List of cities in Odisha by population

Major Cities of Odisha

This is a list of cities by population, as listed in the 2011 Census of India in the Indian state of Odisha:^[1]

State rank	Country rank	Name	District	Type*	Population 2011	Male	Female	Literacy rate
01	58	Bhubaneswar	Khordha district	Municipal Corporation	881,988	468,302	413,686	93.00
02	73	Cuttack	Cuttack district	Municipal Corporation	658,986	331,246	327,740	91.03
03	81	Rourkela	Sundargarh district	Municipal Corporation	552,970	291,027	261,943	92.01
04	127	Berhampur	Ganjam district	Municipal Corporation	355,823	185,584	170,239	90.04
05	135	Sambalpur	Sambalpur district	Municipal Corporation	335,761	172,806	162955	85.69
06	228	Puri	Puri district	Municipality	201,026	104,267	96,759	89.38
07	407	Balasore	Balasore district	Municipality	144,373	73,721	70,652	86.58
08	446	Baripada	Mayurbhanj district	Municipality	116,874	60,535	56,339	88.02
09	456	Bhadrak	Bhadrak district	Municipality	107,463	55,090	52,373	81.21
Population, City= 1Lakh+ population, Town= 20 Thousand+ Population

Population Statistics

State Rank	National Rank	City	District	Administrative Status	Population (2011)	Male	Female	Literacy Rate (%)	Notable For
1	58	Bhubaneswar	Khordha	Municipal Corporation	881,988	468,302	413,686	93.00	State Capital, Temple City
2	73	Cuttack	Cuttack	Municipal Corporation	658,986	331,246	327,740	91.03	Silver Filigree Work, Barabati Fort
3	81	Rourkela	Sundargarh	Municipal Corporation	552,970	291,027	261,943	92.01	Steel City, Industrial Hub
4	127	Berhampur	Ganjam	Municipal Corporation	355,823	185,584	170,239	90.04	Silk City, Educational Hub
5	135	Sambalpur	Sambalpur	Municipal Corporation	335,761	172,806	162,955	85.69	Hirakud Dam, Sambalpuri Textiles
6	228	Puri	Puri	Municipality	201,026	104,267	96,759	89.38	Jagannath Temple, Beach Town
7	407	Balasore	Balasore	Municipality	144,373	73,721	70,652	86.58	Chandipur Beach, Defense Hub
8	446	Baripada	Mayurbhanj	Municipality	116,874	60,535	56,339	88.02	Cultural Center, Simlipal National Park
9	456	Bhadrak	Bhadrak	Municipality	107,463	55,090	52,373	81.21	Religious Heritage, Agriculture
Notes: City = Population over 100,000; Town = Population over 20,000 Source: Census of India, 2011

Odisha's cities each offer unique cultural and historical significance to the state's rich heritage:

Bhubaneswar is known as the "Temple City of India" with over 600 temples, including the magnificent Lingaraj Temple and Mukteshwar Temple, showcasing the exemplary Kalinga architectural style dating back to the 7th-13th centuries CE.

Cuttack, the former capital, is famous for its silver filigree work called "Tarakasi," a delicate metalwork tradition practiced since the 18th century. The city's Barabati Fort and Durga Puja celebrations reflect its historical and cultural prominence.

Puri hosts the famous annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) of Lord Jagannath, one of India's most significant religious events dating back over 5,000 years, drawing millions of devotees from around the world.

Baripada, often called the "Cultural Capital and heart of North Odisha," in Mayurbhanja district. Baripada is notable for its unique cultural and ecological significance: home to the UNESCO-recognized Chhau Dance and its dedicated school,^[2] it also hosts the distinctive Baripada Rath Yatra, where women exclusively pull Lord Subhadra's chariot.^[3] Its royal heritage is reflected in its palaces, and it serves as the gateway to Simlipal National Park, a vital tiger reserve and UNESCO biosphere.

^ "Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
^ "The legacy will live on". The Hindu. 18 June 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
^ Bureau, Odishatv. "Baripada's Rath Yatra: Unique 'Chariot Pulling' Tradition Symbolising Women Empowerment". Baripada’s Rath Yatra: Unique ‘Chariot Pulling’ Tradition Symbolising Women Empowerment. Retrieved 15 March 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)