Odisha History covering important Historical Events, Rulers, Dynasties, and Cultural Significance
Ancient Odisha History
1. Kalinga is the ancient name of Odisha.
2. The Kalinga War (261 BC) was fought between Emperor Ashoka and the Kalinga kingdom.
3. The Hatigumpha Inscription of King Kharavela is found in Udayagiri caves.
4. King Kharavela belonged to the Mahameghavahana dynasty.
5. Ashoka adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga War.
6. The Mahameghavahana dynasty ruled Kalinga in the 1st century BC.
7. Chedi dynasty was another name for the Mahameghavahana dynasty.
8. Sisupalgarh was an ancient fortified city in Odisha.
9. Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves were built during Kharavela’s reign.
10. The Puspagiri University, mentioned by Chinese traveler Xuanzang, was in Odisha.
Medieval Odisha History
11. The Bhaumakara dynasty ruled Odisha from 8th-10th century AD.
12. Sivakaradeva I was the first ruler of the Bhaumakara dynasty.
13. The Somavamsi dynasty ruled Odisha in the 9th-12th century AD.
14. The capital of the Somavamsis was Jajpur.
15. The Jagannath Temple of Puri was built by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva.
16. The Ganga dynasty ruled Odisha from the 11th-15th century AD.
17. Kapilendra Deva was the founder of the Gajapati dynasty.
18. The Gajapati kings ruled Odisha from the 15th-16th century AD.
19. The Konark Sun Temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
20. The Battle of Tukaroi (1575) was fought between Mughal Emperor Akbar and Odisha’s Mukunda Deva.
Colonial Odisha History
21. Odisha came under British rule in 1803.
22. The first British Commissioner of Odisha was John Beams.
23. Paika Rebellion (1817) was the first major revolt against British rule in Odisha.
24. Bakshi Jagabandhu led the Paika Rebellion.
25. The Khond Revolt (1846-1855) was led by Chakara Bisoi.
26. Surendra Sai led the Sambalpur Uprising (1857-1864) against the British.
27. Raja of Khurda, Mukunda Deva II, revolted against the British in 1804.
28. Odisha was part of Bihar Province under British rule.
29. April 1, 1936, Odisha became a separate province.
30. John Austin Hubbak was the first Governor of Odisha.
Post-Independence Odisha
31. Harekrushna Mahatab was the first Chief Minister of Odisha.
32. Bhubaneswar replaced Cuttack as the state capital in 1948.
33. Bhubaneswar was designed by German architect Otto Königsberger.
34. Mayurbhanj was the last princely state to merge with Odisha in 1949.
35. The first Lok Sabha election in Odisha was held in 1952.
36. The Hirakud Dam was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.
37. Naveen Patnaik is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Odisha.
38. Odisha was affected by the Super Cyclone of 1999, one of India’s worst natural disasters.
39. Odisha Day (Utkal Divas) is celebrated on April 1 every year.
40. The Puri Rath Yatra is one of the oldest chariot festivals in the world.
Temples and Architecture of Odisha
41. The Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar was built by the Somavamsi dynasty.
42. The Mukteshwar Temple is famous for its Torana (arched gateway).
43. Rajarani Temple is known as the ‘Love Temple’ due to its erotic carvings.
44. Ananta Vasudeva Temple is the only temple in Bhubaneswar dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
45. The Sun Temple of Konark is also called the ‘Black Pagoda’ by European sailors.
46. The Jagannath Temple has four gates – Lion Gate, Elephant Gate, Horse Gate, and Tiger Gate.
47. The Jagannath Temple kitchen is the largest in the world, serving Mahaprasad daily.
48. The Konark Sun Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
49. The Baitala Deula temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi and follows the Khakara style of architecture.
