Odiapedia aims to be the most reliable free reference on Odisha and the Odia language. This page explains how articles are written, checked and kept up to date.
What we publish
We publish encyclopedia articles (history, language, culture, food, people, places), practical travel guides, learning material for the Odia language, and reference tools such as the Odia calendar. We do not publish press releases, paid articles or unlabelled advertising.
How we source facts
Every consequential fact — a date, a figure, a designation, a claim about origins — should be traceable to a reliable source. We prefer, in this order:
| Tier | Examples | How we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Official and primary | Government of Odisha and Government of India records, Census of India, Archaeological Survey of India, UNESCO, the GI Registry, temple administrations, inscriptions | Core facts, dates and official status |
| Scholarly | University presses, peer-reviewed journals, museum publications, Britannica | History, linguistics, archaeology, literature |
| Reputable secondary | Established newspapers and cultural institutions | Recent events, context, interviews |
| Community and oral tradition | Practitioners, artisans, local historians | Clearly labelled as tradition or testimony |
Search-engine listicles, unsourced social media posts and AI-generated text are never treated as evidence. Wikipedia may help us find sources, but we cite the stronger source behind it wherever we can.
How we describe uncertain claims
We distinguish between established facts, claims attributed to a specific source ("According to…"), scholarly interpretation, legend or oral tradition, and genuinely disputed questions — where we set out the main positions. When reliable evidence is missing we say so instead of guessing.
Review and updates
Each article shows the date it was first published and the date it was last reviewed. High-traffic and time-sensitive pages (festival dates, temple rules, park seasons, travel information) are reviewed more often. Travel details such as timings and fees change; we link to official sources and advise readers to confirm them before travelling.
Images
Many existing images on Odiapedia are artistic illustrations, not photographs. They are labelled "Illustration". We are replacing them with rights-cleared photographs credited to their creators. If you hold rights to a photograph you would like to contribute, please write to us.
Independence from commercial activity
Odiapedia earns money through clearly labelled travel planning, curated products and sponsorships. These never influence what an article says. See our sponsorship and affiliate policy.
Use of AI tools
We may use software, including AI tools, to help with research leads, translation drafts or formatting. Nothing is published on the strength of an AI tool alone: facts are checked against the cited sources, and editors are responsible for every page.
Found an error?
Use the "Report an error" button at the bottom of any article, or read our corrections policy.