It’s on a beach that one comes face to face with one of nature’s most powerful forces- the oceans. In spite of the vastness of the oceans one doesn’t feel overwhelmed by it, perhaps because of the calming influence of the beach. There’s something sublime about a beach, an equanimity that pacifies the heart and mind. If you feel the same way, you are a beach lover, and you are going to like this article. Have you heard about the best beaches on the Odisha coast? Perhaps not! Because, like other tourist places of Odisha in general, these beaches are also grossly underrated, and under-travelled. That’s why I have decided to talk about them here, and will continue with more posts in future.
If you want to know more about interesting places in coastal Odisha, do check out: Odisha’s Golden Triangle.
A personal connect with beaches:
Having been born and brought up in coastal Odisha, I had the opportunity of visiting beaches more often than any other type of travel destination. Paradeep beach (a sea-port), where my uncle used to live, was the closest beach to my home. I always loved sitting by the sea in the evening, and reflect on things in life and the world around me. Interestingly, it was on this beach that I first wrote a poem!
Though I wrote a few more later, I soon realized that poems weren’t my cup of tea! However, I still feel that the sea/ beach has a natural power to inspire people to think and feel poetic!
Best beaches of India
Indian beaches in general, and the ones on the Odisha coast in particular, may not compare well with the best beaches in the world, like the ones of Seychelles, Maldives or Phuket, but they are not bad. If one combines other attractions (for example, cultural experiences) near the beach towns/ resorts in India, they provide for a great travel package.
I find some subtle differences between beaches on the west coast and east coast (including Odisha) of India. A number of beaches on the west coast are rocky, whereas the east coast has hardly any rocky beaches. Because of proximity to the Western Ghats, a number of beaches on that side, especially in coastal Karnataka, have hills and forests right on the beaches. Whereas beaches on the east coast are more sandy.
No doubt, the best beaches of India are in the Andamans, followed by the beaches of South Goa, Kerala, and Coastal Karnataka. But beaches on the Odisha coast are not far behind.
What's special about beaches on the Odisha coast
Believe me, some of the beaches on the Odisha coast on the Bay of Bengal are as good as any in India. Though Odisha coast is dotted with numerous beautiful beaches, I would talk about five of the best beaches you can include in your bucket list.
From secluded forest beaches to crowded happening beaches and also somewhere in between, Odisha coast is blessed with all types of beaches for the travellers. If you are a beach lover, you can’t really miss them!
Beaches on the Odisha coast are tranquil (except for Puri) as tourism is not developed. Some typical features of beaches on the Odisha coast:
- Most beaches on the Odisha coast have some river mouths beside them
- Casuarina forests are a typical feature of Odisha beaches
- Beaches on the Odisha coast make for great photographs as the waves are relatively bigger (and they also make a roaring sound during high tides)
- There are two-three beaches with mangrove forests beside them
- Quite a few beaches are breeding grounds for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles
- Dolphin sighting is common near a beach
- Because of strong currents, there is great scope for surfing (not developed now).
What’s not so special:
- The beaches are not great for swimming or taking a bath, because the sea current is too strong!
- Except for one or two beaches, there are not much good facilities (like good resorts, cafes, bathing, etc) near the beach.
- Water sports are minimal; yet to develop.
Five best beaches on the Odisha coast
What are the criteria to say one beach is better than another? Not many, right? While some may prefer crowded beaches, others like peaceful beaches. Some like markets and water sports, some don’t like them. While some like landscapes on the beach, others like only plain flat land. Some like it rocky, some like it sandy!
So, it’s a little tricky to choose or suggest ‘best’ beaches; it sounds a little judgmental, right? Actually, that’s not the idea here. I’m just going to write about my favorite five beaches, but let me call them ‘best beaches’ to catch people’s attention to the topic. People may not be too much interested in knowing about my favorite beaches!
My fondness for these beaches has to do mainly with my personal experiences, and times spent on these beaches with family and friends. Here’s my list of best beaches on the Odisha coast, in descending order of my fondness.
1. Chandrabhaga beach, Konark
Among the best beaches on the Odisha coast, the first one that comes to my mind is the Chandrabhaga beach in Konark, just a few kilometers from the famous Sun Temple of Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I have fond memories of this beach right from my childhood.
It’s not too crowded, but not too empty either; just about the perfect beach vibes. I still remember the expression on Parina’s face when she first saw the beach in 2010. She was awe-struck at the pristine beauty of the beach with a blue sky in the background.
