Cuttack

Cuttack ( , officially Kataka [ˈkɔʈɔkɔ]), is the second largest city and the former capital of the Indian state of Odisha. It is also the headquarters of the Cuttack district. The name of the city is derived from the Odia and Sanskrit name Kataka, which literally means the fort, a reference to the ancient Barabati Fort around which the city initially developed. The Government of Odisha approved the restoration of the native spelling to reflect authentic Odia phonetics. Cuttack is known as the Millennium City as well as the Silver City due to its history of 1000 years and famous silver filigree works respectively. The Orissa High Court and some other Odisha State Govt. offices are located there, and the city is the judicial capital of Odisha. It is the commercial capital of Odisha and hosts many trading and business houses in and around the city. The city is known in Odisha for foods, such as the Thunkapuri, Dahibara, Lassi, various kinds of Chat, among others. Amongst all districts in Orissa, the undivided Cuttack district is known for its delicacies and sweets. Cuttack is also known for its Durga Puja, one of the major festivals of Odisha. A common destination of poets and artists, Cuttack also serves as a cultural hub within Odisha. The city is categorised as a Tier II city as per the ranking system used by the Government of India. One particularly old and culturally relevant part of the city is centred on a strip of land between the Kathajodi River and the Mahanadi River, bounded on the south-east by Old Jagannath Road.