[10] Cuttack stretches from Phulnakhara across the Kathajodi in the south to Choudwar in the north across the Birupa River, while in the east it begins at Kandarpur and runs west as far as Naraj.

The name Cuttack is an anglicised form of Kataka (Odia: କଟକ) which is derived from Sanskrit, meaning capital, fort and military establishment, or a cantonment.

Historical and archaeological evidence suggests Cuttack became the capital of a kingdom founded by Raja Anangabhimadeva III of the Ganga dynasty in 1211 CE.

The introduction of the Sharadiya Utsav tradition in the city dates back to the visit of Saint Chaitanya in the 16th century, when the consecration of the idol of Durga by using the mask pattern was conducted in his presence at Binod Behari Devi Mandap.

The winter months feature chilly northerly winds, which bring down the temperature to around 15 °C, though the bright sunshine helps maintain the pleasant weather.

[24] The Bureau of Indian Standards places the city inside seismic zone III on a scale ranging from I to V in order of increasing susceptibility to earthquakes.

[35] Dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, Dhabaleswar Temple is situated on an exotic island in the Mahanadi River and is embellished with stone carvings that date back to the early 10th and 11th centuries.

Traditional Oriya food such as Dahi-Pakhal (rice soaked in water with yoghurt and seasonings) is considered a body coolant, accompanied by Badi chura or saga, and is consumed during the months of April–June.

Due to the quantity of Muslim households in the city, traditional Islamic and Mughlai cuisines like Biriyani, Tandoor, and Sheer kurma are also popular among the denizens.

In 1974, the Government of Odisha declared film-making and construction of cinema theatres as industry in the state,[40] and two years later, in 1976, it established the Orissa Film Development Corporation in Cuttack.

State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, or BSNL, as well as private enterprises, among them Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Jio, and Idea Cellular, are the leading telephone, cell phone, and Internet service providers in the city.

Education is a major industry due to the large number of universities, colleges, schools, and coaching centres and caters to the neighbouring districts.

The Cuttack station of All India Radio started post-independence in 1948 and broadcasts programs in AM as well as FM bandwidth, catering to the whole state.

As a result, the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) was set up on 23 April 1946 at Bidhyadharpur, Cuttack, Odisha with an experimental farmland of 60 hectares provided by Government of Orissa.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishubhawan), Cuttack, Orissa is based on manifold historic backgrounds situated on the bank of river Kathjori amidst the lush greenery.

Funded by Government of Odisha, Department of Employment and Technical Education & Training, the institute offers diploma courses in 3 disciplines such as Cinematography, Sound & TV.

Cuttack Junction is one of the stations on the Howrah-Chennai main line of the East Coast Railway and falls under the Khurda Road division.

The Engineering Projects (India) Ltd would conduct a comprehensive survey of the city's capacity to host the system as well as the traffic and congestion problems and submit a proposal.

The ruins of the fort still remain on the right bank of the Mahanadi, in the western part of the city with its moat, gate and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace, which evokes the memories of past days.

Cuttack takes pride in being the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the prominent Indian freedom-fighter and founder of Azad Hind Fauj.

Biju Babu's iconic Dakota DC-3 aircraft used to rescue Indonesian prime minister Sultan Sjahrir is scheduled to be showcased near his ancestral home.

Historians say that Cuttack was the seat of the Freedom Movement in Odisha and the Swaraj Ashram played a pivotal role in paving the way for Swaraj Movement The Marhatta barracks are medieval era structures in Chauliaganj, presently used as headquarters of the 6th battalion of the Odisha State Armed police Force (OSAPF), were used as armory both during the Marhatta and British rule.

These iconic long barracks are one of the oldest surviving buildings of Odisha and are widely perceived as original remaining structures and a unique example of the synthesis of Maratha and Odishan architecture.

[citation needed] Spread across a vast patch of forest land on the outskirts of the city, the place was infested by tigers, panthers, snakes and other wildlife.

This historic building, which stood witness to countless political and social upheavals during Mughal, Maratha and British rule in Odisha, became the center of administration.

During the monsoons, when the Mahanadi was often in spate, pilgrims often had to camp for days to make the crossing; the Dharamshala was built well away from the flood plain, right between the two rivers.

The sleepy Olasuni hill wakes up to the delight of the devotees, on Magha Ekadasi every year, who throng the place in large numbers to witness the nine-day Gumpha Yatra.

Nandankanan, literally meaning The Garden of Heaven, is located in the environs of the Chandaka forest, and includes the 134-acre (54 ha) Kanjia lake.

Situated at Talapada village a few minutes drive from Naraj bridge and hardly 15 km away from Cuttack is a forest famous for herds of peacocks.

This small lake holds a prominent position in the tourist map of Odisha for its natural environment and proximity to both Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.