50. The Kedar Gouri Temple is associated with the legend of Shiva and Parvati’s love story.
Freedom Fighters of Odisha
51. Veer Surendra Sai fought against the British for the throne of Sambalpur.
52. Buxi Jagabandhu led the Paika Rebellion in 1817.
53. Gopabandhu Das was known as the ‘Utkal Mani’ (Jewel of Odisha).
54. Madhusudan Das was the first Odia to become a lawyer in the British era.
55. Jayee Rajguru was hanged by the British in 1806 for leading an armed revolt.
56. Chakara Bisoi led the Khond Rebellion.
57. Fakir Mohan Senapati is regarded as the father of modern Odia literature.
58. Nilakantha Das was a key leader in the movement for Odia language recognition.
59. Harekrushna Mahatab played a crucial role in the formation of Odisha as a separate state.
60. Sarala Devi was the first Odia woman to participate in the freedom struggle.
Miscellaneous Historical Facts
61. The Odisha State Museum was established in 1932.
62. The Odisha High Court was established in 1948.
63. The Hirakud Dam is India’s longest dam.
64. The Odisha Secretariat Building was constructed in 1956.
65. Nandankanan Zoological Park was established in 1960.
66. Odisha has the highest number of tribal communities in India.
67. Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
68. Odissi dance originated in Odisha.
69. Odisha was known as ‘Utkala’ in ancient times.
70. The first Odia newspaper was ‘Utkal Deepika’, started in 1866.
Kingdoms and Dynasties of Odisha
71. Gopabandhu Das was the founder of the Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya.
72. The Bhoi Dynasty was established by Govinda Vidyadhara in the 16th century.
73. The Mughal Empire took control of Odisha in 1592 after defeating Mukunda Deva II.
74. Raja Ramachandra Deva I was the first king of the Bhoi dynasty.
75. The Marathas ruled Odisha from 1751 to 1803 before the British took over.
76. Mukunda Deva I was the last independent Hindu ruler of Odisha.
77. The Battle of Buxar (1764) led to the British taking control of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
78. Odisha was divided into three administrative divisions under the British: Cuttack, Balasore, and Puri.
79. Jajati Keshari of the Somavamsi dynasty built the Lingaraja Temple.
80. The Chakrakota Mandala was an ancient kingdom in Odisha, mentioned in Kalachuri inscriptions.
British Rule and Freedom Struggles
81. The Na Anka Famine (1866) devastated Odisha, killing over one million people.
82. The Utkal Sammilani (1903), led by Madhusudan Das, fought for Odisha’s statehood.
83. Madhusudan Das was the first Odia to become a member of the Central Legislative Assembly.
84. Odisha became a separate state on April 1, 1936 due to the efforts of Utkal Sammilani.
85. The first capital of Odisha after becoming a separate state was Cuttack.
86. Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, the king of Paralakhemundi, played a key role in Odisha’s formation.
87. The first Governor of Odisha was Sir John Austin Hubbak.
88. The Quit India Movement (1942) in Odisha saw massive participation, including women and tribal groups.
89. The 1942 Dharmapada revolt was a major peasant movement against the British in Odisha.
90. The Jhankar Movement (1930s) focused on the social upliftment of lower castes in Odisha.
Notable Personalities in Odisha’s History
91. Jayee Rajguru was the first martyr of Odisha’s freedom struggle.
92. Veer Surendra Sai continued his fight against the British even after being imprisoned for 37 years.
93. Gopabandhu Das was known as the ‘Utkal Mani’ (Jewel of Odisha).
94. Fakir Mohan Senapati is credited with reviving the Odia language.
95. Radhanath Ray is considered the father of modern Odia poetry.
96. Pandit Nilakantha Das was a major contributor to Odia literature and education.
97. Gangadhar Meher was known as the ‘Swan Poet of Odisha’.
98. Sarala Devi was a prominent female leader of Odisha’s freedom movement.
99. Biju Patnaik, an independence activist and later CM, played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle.
100. Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab, the first Chief Minister of Odisha, was known as the ‘Utkal Keshari’ (Lion of Odisha).
Temples and Monuments of Odisha
101. The Jagannath Temple of Puri was built by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
102. The Sun Temple at Konark is designed in the shape of a chariot of the Sun God.
103. The Mukteshwar Temple in Bhubaneswar is known as the ‘Gem of Odisha Architecture’.
104. The Lingaraja Temple represents a blend of Kalinga and Dravidian architecture.
105. The Rajarani Temple is famous for its sculptural beauty and erotic carvings.
106. The Jagannath Temple’s kitchen is considered the largest temple kitchen in the world.
107. The Ananta Vasudeva Temple in Bhubaneswar is one of the few temples in Odisha dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
108. The Vaital Deula Temple follows the Khakara style of architecture.
109. Biraja Temple in Jajpur is dedicated to Goddess Durga (Biraja Devi).
110. The Chausathi Yogini Temple in Hirapur is dedicated to 64 forms of Goddess Shakti.
Tribes and Culture of Odisha
111. Odisha is home to 62 tribal communities, the highest in India.
112. The Kondh tribe is known for its ancient human sacrifice rituals (Meriah).
113. The Santal tribe is the largest tribal group in Odisha.
114. The Bonda tribe lives in the Malkangiri district and is one of India’s most primitive tribes.
115. Dhap dance is performed by the Gond and Kandha tribes.
116. The Dalkhai dance is a famous folk dance of Western Odisha.
117. The Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanj is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
118. The Sambalpuri dance is performed during Nuakhai festival.
119. The Muria tribe is known for its Gotul (youth dormitory) system.
120. The Saora tribe is famous for its Saora paintings (also called Idital).
Famous Battles and Revolts in Odisha History
121. The Battle of Kalinga (261 BC) was fought between Emperor Ashoka and Kalinga’s army.
122. Kharavela’s army defeated the Satavahanas in the 1st century BC.
123. The Paika Rebellion (1817) was one of the earliest movements against British rule.
124. The Khond Revolt (1846-1855) was led by Chakara Bisoi.
125. The Sambalpur Uprising (1857-1864) was led by Veer Surendra Sai.
126. The Revolt of Khurda (1804) was led by Jayee Rajguru.
127. The Ranapur Revolt (1938) was against the king of Ranapur and British rulers.
128. The Bhuban Rebellion (1868-1869) was led by Raja Chaitanya Bhunj Deo.
129. The Banpur Rebellion (1857-1862) was led by Chakradhar Singh.
130. The Revolt of Ghumsar (1835-36) was led by Dhananjay Bhanja.
Important Places in Odisha’s History
131. Cuttack was the capital of Odisha until 1948.
132. Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Konark form the Golden Triangle of Odisha tourism.
