Of all the regional cultures, Orissa or the ancient Kalinga played a very conspicuous and vital role in the cultural matrix of Indian civilization. Situated on the eastern coast of India , it imbibed the quintessence of cultural traditions of both Northern India and Southern India , yet it succeeded in developing a distinct identity of its own in the realm of creative arts. The Orissan culture has a three tiered structure with interfaces and interpolation: the tribal/ethnic, the folk/peasant and the urban/classical, which existed side by side enriching and enlarging the cultural dimensions. The cultural heritage of Orissa is one of the oldest, embracing a period of about three thousand years.

Religions
The Orissan culture stands out for its religious catholicity and tolerance resulting in the assimilation of the tenets of all the main Indian religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism, Tantricism and Vaisanvism into the eclectic cult of Lord Jagannath, who came to be recognised as the presiding deity of the State.

The Heritage The history of Orissan art and architecture dates back to 261 B.C., when Ashok, the the then King of Magadha conquered Orissa, then known as Kalinga. The existing ancient monuments of Orissa cover a period of about two thousand years and present a varied and interesting study.