The State of Odisha is well known for its beautiful beaches. The pristine weather of the state stretched of dull gold sand and the strong winds that blow over the Odisha coastline give the beaches here a distinct flavour. The beaches have been drawing the attention of tourists from all across India for a long time and now they have been attracting a good slice of the international tourism sector too. In case a peaceful and relaxed vacation is what you are looking for then the Orissa beaches are great for you.
This is one of the most popular and well known beaches of Orissa and it also has great sun bathing possibilities as many international tourists come here. The visitors to this beach often prefer to go for a swim in the gentle and comparatively clean waters.
The Chandipur Beach is calm and beautiful and has some very good sea resorts flanking its coast line. The specialty of this beach is that the water here recedes to about 5 km away at low tide and then comes back again at high tide. The beach is flanked by a gorgeous canopy of Casuarinas trees and sand dunes made of white brushed sand.
You can opt for boating on the river Budhabalanga by using boats of local fishermen. If you are lucky enough to visit in October then you can see the Dance Festival which showcases dance forms like Sambalpuri, Chhau and Ghoda Naach.
Location of Beach: Chandipur beach is a mere 16 km away from Balasore in the state of Orrissa. The beach is only 2 km away from the place Balaramgadi where the Bubladang river falls into the sea.
Tourist season is between September and March. The closest railway station is Balasore that falls under South Eastern Railway line.
Gopalpur is a tiny town which is situated on Bay of Bengal that flanks the town of Behrampur. There is an ancient lighthouse near the beach which continues showing the directions to the ships sailing in the deep ocean waters. Lots of coconut trees surround this beach and similar sand dunes also mark this beach. The Gopalpur beach offers a good opportunity of watching the sunrise. There is an exquisite stillness that surrounds the area post evening and this lets nature lovers enjoy the beauty of the moon washed nights.
Location of Beach: Gopalpur beach is a mere 16 km away from Behrampur in the state of Orissa. The beach is only 35 km away from the capital of Orissa; Puri.
Tourist season is between September and March. The closest railway station is Behrampur that falls under Calcutta Chennai Railway line.
Konark Beach in the State of Orissa is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The famous Temple of the Sun is just 4 km away from the beach and the place is lovingly referred to as the Chandrabhaga. There are long stretches of sparkling sands and a peaceful tranquility around the area that makes this beach a perfect honeymoon destination. The Konark Beach is an ideal weekend trip destination. You can try in-fishing while you are visiting the Konark Beach.
The Labanya Lodge is a good place for honeymooners while Yatri Niwas and OTDC Panthanivas are good places for budget accommodation on the Konark Beach.
Location: The beach is situated just 3 km away from the famous Temple of the Sun and is only 33 km away from Puri. Travelling by road through the smooth and picturesque Marine Drive is an excellent option. The beach is only 65 km away from the Bhubaneshwar Temple City.
Right at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal there is a beautiful beach of Paradeep. The beach is very famous for its clear green waters, verdant forests and lineup of stones along the beach. The water of the beach is very blue and pristine and the lovely color is one of the selling points of the beach. There are some lovely coral outgrowths near the beach which give it a white serene appearance. Nearby are the temples of Baladeva which are also worth a visit. Sun Bathing and snorkeling are two options you can try out on Paradeep Beach.
Location: The Paradeep Beach is at a distance of 100 km from the city of Cuttack and 130 km from Bhubaneshwar. Usually tourists flock to the Paradeep Beach around the months of November to March.
This is a tiny beach situated about 95 km away from Puri and this presents an amazing view of the sunset against the backdrop of a multi colored horizon. The Astaranga each also contains thousands of pastel colored shells which somehow justify the name given to this quaint beach. Lot of Sea Fish Trading happens round the year here and lots of variety of sea food is available near the little shacks that dot the beach. If you are a sea food aficionado then do make it a point to visit the Astaranga Beach.
Location: The Astaranga Beach is about 92 km away from Puri. It will take you 2-3 hours by bar to reach this beach from the city of Puri.
The Balighai beach is fringed with Casuarina and is located 8 km away from Puri. This is a famous Picnic place whose beauty is accentuated by the swaying Casuarina trees that line the river. The coast of the ocean is a little lonely but this only adds to its beauty. If you are to visit this beach post monsoons then you might catch a glimpse of the pretty and shy Balihirana deer that are found in profusion around that area. The Turtle research Center is also present near the beach and it offers a lot to the discerning nature lover or zoologist.
Location: This beach is good for a day’s visit if you happen to come down from Puri. The Balighai Beach is just 8 km from Puri and you can easily take a shared cab or a bus to the beach when you plan to visit.
The meeting point of the river Budhabalanga and the Bay of Bengal Sea is the place known as Balaramgadi. If you happen to visit the beach of Chandipur then you shouldn’t miss visiting the Balaramgadi beach too as it is a mere 3 km away. Visitors can avail a beautiful scenic view of fishing and boating when they are here as the sea stretch near Balaramgadi yields a very rich yield of Fish. The shacks over here sell delicious preparations of various kinds of Sea food. Going for a rustic boat ride in the sea can be a good experience here.
The Pati Sonepur Beach is 20 km away from Behrampur and 35 km away from the beach of Gopalpur and also 4 km away from the National Highway number 5 that connects Calcutta and Chennai. This is a pristine unspoilt beach that is easily one of the prettiest places on the Eastern Coast. The beach is situated at the meeting point of Bahuda river and the Bay of Bengal. The area has amazing scenery and a lovely shore line. The Orissa beach of Pati Sonepur is newly incorporated on the tourism map of Orissa which is why very few people know about it. This is an ideal place to visit if you want to go on a cozy romantic holiday.
This is undoubtedly the most popular beach of Orissa and some also call it the sacred beach. Thousands of devotees throng the sands of Puri Beach during the Rath Yatra time. Many devotees and sea lovers prefer to take a dip in the churning waters of the Bay of Bengal for purifying their soul. There is a world famous sand artist named Sudarshan who makes amazing sand sculptures and sand paintings besides the beach. There are plenty of boating, snorkeling and other entertainment options (pony rides, monkey dances etc) on the beach. There are very beautiful sea shells available on the beach and one can also try sampling locally made snacks and pithas and coconut water that is sold on the beach.
Many good accommodation options like May Fair Hotel, Tosali Sands, Kalinga Asoka, Puri Hotel etc are there near the Puri Beach. The eating and shopping facilities are also great here as this is a commercially developed area. You can shop for the famous silver filigree work of Odisha, Cuttack Sarees and items made of sea shell here.
Best time to Visit: If you visit between the 5th to 9th November you will be able to witness the grand Puri Beach Festival which happens with much pomp and grandeur every year.
Location: Puri is easily reachable by train from Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Kolkata and all major towns on South Eastern Railway Line.
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