Cuttack Museums: A Journey Through Odisha’s History And Culture

A view of elephant stables at a 14th-century Barabati Fort in Cuttack District, Odisha.

Cuttack, one of the oldest cities in Odisha and the cultural capital, is a place of history, culture, and fine traditions. The Cuttack museums will take you to the past, to the birthplace of a national hero, to a shipbuilding area, and more. They have multiple galleries with various artefacts on exhibition, and you can learn about amusing facts. So, if you desire to get acquainted with the past and present of this city, you can visit the popular museums in Cuttack.

6 Cuttack Museums To Visit

Here are some of Cuttack museums where you can learn about the unforgettable past of this city.

1. Odisha State Maritime Museum

Cannons are kept at the entrance of the Odisha State Maritime Museum, among Cuttack Museums.

Photo: Psomu800 / Wikimedia Commons

The Odisha State Maritime Museum at Jobra Workshop Complex documents the glorious maritime past that made Odisha the shipbuilding capital of South Asia. This resulted in a bloom in maritime trade with Southeast Asia. Inaugurated in 2013, the museum has galleries for different subjects related to the history of maritime trade, like navigation, shipbuilding and the history of the Jobra workshop. The museum displays an impressive collection of artefacts that have been preserved, making it one of the best museums in Cuttack.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Mondays

2. Netaji Birthplace Museum

An empty courtyard in front of the Netaji Birthplace Museum in Cuttack district, Odisha.
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Photo: Subhashish Panigrahi / Wikimedia Commons

Dedicated to India’s well-known freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of the historical museums in Cuttack is popularly known as Netaji Birthplace Museum. However, the real name of the museum is Janakinath Bhawan, named after Netaji’s father, who resided here. It is the ancestral home of the freedom fighter who caused a stir during the British Empire’s final days. Inside, visitors can find memoirs, personal letters, photographs, artefacts, manuscripts and proofs. A visit to the house would allow one to connect with the movements in the freedom struggle.

Timings: 10 AM – 4:30 PM, closed on Mondays and public holidays

3. Museum Of Justice, Orissa High Court

Orissa High Court manages the Museum of Justice in Cuttack District, Odisha.

Photo: Kamalakanta777 / Wikimedia Commons

The Museum of Justice within the Orissa High Court complex takes the visitor on a time travel trip through the legal history of Odisha. This small but informative museum displays rare documents, historical images, and objects related to the evolution and transformation of the judiciary in the state. It brings out the role played by significant cases, landmark judgments and legal luminaries who have crafted a legal order in Odisha. The museum also stresses the role played by the High Court in enforcing the legality and the rule of law, making it among the most famous museums in Cuttack.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Sundays and public holidays

4. Zorba Machine Gallery

An old industrial cutting machinery at a refurbished museum, one of Cuttack Museums.
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Photo: Mike van Schoonderwalt / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

The Zorba Machine Gallery has been established with a mission to showcase industrial machinery and technical innovations from around the world. It features numerous exhibits that display the different types of machines and the evolution of industrial processes in the past 200 years. Specifically, the gallery features numerous kinds of machines that are used in different industries. It displays the development of industrial machinery from different periods and working principles. This museum is especially suitable for those who have an interest in engineering, mechanics, and the historical evolution of industrial technology.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Sundays

5. Odisha State Museum (Cuttack Branch)

Original palm leaf manuscript of Siddhanta Darpana at Odisha State Museum, another of Cuttack Museums.

Photo: Subhashish Panigrahi / Wikimedia Commons

The Cuttack branch of Odisha State Museum is the place where the adorning artefacts and culture of Odisha are hidden. Collection of rare manuscripts, historical artefacts, sculptures, ancient coins, etc., are the treasure of the museum. They have a great deal of historical and cultural value. In order to learn about the deep history, culture and art of Odisha, one must definitely visit this one of the top museums in Cuttack.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Mondays

6. Lalitgiri Museum

The Lalitgiri ruins near Lalitgiri Buddhist Complex in Cuttack District, Odisha.
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Photo: Icon0 com / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

Though not actually located in Cuttack, the Lalitgiri Museum nearby is noteworthy as a place to learn about the Buddhist heritage and relics and finds of this region. It is part of the complex of Lalitgiri-Udaygiri-Ratnagiri, which bears testimony to the area’s Buddhist history and legacy. The Museum has some rare Buddhist relics, sculptures, and other archaeological finds on display. It is a peaceful place with a very pious atmosphere and an ideal spot for those interested in the religious history of Odisha.

Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Mondays

Cuttack museums offer history, cultural and industrial heritages in diverse styles. Every museum in Cuttack is unique in its way. If you are interested in the maritime history of Odisha, visit the Odisha State Maritime Museum, whereas those interested in landmark judgements can head to the Museum Of Justice. So, plan your trip to Cuttack with TripXL today and make your journey a pleasing one.

Cover Photo: Bikashrd / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

Frequently Asked Questions

Inside the Odisha State Maritime Museum, there are separate galleries on maritime navigation and shipbuilding, as well as one on the history of the Jobra workshop.
The Netaji Birthplace Museum is situated at Janakinath Bhawan in Cuttack, Odisha, near Oriya Bazar.
Visitors can delve into original documents, photographs and artefacts associated with the history of Odisha’s legal system, including landmark cases and eminent jurists.
Although permanently closed now, the Odisha Printing Museum in Bhubaneswar illustrates the journey of printing technology in Odisha through the ages. It displays a variety of printing machines and old manuscripts and publications.
The Zorba Machine Gallery is closed on Sundays. On other days, it is open from 10 AM to 5 PM.

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