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East India - Nagaland
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Fast Facts |
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Area: 16,579 sq km
Population: 1.4 million
Capital:Kohima
Climate
Summer
(Mar to June) - Pleasant
Monsoon
(July to September) - Warm and Humid
Winter
(October to February)-
Chilly to Cold
Clothing
Summer - Tropical
Winter - woollens.
Languages spoken
Nagamese, Angami, Ao, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Sangtam, Hindi, English
Best Time to visit
October to May. |
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Orissa, on the eastern coast of India, was once a settlement of non-Aryan
and Aryan settlers, called Kalinga. Orissa has a chequered history
which has successfully assimilated and synthesised the best of Buddhist,
Jain and Hindu cultures. It was a formidable maritime empire with
trading routes stretching up to Bali, Sumatra, Indonesia and Java.
It's international trade and immense wealth was coveted by many rulers.
It was here that the famous Battle of Kalinga was fought in 261 BC.
This was the battle that made the great Mauryan Kshatriya (warrior
caste) king Ashoka forsake war to become a Buddhist. He went on to
spread the Buddhist message of ahimsa and peace to Ceylon (modern
day Sri Lanka) and the Far East.
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Kharavela, who ruled around 1st century BC, was a staunch follower
of Jainism, and it is to this period that Orissa owes its Jain art
and architectural tradition.
During the 7th to 13th century AD, Orissa flourished. Trade and commerce
increased and along with them evolved art and architecture. The style
of Hindu temple construction, so unique to Orissa also developed around
this time under the rule of the Kesari and Ganga Kings. Orissa is
probably the only state where one can study temple architecture in
all its successive stages of development. The region became a part
of the Mughal Kingdom in the 16th century. Later the Marathas occupied
Orissa and continued to do so till the British took over in 1803. |
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Orissa is predominantly rural, with fertile green coastal plains rising
to the hills of the Eastern Ghats. The state's agricultural economy
is often destabilized by natural disasters, including floods, droughts
and cyclones. However, flooding in the Mahanadi Delta, which used
to occur regularly, has been substantially reduced by the building
of the Hirakud Dam. The state is mineral rich and is a big exporter
of iron ore.
The Oriyas, 25% of whom are indigenous peoples (adivasis), are very
friendly and hospitable. |
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Cities: |
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Bhubaneswar
Orissa's capital city's history goes back over 2000 years. At one
time, the Bindu Sagar tank had over 7000 temples around it. Of these,
500 still survive, all built in the extravagant Orissan style. The
Lingaraj, Rajarani, Mukteswar, Brahmeswar and Parasurameswar temples
are some of the best specimens of the Orissa Temple Architecture.
Puri
Puri is one of the most important pilgrimage centres for Hindus. The
renowned Jagannath temple, built in the 15th century AD and crowned
with Vishnu's wheel and flag, dominates the landscape. Non Hindus
are not allowed to enter the temple. Puri also has a beautiful beach.
Every year, during the month of Ashadha (June-July), Puri is home
to the Jagannath Rath Yatra (chariot journey of Jagannatha), a festival
that celebrates the annual visit of Jagannath or Lord Krishna to his
birthplace. |
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