Besides its beauty, the beach has great legends associated with it; the most popular one is the legend of Dharmapada.
The legend of Dharmapada:
It’s said that the Sun Temple actually was built on the Chandrabhaga sea-shore, but in course of time, the coastline has receded a few kilometers. According to legends, Dharmapada, the 12-year old son of its chief architect Bisu Maharana jumped off the temple’s cliff into the sea after correctly installing the crown-stone (Kalash) of the temple properly.
He had to sacrifice his life in order to save the lives of 12000 artisans who weren’t able to fix the crown properly. If the King had come to know about this, he would have killed the artisans. Such a sombre story! And if it really happened, Dharmapada must be one of the most skillful and courageous child prodigy of all time.
International Sand Art Festival at the beach:
Every year in December (1st-5th), Konark becomes a potpourri of dance, music, art, crafts and culture when the Konark Dance Festival is organized by the Government of Odisha. During this time, the International Sand Art Festival is also held (since 2011) at Chandrabhaga beach. Sand artists from all over the world converge on the beach to exhibit their unique art form.
World renowned sand artist- Sudarshan Pattnaik is the inspiration behind this festival. He has won many accolades including the Gold medal at Moscow International Sand Art Championship 2016 and Padmashree, India’s 4th highest civilian awards. He now runs a sand art school in Puri.
A little away from the main beach, there’s a fishermen’s colony. I love watching the fishermen coming back with their catches in the evening. It’s fascinating how they would help each other pull out their boats from the sea, and line up on the shore.
Travel tips for Chandrabhaga beach:
- Reaching there is easy. At only 65 kms from the state capital, Bhubaneswar and 35 kms from Puri, regular bus services are available.
- Nearest railway station: Puri; nearest airport: Bhubaneswar.
- Best time to visit is between October and February; 1st-5th Dec is a great time as the International Sand Art Festival would be going on. For rain lovers, monsoon season (July- October) is not bad either.
- Side trip options: Puri | Chilika lake | Bhubaneswar
- Budget hotel options: OTDC Yatrinivas | Surya Inn | Labanya lodge. More hotel/ resorts options are on the Konark- Puri marine drive.
- Nice places to eat: Konark restaurant | The Fisherman’s Kitchen | Waterfront Grill Cafe | Wild Dunes Konark.
2. Bhitarkanika beach
Next on my list of best beaches on the Odisha coast is Bhitarkanika beach within the precincts of Bhitarkanika National Park. I have been there only once, with my friends; but the experience was so amazing that I would love to go back many more times. However, it’s a secluded beach; so, takes some good effort to reach there.
In order to reach there, one has to take a boat ride across the rivers of Bhitarkanika mangrove forest area, land on a small island and trek for a few kilometers to reach the beach. Difficult, but a paradise for lovers of secluded beaches.
Why visit Bhitarkanika beach:
In spite of the inconvenience in reaching the beach, it’s worth the effort, at least for four reasons:
- Its remoteness is a blessing in disguise. Far from the madding crowd of popular beaches, it provides the much needed tranquility to the battered soul.
- Bhitarkanika mangrove forests are the second largest in India (only next to the Sundarbans N.P.), and are really fascinating.
- Bhitarkanika National Park is home to a large number of salt-water crocodiles (sure sighting!) and other fauna like deer, monitor lizards, pythons, migratory birds, etc.
- Gahirmatha marine turtle sanctuary is beside the Bhitarkanika beach. So, if you are there between November and March, there’s a high probability that you will find them on the beach.
A memorable visit with friends:
On a spring day (March) in 2017, after cruising around Bhitarkanika mangroves, we reached there in the evening and lived in a modest facility in the forest for the night. Though it was pitch dark out there, with no major carnivores around, there was nothing to worry about. In fact, it was exciting to live in that forest and wait for the next morning to go to the beach expecting to see some Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
Gahirmatha Marine Turtle Sanctuary:
Within the Bhitarkanika National Park area, Gahirmatha Sanctuary lies between the Dhamara and Brahmani river mouths, and is the largest breeding ground in the world for the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles. These turtles migrate every year in hundreds of thousands in November all the way from the Pacific Ocean to Odisha coast for nesting. Indeed, one of nature’s greatest stories of migration!
Most of them hatch their eggs in the months of February- March, and swim back to their homes with the little ones. It’s a fascinating sight to see the tiny turtle-newborns swamp the entire beach and trek into the open sea.
