badambadi, Telephone +91 671 2310110/ 2315763, Tariff ₹ 30 – 450.
- Shreeram Guest House, Nandi Sahi, Chowdhury Bazar, Telephone +91 671 2618213, 2618217, Tariff ₹ 250 – 400.