Odia (also spelled Oriya) is the local language. It is an Indo-European language like most North Indian languages. It is closely related to Bengali, to the extent that the two languages are mutually intelligible. Hindi is also spoken here. Many people understand English. Bengali is spoken particularly in the tourist centres, and even Telugu is widely spoken in southwestern Odisha.
Planning a Trip
Pre-departure planning is important. Here are certain things you should watch for and plan for.