Bhubaneswar, APRIL 13, 2014

Today is the 66th foundation day of Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar.

( pic courtesy: odishainc.com)

Bhubaneswar is one of the ancient Indian cities with a history of more than 2500 years. But the capital city, or the new Bhubaneswar, has turned 66 just today.

Regarded as one of the fastest developing cities in India, the new Bhubaneswar had its foundation stone laid by India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on April 13, 1948.

The capital city was designed by the German architect Otto Königsberger in 1946. Like Jamshedpur, Chandigarh, it is one of the first planned cities of modern India.

Lingaraj temple, the 11th century holy Hindu shrine in Old Bhubaneswar

While laying the foundation-stone, Nehru had said, " it (Bhubaneswar) would not be a city of big buildings for officers and rich men without relation to common masses. It would accord with an idea of reducing differences between the rich and poor. The New Capital would embody the beautiful art of Odisha, and it would be a place for beauty…..so that life might become an adjunct to beauty”.

Although that has never happened, the 66- year old city has a lot to boast of. And today all in Bhubaneswar have reasons to celebrate.

Odisha Sun Times congratulates everyone in this great city - old and new- on this occasion and joins the celebration.