Though Gahirmatha is the largest breeding ground, these turtles actually nest at many other places on the Odisha coast (and elsewhere in India as well); prominently at Rushikulya river mouth, a little south of Gahirmatha.
Though the Forest Department generally bans visitors on the beaches in peak hatching season, one can have a sneak peak at the turtles in nearby areas.
Sunrise on Bhitarkanika beach:
Our morning on the Bhitarkanika beach was serene and stunning! A pristine beach by the forest, neat and clean, absolutely no one else on the beach, and a beautiful sunrise! Could we have asked for anything more!
However, sadly, I saw clear signs of global warming and rise in sea levels on the beach. There was large scale inundation of the land, sea cutting into the forest area by a long way. I saw thousands of dead tree trunks still standing all over the beach!
Besides, unfortunately, we were there just a little late (end March) that year to see turtle nesting. Most of the turtles had gone back! We saw only a few of them in the water, and some dead ones on the beach.
Travel Tips for Bhitarkanika beach:
- As I said above, reaching there is a bit difficult. It’s about 180 kms from Bhubaneswar. There are two main approaches. One, Raj Nagar in Kendrapara district (the one we took); two, via Chandbali in Bhadrak district. I would suggest taking the Raj Nagar route. Ahead of Raj Nagar, there are three entry points: Gupti, Khola and Dangamala. Khola is the most popular one. From any of these entry points, one has to take a boat to reach Gahirmatha.
- Best time: February- March, for the turtle nesting season. Otherwise, November to March.
- Accommodation: OTDC Yatrinivas | several small guesthouses, the boat people can help you find one.
- Where to eat: Small eateries; nothing fancy available!
3. Puri sea beach, Puri
The golden beach of Puri is undoubtedly among the best beaches on the Odisha coast, and in fact, the most popular one. However, I think, its popularity mainly comes from the fact that it lies only a couple of kilometers from the famous Jagannath temple (official website).
Puri sea beach is one of the longest beach in India, and looks gorgeous during sunset because of its golden hues. But it’s a bit too crowded for my liking! However, it’s a fact that a lot of people also like crowded beaches, otherwise, there wouldn’t be any crowded beaches!
Owing to its proximity to the Jagannath temple, millions of Hindu pilgrims visit the beach. The pilgrims would typically say that they ‘also’ visited the beach after paying obeisance at the temple, rather than saying ‘also visited the temple’ after visiting the beach!
Swargadwara on the beach:
Literally meaning ‘gateway to heaven’, Swargadwara is perhaps the second most iconic/auspicious place of cremation in India, only after Ghats of Varanasi. Its location near the sea, on one side of the beach has definitely a strong symbolic value. Hindus in general, and Odiyas in particular believe that by getting cremated here, one’s soul attains salvation.
I have strong emotional memories of this place. It was here a decade ago, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I had also cremated my father here. Though he had never expressed his desire regarding the same, we as a family decided so after his death. Maybe his soul now rests in peace, maybe in heaven! I’m a borderline agnostic; so, I don’t vouch for these things. But some times, cultural forces are strong enough to respect them.
Best experiences:
Most of the crowd throng the evening market that comes alive on the beach in the evening. Hundreds of vendors sell crafted products made of sea-shells, wood, stone, beads, brass, horn, etc. Another major attraction is sea food.
Like most Odiyas, our favorite destination in childhood was Puri’s Jagannath temple, and the sea beach. My favorite moments from the beach are those golden sunsets, fishermen coming back from the sea with their boats full of fish, and munching on the jhal-murhi (a rice-flake snack) sitting idle on the beach.
However, not to forget the marine drive from Puri to Konark. It’s a spectacular stretch of green road along the coast overlooking the Bay of Bengal on one side, and the forests on the other. As you drive along the coast, the wind brushing past the casuarina trees make such a typical and beautiful sound!
Travel Tips for Puri beach:
- Reaching there is easy. Being one of India’s prominent pilgrimages, major cities of India have trains to Puri. Nearest airport is Bhubaneswar. Only about 60 kms from Bhubaneswar, regular buses ply between the two cities.
- Best time: November to March. If you are interested in witnessing the Rath Yatra, July is the month.
