Definitions for orissaɔˈrɪs ə, oʊˈrɪs ə
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
O•ris•saɔˈrɪs ə, oʊˈrɪs ə(n.)
a state in E India. 31,659,736; 60,136 sq. mi. (155,752 sq. km).
Category: Geography (places)
Ref: Cap.: Bhubaneswar. 1
Princeton's WordNet
Orissa(noun)
state in eastern India on the Bay of Bengal
Wiktionary
Orissa(ProperNoun)
State in eastern India which has Bhubaneshwar as its capital.
Origin: Modified from ଓର (ଉର). The source of the name Odisa/Orissa(ଓଡିଶା) modified form of ancient words Ora (ଓର) or Ura (ଉର) or Odra Desa or Sumera or Odra bisaya The earliest epigraphical reference to Odras is found in the Soro copper plate grant of Somadatta from which it is clear that Uttara Tosali with its visaya Sarepahara identified with Soro of Baleswar district was part of Odra Bisaya.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Orissa
the name of an ancient Indian kingdom, independent till 1568, and falling into British possession in 1803, is now restricted to the most south-easterly province of Bengal. It is larger than Wales, and comprises a hilly inland tract and an alluvial plain formed by the deltas of the Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Baitarani Rivers, well irrigated, and producing great crops of rice, wheat, pulse, and cotton. It has no railways, and poor roads; transport is by canal and river. Chief towns Cuttack, Balasor, and Puri. Orkney Islands
Freebase
Odisha
Odisha, also known as Orissa, is an Indian state on the subcontinent's east coast, by the Bay of Bengal.It is surrounded by the Indian states of West Bengal to the north-east and in the east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west and Andhra Pradesh to the south. It is the modern name of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was 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 consisted predominantly of Oriya speakers. 1 April is therefore celebrated as Utkala Dibasa. Cuttack remained the capital of the state for over eight centuries until 13 April 1948 when Bhubaneswar was officially declared as the new state capital, a position it still holds. Odisha is the 9th largest state by area in India, and the 11th largest by population. Oriya is the official and most widely spoken language, spoken by three quarters of the population. Odisha has a relatively unindented coastline and lacked good ports, except for the deepwater facility at Paradip, until the recent launch of the Dhamara Port. The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi river delta supports the bulk of the population.
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