Location : Orissa
Major Beaches : Baleshwar Beach, Gopalpur On Sea, Puri Beach
Best time to Visit : During Winters


About Orissa Beaches
The east Indian state of Orissa has one of the longest coastlines stretching to over 480 km along the Bay of Bengal. Situated along this huge stretch of land are some sandy beaches having abundant natural beauty. The beaches are laced with towering palm and coconut trees interspersed with mango groves. Visitors to the beach are spoilt for choice from amongst the many available including sun bathing, sea surfing, swimming and plenty other enthralling and interesting activities.

Besides the beaches, Orissa has numerous other attractions such as historic monuments, religious structures, temples, pilgrimages and more.

Famous Beaches in Orissa
Baleshwar Beach
Most of the beaches in Orissa are known for their religious significance, and Baleshwar is one of those. The beach situated 15 km from the holy city of Puri is a significant shrine for the followers of Lord Shiva. The sandy beach with its cool climate is an ideal place for those who crave for serenity and want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city lives.

Balighai Beach
Balighai is a favored spot for picnickers and holiday makers, situated just 8 km from Puri. Laced with beautiful casuarina trees, the major attraction of the beach is the Sea Turtle Research Centre where you can get extensive information on the habits and habitats of the sea turtle. The Baliharina deer, another major attraction is often spotted drinking water along the shores.

Chandipur Beach
Chandipur is an enchanting beach situated just 16 km from Balasore in Orissa. The beach is a major tourist attraction of the region, being thronged by thousands of visitors every day, especially during the tourist season. A curious thing about the beach is that the water here recedes 5 km each day at the time of low tide and rises up again during high tide.

Gopalpur on Sea
This is the most famous beach in Orissa, situated 16 km away from Behrampur. It is an ideal place to relax and spend a fun filled day away from the busy city life...a perfect dose of rejuvenation to inject new life into your urbanised bodies. The ancient port was once witness to numerous trade ships arriving and leaving from here, however, it has today turned into a hangout spot for surfers and yatch sailors.

Konark Beach
Thirty two kilometers from Puri, the beach is located near the famous Sun temple, thus one of the most visited beaches in Orissa. More famed for its religious significance, the beach is thronged by hordes of devotees every morning who come here to have a dip at the time of sunrise. Fishermen can be seen moving towards the sea with their long fishing nets while the vast stretches of golden sands and swaying palm trees also ensure a fair number of tourists.

Paradeep Beach
The beach lies 94 km from Cuttack on the lower course of the Mahanadi river. The beach is ideal for a refreshing walk along the shores while watching the sea waves hitting against the rocks. The gentle breeze blowing across the sea adds to the enchantment.

Puri Beach
The beach is located in the holy city of Puri, at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The beach is visited by numerous pilgrimages who come here to take a purifying dip after visiting the holy land of Puri.