- Side trips: Bhubaneswar | Konark | Satapada (dolphin sighting) | Chilika lake
- Budget accommodation options: Sea View Residency | Hotel garden | Holiday Resort | Shree Hari Grand | GAG Dreams | Sonar Tori | Sonar Bangla. Some good resorts have come up on the Marine Drive (Puri- Konark) in recent times.
- Nice places to eat: Not to miss the prasad at Jagannath temple | Gajapati restaurant (vegetarian) | Taste of Puri | Pet Shanti | Wildgrass restaurant (sea food) | Bhaja hari restaurant | Chung Wah (Chinese).
4. Gopalpur beach, Berhampur
I surely count the Gopalpur beach among the best beaches on the Odisha coast, especially because I have very fond memories of this beautiful beach. During my University days in Berhampur, I have spent many a beautiful evening on the beach. It was seven kilometers from the campus; we used to take a local bus to the beach, and walked back late in the evening.
In those days, it was a laid back beach which used to get a little crowded on weekends, but peaceful on weekdays. However, things have changed now. The beachfront looks built-up, with amenities for visitors.
Chequered history of Gopalpur:
Gopalpur has a long rich history. Originally named as Mansurkota in the ancient times, it was among the many sea-ports of the Kalinga kingdom that had developed great trading relations with south east Asian countries. In fact, a rich trader (named Kaundinya) from this region, became the first king of Cambodia, and ushered in a process of Indianization of south east Asia over a thousand years. (see the full story).
The name of the port changed to Gopalpur in the 19th century, and became an important port for the British East India Company. A particular Sorain family had contributed immensely to the development of the port. When the British left India, this port became nonoperational and went into oblivion. What remained was a small fishing village with abandoned settlements. I came across a beautiful article on Gopalpur; please have a look: A house by the sea.
Changing fortunes in recent times:
However, in the late 1970s, fortunes of the village started to change due to tourist interest and coming up of several beach resorts and hotels. Now it’s among the best beaches on the Odisha coast. Still it’s not over-crowded, very good to spend a weekend. The Mayfair Beach Resort, formerly run by the Oberoi group, is popular among luxury seekers.
The government has in recent times, revived the Gopalpur port and thus, some trading activities are picking up again in the area. In any case, Berhampur, just 15 kms away is a major hub of business in south Odisha. One can visit the old Berhampur market for a nice walk around. For food lovers, Berhampur is a great place; a fusion of Odiya-Andhra style cuisines. And for culture seekers, Berhampur has a great silk weaving tradition to explore as well.
Travel Tips for Gopalpur beach:
- Reaching there: Nearest airport: Bhubaneswar at 166 kms. Nearest railway station: Berhampur. Regular bus services from all major cities to Berhampur; then a 30 minutes drive from there.
- Best time: November to March.
- Side trips: Chilika lake | Berhampur old town | Taptapani hot water spring.
- Budget accommodation: Hotel Sea Pearl | Panthanivas | Swasti Palm Resort | More budget hotels are in nearby Berhampur. Other properties are a little pricey on the beach: Mayfair | Zone by the Park | Hotel Kalinga.
- Nice places to eat: Krishna | 1914 Dining Room | Lagongrill | Storyline Cafe | Fantasy Garden.
5. Chandipur beach, Balasore
Perhaps the most unique beach in the world, Chandipur is the fifth one on my list of best beaches on the Odisha coast. It’s not a typical sandy beach, but very unique!
- What would you feel if you visit a beach and find no sea there?
- What if you find the sea at the same place next day? And you went back to your hotel room, and when you came back, again there was no sea there!
Exactly, this is a unique natural phenomenon that happens twice every day on this beach! During the low tide, the sea recedes about 3-5 kms, and comes back during high tide. How interesting is this! No wonder then that the beach has got a nickname- the ‘hide-and-seek’ beach.
Another interesting thing. When the sea retreats, there is still a little water on the beach, like 1-2 inches of water. So, it feels good to walk on the beach. But if your friends look at you from a distance, you would appear to be walking on the water!
If you are an Indian, you might have actually heard the name many a time; it’s India’s ballistic missile testing center. At a short distance from the mainland, the Abdul Kalam island (previously, Wheeler island) is where the missile testing happens. Thus, the government has banned entry of common people to the island.
Travel Tips for Chandipur beach:
- Reaching there: It’s about 210 kms from Bhubaneswar (nearest airport), and only 14 kms from Balasore, the nearest town. There are regular bus and train services to Balasore.
