Cuttack

Cuttack is a district in the State of Orissa in India. The district is located between Longitude 84° 58' to 86° 20' East and Latitude 20° 03' to 20° 40' North. It has an area of 3932
sq km. Population of the district is 2341094 as per census 2001.

The district has 3 Subdivision, 11 Tahasils, 14 CD Blocks, 342 Grampanchayats, and 1950 Villages (Inhabited - 1856 and Uninhabited - 94).

History

The word “Katak” etymologically means army cantonment and also the capital city.

The city of Cuttack started as a military cantonment and developed into the capital of the state of Orissa.

Inscriptions of Anangabhimadeva III refers the orginal city as Abhinab-Baranasi-Katak. Cuttack is situated between the rivers Mahanadi and Kathajodi and was therefore named as Abhinab Baranasi (Newtype of Baranasi).

Cuttack developed into a city out of five villages viz.Choudwar Katak, Saranasi Katak, Sarangagarh Katak, Viraja Katak and Amaravati Katak.

In the remote past Cuttack was connected both by land routes and waterways with the renowned medieval ports like Chelitalo, Palur and Tarmalipti. The city was not significant before the eight century AD, but it was a flourishing mart of Eastern trade. However, Cuttack became a capital city as the end of the 10th centuary AD during the reign of Somavanansi dynasty of Orissa.

The importance of Cuttack rapidly increased after the occupation of Orissa by Chohagangadeva early in the 12th century. Chodaganga transferred his capital from Kalinganagar to Katak which was more centrally located. The famous Barabati Fort was constructed in 1229 by the famous Ganga ruler Anangabhimadeva III.

After the Ganges, Orissa passed into the hands of the Gajapati under whom Cuttack continued to be the capital of the state. The reference from Ain-i-Akbari clearly denotes that Cuttack was a flourishing capital city during the time of Mukunda Deva. On the eve of Afghan occupation, Cuttack was found a well guarded and heavily fortified capital.

The Afghans were soon ousted by the Imperial Mughals. Cuttack continued to be the capital of Mughal Orissa and Abul Fazl clearly mentions that Mughal Governor was residing in that city.

During the rule of Marathas, Cuttack greatly prospered as an emporium of trade and commerce and became a central market of exchange between the Marathas of Nagpur and the English merchants of Bengal and Northen Circar.

As per the treaty of deogaon, Cuttack came under British occupation in 1803.

During Freedom Struggle, Swaraj Ashram of Sahebazada Bazar was the center of all nationalist activities.

Cuttack has been enjoying all along the unique privilege of being the administrative and commercial nerve center of Orissa .It was the seat of the commissioner of Orissa Division till 1936 and with the formation of the province of Orissa in that year it was exalted to be the head quarter of the new province.

The state government finally selected Bhubaneswar situated at a diatance of eighteen miles from Cuttack as its new capital in accordance with the plan of grater Cuttack.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation order of 2008

87 Baramba Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. NARASINGHPUR BLOCK 2. BARAMBA BLOCK.

88 Banki Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. BANKI BLOCK 2. BANKI-DAMPADA BLOCK 3. BANKI (NAC) 4. Narajmarthapur, Ramdaspur, Madhupur, Belagachhia, Dadhapatana, Kunheipada, Mundali and Sribantapur GPs of BARANG BLOCK .

89 Athagarh Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. ATHAGARH BLOCK 2. TIGIRIA BLOCK 3. Kakhadi, Sankarpur, Badasamantarapur, Mangarajpur and Brahmapur GPs of TANGI-CHOUDWAR BLOCK 4. ATHAGARH (NAC)

90 Barabati Cuttack Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. Ward No. 1 to 24 and 26 of CUTTACK MC.

91 Choudwar Cuttack Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. Ward No. 25, 27 to 42 and 44 to 45 of CUTTTACK MC 2. Charbatia (C.T), 3. CHOUDWAR (O.G), 4. CHOUDWAR (M), 5.Nakhara, Kayalpada, Indranipatna and Agrahat GPs of TANGICHOUDWAR BLOCK.

92 Niali Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 1. Nagari, Usuma, Khalarda, Korkora, Sainso, Kurangpradhan, Kurangsasan and Harianta GPs of BARANG BLOCK 2. KANTAPADA BLOCK, 3. NIALI BLOCK.

93 Cuttack Sadar Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 1. CUTTACK SADAR BLOCK 2. Santapur, Isaniberhampur, Manpur, Janardanpur, Sirlo, Babujanga, Uttarkul, Manijanga, Palada, Mahammadpur, Nemalo, Tilakana, Kalamishri and Bandhupur GPs of NISCHINTAKOILI BLOCK, 3.Ward No.43 and 46 to 48 of CUTTACK (MC).

94 Salipur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. SALIPUR BLOCK, 2. Govindpur, Jaripada, Harianta, Napanga, Bhatimunda, Kanheipur, Uchapada, Kotsahi, Garudagaon, Safa and Salagaon GPs of TANGI-CHOUDWAR BLOCK.

95 Mahanga Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1. MAHANGA BLOCK 2. Fagola, Ramakrushnpur, Jignipur, Nischintakoili, Narendrapur, Nagaspur, Daudpur, Sukarpada, Asureswar, Taratasasan, Jamara, Orti, Kentalo, Baliapada, Kerilo, Buhalo, Kendupatana, Jhadeswarpur, Bandhakatia, Natakai, Kolanpur, Katikata, Katarpara, Jairampur, Barado and Sarapada GPs of NISCHINTAKOILI BLOCK.

Places of interest
AMAGEIKUDA, ANSUPA, BANKI, BHATTARIKA, CHHAPACHIKINA, CHOUDWAR, CUTTACK TOWN, DAMDAMANI, DEOJHAR, DHABALESWAR, KAKUDIAPADA, KUKUDANGA, LALITGIRI, NARAJ, NEMAL, NIALI MADHAB, PARAMAHANSA, PRAGALA PITH, SATAKOSIA, SIMHANATH, SAPANPUR