Bhubaneswar: The Capital City of Odisha, Bhubaneswar is celebrating its 75th foundation day, today.

Here are some interesting and lesser-known facts about the city to read on this occasion.

  • India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of Bhubaneswar on April 13, 1948.
  • German architect Otto Koenigsberger had designed Bhubaneswar’s masterplan in 1948 for a population of 40,000.
  • Bhubaneswar is among the first four planned cities of India.
  • The city has a history of over 3,000 years beginning from the Mahamegha-bahana Chedi dynasty (around 2nd century BC) with Sisupalgarh as its capital
  • Bhubaneswar derived its name from Tribhubaneswar, which means the Lord (Eeswar) of the Three Worlds (Tribhuvan), referring to Shiva.
  • Bhubaneswar is also known as Toshali, Kalinga Nagari, Nagar Kalinga, Ekamra Kanan, Ekamra Kshetra and Mandira Malini Nagari.
  • Planned initially for 40,000 population, Bhubaneswar city is now being inhabited by over 14 lakh people.
  • Bhubaneswar replaced Cuttack as the capital of the State in 1948, a year after India secured independence from Britishers.