- Best time: November to March
- Budget accommodation: Panthanivas (OTDC) | Hotel Shubham | Sand City Resort | Arpita beach resort | There are more budget options in the nearby Balasore town.
- Nice places to eat: Green Earth Restaurant | Megabites | Santoshi Seafood | Amethyst Multi-cusine.
Other notable beaches on the Odisha coast
The five beaches listed above have given me the most memorable experiences. However, there are quite a number of other beaches which are equally good. Here are a few of them:
- Ramchandi beach: Falls on the way to Konark from Puri, i.e. on the marine drive. There’s a lovely temple and a picnic spot near the beach as well.
- Bali-harichandi beach: If you take an off-road from the marine drive into the forest, after a 30-minutes drive, you will reach this enchanting hidden beach between the sea and the river bank.
- Rushikulya beach: Near the mouth of river Rushikulya; especially famous for the nesting site of Olive Ridley Turtles.
- Paradeep beach: Near Odisha’s biggest sea port.
- Some other beaches: Talasari beach | Astaranga beach | Aryapalli beach | Beleshwar beach.
Concluding thoughts
What do you like to do the most at a beach? Is it water sports and parasailing? Or, is it making sand castles and picking up seashells from the shore? Or, you love having your favorite sea-food snack?
For me, it’s just sitting there silently on the soft sand looking at the endless stretch of water. More often than not, silence leads to thoughts and I let the mind travel as far as it can. Moreover, taking a stroll enjoying the sight of a gorgeous sunset on the horizon is reason enough for me to travel hundreds of kilometers to visit a beach.
To say in a matter of fact way, it’s not easy to differentiate between beaches; they all give almost similar experiences. Thus, it’s perhaps only the memories that make all the difference!
Ever since my childhood days, I have tons of sweet memories from the beaches on the Odisha coast. I hope you liked the article; and if you did, do write to us. If you have visited some of these beaches, do let us know which is your favorite beach on the Odisha coast.
Amrita Mukherjee
I love how you give detailed information. I have been to a few of the beaches you mentioned. It’s indeed a wonderful experience.
stampedmoments
Yes, we do try to give useful information all the time.
Thanks for the appreciation.
Amrita Mukherjee
I have been to a few of the beaches you mentioned. It’s indeed a wonderful experience.
stampedmoments
Yup, Odisha beaches are indeed nice, but underrated.
Being a Bengali, you must have visited a few.
Pradeep Kumar Dalabehera
Odisha beaches are really beautiful. But from the point of view of tourism, the government is not giving as much importance as it should. Otherwise, these beaches could have been a milestone in Odisha’s tourism industry, putting them on the tourism map of India. Your report on Odisha beach is very nice. Thanks Sir.
stampedmoments
I agree to a large extent. Though the government has been trying to promote tourism, but they perhaps lack the resources.
True that beaches in Odisha and other destinations have great potential.
Thanks a lot for reading the article, and sharing your thoughts.
Keep connected!
Sara Hevia
Very interesting and complete information
Now, i knew some of the best beaches of India
Frecuently we see photos and info from temples and traditions, but not about the beaches
Thank you very much for your report
stampedmoments
Good to hear from you after long!
Yes, India is generally known for its monuments; but it has wonderful natural treasures too!
Thanks for reading, and sharing your feedback.
Rama Kant
Yes, I agree with you thoughts keeping view the silence nature of the sea and also thanks for exploring the hidden attract of the culture, information’s and festival of the coastal areas of Odisha. You have also identified the casuarinas and mangrove forests in the beaches and really very typical. I remember when my tenure with Odisha forestry sector development project, there was a project component which was almost developed in Bablesore & Bhdrak district.
Apart from the beaches you highlighted, if possible please explore the “Siali’ beach in Jagatsinghpur district. It is a nice calm& quite beach where I was visited last year.
Thanks for the article.
Rama Kant
stampedmoments
Thanks Ramakant for the suggestion- Siali beach in Jagatsinghpur.
You know, I was born in Jagatsinghpur district, but still I haven’t visited this beach.
I will try to visit the next time I’m in Odisha.
Thanks for reading; keep connected.
Oli
Did i just say i want to pack my bags! Yup! Odisha Coast is waiting for our exploration
stampedmoments
Odisha is largely unexplored by foreigners.
But it’s slowly changing as social media gets stronger.
Odisha has a variety of beaches to choose from; if you do, let me know also.
Thanks a lot for reading the article and sharing your thoughts.