Travel Bug - Cuttack

 Made two trips to Cuttack in September to watch the BC Mahanti Tournament. The first trip was in the midst of heavy rains - red alert etc - but somehow the OCA kept the matches going. Brilliant job by them. The Barabati stadium is in Cuttack and is a massive structure. Crowds would come in at various parts of the game and watch and cheer. The dressing rooms were good and the food and hospitality pretty nice.

Mostly overcast skies - the boys looking on!

While going from the airport to Cuttack we go past the Utkal University with its sprawling campus. In Cuttack itself we go along the banks of the massive Mahanadi which is a sight to see. Lots of open grounds, trees, sights of commercial activity and one wonders why this state is still considered backward. There was a Film and TV Institute as well.

The ground staff fighting the rains

The tournament is named after the late Mr BC Mahanti who was an administrator, a freedom fighter, a sportsperson and someone who was actively involved in promoting cricket and sport in Orissa. It is apt that the OCA has named a tournament after such an accomplished man. 

What I loved was the visit to Ravenshaw University in Cuttack still maintaining all its old world charm. We drove past the Psychology Department, the hostels, all quaint stuff, old brick buildings. Open spaces. I visited the cricket grounds which were grassy, open...lovely to play a match there.

The people are extremely warm and emotional. The waiters in the hotel were huge fans of cricket and were following all our matches. Smiling all the time, helpful. Was a lovely visit.