The ancient city of Cuttack is best known as the former capital of the Indian state Orissa, with a history dating back to almost 1000 years – giving it the nickname of ‘Millenium City’. The name of Cuttack is derived from the word Kataka, which can be translated to ‘military camp’ that was founded in this region by the Keshari Dynasty in AD 989. The ancient city has grown to become a busy commercial center of Orissa with numerous trading houses in and around, and is a hub of thriving tourism with numerous local attractions on offer.

A wonderful culmination of different faiths can be witnessed in this diverse city, which is portrayed in its numerous religious monuments that are frequented as places of worship by various communities. Do not miss out on tourism in Cuttack, here's a travel guide to help you plan a vacation. 

By Air:

The Biju Patnaik International Airport is the nearest airport from Cuttack, which is located in the capital city of Bhubaneswar and is around 24 km away. A number of international and domestic flights operate on a daily basis to and from this airport, which is easily accessible from Cuttack through buses and cabs available outside the airport.

By Rail: 

Those planning a train journey can reach Cuttack Railway Station from a number of cities within Orissa and outside. The Cuttack Station lies on the main line between Kolkata and Chennai and is a busy junction with a number of trains passing through the city.  

By Road:

A wide network of roads and National Highways connect Cuttack to all major cities nearby. There are regular bus and taxi services available from a number of regions that can be used to reach Cuttack conveniently.

Winters (October – February): 

Winters are the most ideal season to visit Cuttack. The daytime temperatures fall under an average range of 15ᴼC - 20ᴼC, with colder nights that can often go below 10ᴼC. The winter months experience the most pleasant days of the year that are perfect to go sightseeing and exploring the city.

Summer (March - May):

The intense heat waves experienced during the summer months makes this season an unsuitable time to visit Cuttack. The minimum and maximum temperatures during these months average around 35ᴼC and 40ᴼC respectively.

Monsoon (June - September): 

The monsoons in Cuttack receive most of its rainfall from the South West monsoon, and it tends to remain in the mid range level. The average temperature is around 30ᴼC, with the rains bringing down the extreme summer heat level substantially. Cleansed after the rains, the city appears vibrant and fresh.

Visit Barabati Fort:

The Barabati Fort is the most impressive structure in Cuttack, which was initially constructed to protect the city from floods and was later turned into a nine storey fort. It features ornate architectural design that is testament to the skills of the Ganga Dynasty. 

Visit the Parks: 

Cuttack boasts some beautiful parks that are perfect for outings with family and friends; the Deer Park is known for the endearing groups of deer that roam around free within the enclosures as visitors enjoy their day among them. A number of recreational parks like the Biju Patnaik Park, Kathjudi Park and Jobra Park are fun places for a daytime trip. 

Explore the Religious Monuments: 

Numerous religious monuments belonging to a variety of faiths make up one of the key highlights of Cuttack. While the Chandi Temple and Dhabaleshwar Temple are iconic Hindu temples, other monuments like the Qadam – I – Rasool, Jama Masjid and Bukhari Baba Dargah are frequently visited Muslim houses of worship. There are also many Jain Temples and churches worth checking out.

Celebrate Festivals with the Locals:

Because of its proximity to West Bengal and the presence of a large Bengali population residing in Cuttack, Durga Pooja is the most elaborately celebrated festival in the city. Dussehra, Kali Pooja and Bali Yatra are also grand events that are celebrated at different times of the year that are definitely worth being a part of.  

The most notable handcrafted items that are worth buying in Cuttack are goods made from the art of silver filigree work, also known as ‘Tarakashi’ locally. It features extensively in the form of ornaments like necklaces and earrings, showpieces, utensils and Pooja items, and even hand woven textiles. Additionally, when it comes to traditional fabrics, the beautiful tie-and-dye Maniabandh textiles, along with Sambalpur saris are definitely worth a purchase in Cuttack.

Wooden carvings and lacquer work is also a prominent art visible in the Cuttack markets, best taken back as gifts or souvenirs.