Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Odisha and is located at an altitude of 148 feet above the sea level. The native language across the state is Odiya. Bhubaneswar is located in the Khordha district of Odisha on the eastern coastal plains of India and towards the southwest of the Mahanadi River. The population of the city is about 8, 00,000. According to the 2011 census, the total population of the district is 2.2 million with 13 percent of the population in the working age group. Out of the total working population, 23 percent are employed in the agricultural sector and 6 percent in the household industry. The bulk 70 percent are engaged in trade and commerce, manufacturing or handicrafts. The traditional crafts of applique work, weaving, stone and wood carvings, still contribute significantly to the economy of the state. In the past decade there has been growth in the telecommunication and information technology sectors with increased urbanization. This city of temples was earlier called Ekamra Kshetra after the Lingaraja Deity under a mango tree (Ekarama). The Lingaraj temple which houses the deity is one of the oldest and largest temple complexes of Bhubaneswar. The richly carved temples attract pilgrims and tourists to city. The city has now emerged as an important commercial and trading hub in the state and in the eastern region of India.