133. Jajpur was an important center of the Somavamsi dynasty.
134. Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri are famous Buddhist sites in Odisha.
135. Barabati Fort in Cuttack was built by Raja Anangabhima Deva III.
136. The Langudi Hills are an ancient Buddhist site in Odisha.
137. Chandaka Reserve was once a hunting ground of the Kalinga kings.
138. The Hirakud Dam is the longest earthen dam in the world.
139. The Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India.
140. Pipili is famous for its Applique work.
Freedom Fighters and Leaders of Odisha
141. Madhusudan Das was called the ‘Utkal Gourav’ (Pride of Odisha).
142. Gopabandhu Das founded the Bande Utkal Union.
143. Buxi Jagabandhu was a general in the Paika army.
144. Fakir Mohan Senapati is known for reviving the Odia language.
145. Bhima Bhoi was a spiritual poet of Odisha.
146. Sarala Devi was the first Odia woman freedom fighter.
147. Naba Krishna Choudhury was Odisha’s Chief Minister who initiated land reforms.
148. Nandini Satpathy was the first female Chief Minister of Odisha.
149. Biju Patnaik played a major role in India’s and Indonesia’s freedom struggle.
150. Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati helped in the formation of Odisha.
Miscellaneous Historical Facts
151. Odisha’s official language is Odia, which received classical status in 2014.
152. Odisha has the highest number of ancient Buddhist sites in India.
153. The first Odia newspaper was ‘Utkal Deepika’, started in 1866.
154. The Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal) is associated with Lord Jagannath.
155. The Gahirmatha Beach is famous for Olive Ridley turtle nesting.
156. Odisha has the most number of waterfalls in India.
157. Dhauli Hills near Bhubaneswar mark the site of Ashoka’s Kalinga War.
158. Odisha has India’s largest tribal population.
159. Sonepur is known as the ‘Second Varanasi’ of India.
160. Talcher is one of India’s largest coal-producing regions.
161. Odisha is called the ‘Sports Capital of India’ due to its promotion of hockey.
162. The Odisha Legislative Assembly was established in 1937.
163. Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia.
164. The Baripada Durga Puja is known as the ‘Nabapatrika Puja’.
165. Dhenkanal district is famous for its Gaja Laxmi Puja.
166. Odisha has 30 districts.
167. Rourkela Steel Plant was India’s first public sector steel plant.
168. Odisha is the first state in India to implement disaster preparedness programs.
169. Odisha is famous for its Silver Filigree work from Cuttack.
170. Bhubaneswar is known as the ‘Temple City of India’.
171. Odisha has the largest coastal stretch in eastern India.
172. Chandipur Beach is famous for its ‘Vanishing Sea’ phenomenon.
173. Odisha is known for its handloom textiles like Sambalpuri and Bomkai sarees.
174. Nuakhai festival is celebrated as the harvest festival of Western Odisha.
175. Odisha is one of the leading producers of bauxite in India.
176. The Hirakud Dam was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.
177. Odisha State Museum was established in 1932 in Cuttack and later shifted to Bhubaneswar.
178. Odisha became the first state to introduce Odia as a classical language in 2014.
179. The Nabakalebara Festival of Lord Jagannath occurs once every 12 to 19 years.
180. The Odia language was officially recognized as a separate language in 1870.
181. The Chaitanya Mahaprabhu movement in the 16th century played a major role in Odisha’s religious history.
182. Buddhism flourished in Odisha during the reign of Emperor Ashoka.
183. Gopalpur Port was an important trading center during ancient times.
184. Odisha’s maritime trade with Southeast Asia was conducted through ports like Manikapatna and Palur.
185. The Kalinga Jina worship (Jainism) was popular before the spread of Brahmanical Hinduism.
186. The Sarala Mahabharata, written by Sarala Das, is considered the first regional retelling of the epic in Odisha.
187. Jaugada and Dhauli are two major rock edicts of Ashoka found in Odisha.
188. The Odia film industry (Ollywood) began in 1936 with the film ‘Sita Bibaha’.
189. The first Odia printing press was established by Christian missionaries in 1836.
190. Odisha was originally part of the Bengal Presidency under British rule.
191. The Kendrapara district is known for its unique crocodile conservation program at Bhitarkanika.
192. Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar was established in 1960.
193. The Utkal University, Odisha’s first university, was established in 1943.
194. The Sambalpur University, a premier educational institution, was established in 1967.
195. Odisha was called the ‘Land of Jagannath’ during medieval times.
196. The historic Barabati Fort in Cuttack was built in the 14th century by the Ganga dynasty.
197. Odisha’s National Law University (NLUO) was established in 2009 in Cuttack.
198. The first commercial radio station in Odisha started in 1948.
199. The Rasagola Dibasa is celebrated in Odisha to mark its claim over the origin of Rasagola (Rasgulla).
200. Odisha is the first state in India to enact a law for temple management—the Shri Jagannath Temple Act, 1954.
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