Odisha, State in eastern India.
Odisha is a state on the eastern coast, stretching along almost 500 kilometers (300 miles) of the Bay of Bengal shoreline. Mountain ranges in the west transition into plateaus that slope toward river valleys and coastal plains, covered by forest and farmland.
The region was the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, conquered by Emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE. After this battle, Ashoka turned to Buddhism, and his edicts were carved into stone, some of which still stand in present-day Odisha.
Dance performances in the Odissi style take place at cultural centers, accompanied by traditional music and elaborate costumes. Weavers work on handloom Ikat textiles whose patterns are tied into the threads before dyeing, while artisans paint Pattachitra scrolls on palm leaves near temple complexes.
Bhubaneswar, the capital, has an international airport and several railway stations that connect to major cities across the country. The road network links coastal towns with the highland areas, and buses and trains reach most larger towns.
The kitchen of the Jagannath Temple in Puri prepares daily meals for up to 50,000 people, using only clay pots and wood-fired stoves. The pots are stacked in 7 tiers, and the food in the top pots always cooks first, something that cooks consider a miracle.
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