About Odisha

Odisha, formerly known as Orissa, is a state on India’s south-east coast, by the Bay of Bengal.  It is the modern name of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, invaded by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April 1936, as a province in British India and consists predominantly of Oriya speakers.  The capital is Bhubaneswar.

Odisha is the 9th largest state by area in India, and the 11th largest by population. Odisha has a relatively long, unindented coastline (approximately 480km), but until recently lacked adequate ports.  The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi river delta, supports the bulk of the population, which still relies on agriculture as its primary means of livelihood. 

According to the 2011 census of India, the total population of Odisha is 41 million, 90% of whom are practicing Hindus. The literacy rate is 73% (82% of males and 64% of females) and the proportion of people living below the poverty line in 1999–2000 was 47.15%, nearly double the all-India average of 26.10%.

Adapted from Wikipedia