What was the ancient region of Kalinga?

Kalinga was an ancient territorial subdivision of east-central India that roughly corresponds to most of present-day Odisha, as well as parts of northeastern Andhra Pradesh, northern Telangana, and a portion of Madhya Pradesh.1

Historically, Kalinga was a formidable political and maritime power known for its seaborne trade with Southeast Asia. It was conquered by the Nanda dynasty in the 4th century BCE, but it is perhaps most famous for the war fought against the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 260 BCE. The immense suffering caused by this conflict led Ashoka to renounce armed conquest and embrace Buddhism, a pivotal moment in Indian history.123

During its golden age under the Ganga dynasty, Kalinga became a center of Hindu art and architecture, exemplified by the construction of the Jagannatha temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark. The name Kalinga eventually fell into disuse between the 11th and 16th centuries, replaced by the term Odra Desha, which evolved into the modern state name, Odisha.12