Gopalpur Beach

Located at a distance of 186 Kilometers from the capital city of Bhubaneshwar, the Gopalpur beach in Orissa is an ideal place to relax amidst a natural surroundings. The serene atmosphere and the pristine beaches creates the perfect tranquil atmosphere for rejuvenating ones mind and soul. Hardly 16 km from Berhampur, the club of Southern Orissa, is the tiny town of Gopalpur on the Bay of Bengal. Enjoying the reputation of being a popular Beach Resort of Orissa, the deep and clear blue waters instantly provoke those who are good swimmers. This is a perfect beach, fairly isolated, and undisturbed by day-trippers. This place is good for both sailing and surfing. White surf splashing on the golden sands makes Gopalpur-on-Sea as one of the finest beaches on the eastern coast. A fascinating haunt for avid beach combers and sea worshippers, it is a splendid retreat. Discovery of a Holiday Hideout Originally, a small fishing village on the coast of Orissa, it was so named when a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna was constructed some time in the 18th century. Apart from its temple, Gopalpur was distinguished for its magnificent beach and was discovered as a perfect winter resort.

A paradise for marine lovers, the Gopalpur beach is the site of an ancient Sea port and the ancient light house on the beach stands as a memento of the bygone era. The biggest asset of the Gopalpur beach is its virgin nature. It is probably this natural setting of the Gopalpur beach and the vibrant local life style, that captivates the tourist most.

The East India Company built huge warehouses and godowns because the trade with Burma had picked up and Gopalpur had become a trading point for rice from Rangoon. In those days, there were dances and parties that continued until the early hours and wealthy Bengalis from Calcutta made it their holiday home. Gopalpur’s importance dwindled when trade with Burma abruptly ceased during the war and never revived again. When the British left India, even members of rich Bengali homes preferred to holiday in other places of the country, Gopalpur reverted to what it was originally, a fishing village.

With an increase in tourist trade in the late seventies, and the opening of luxury hotels, a slow revival began and today Gopalpur-On-Sea is one of the foremost beach resorts in India. This is the one beach that is as yet, not exposed much to tourism and hence still unspoiled. If you are looking for a quiet holiday in the lap of nature, the beach at Gopalpur awaits you. A golden beach fringed by sand dunes and ruins of an old jetty from where, in medieval times, sailors set out to Indonesia, make this an ideal place for a relaxing holiday. A perfect beach, fairly isolated and undisturbed by the day-trippers.

Activities on Gopalpur Beach

On this beach one can explore the activities like angling with the localities, Sea cruises one can even hire a bicycle and explore the marvelous mango orchards of the colorful village.

Best time to Visit

Best time to go is from October to April. The temperatures range from a summer high of 35° C to a winter low of 16 ° C. The monsoon season (June to September) sees some hot and some very wet days.

Getting Around

One can get auto rickshaws for moving in and around Gopalpur-On-Sea Beach. You can even hire tourist cars for the day to visit the sights outside Gopalpur.

How To Get There

Air: Situated 180-km away, Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport from where one can take flights for major cities such as Delhi and Calcutta .

Rail: The nearest railway station is Berhampur on the Howrah-Chennai line of Southeastern Railway. One can take trains to Calcutta and Chennai from this place.

Road: Gopalpur is connected by motorable road to Barkul (75-km), Berhampur (16-km), Bhubaneshwar (180-km), and Puri (242-km). Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws are available to move around.

Where To Stay
Good accommodation options such as seaside resorts, luxurious hotels, and old bungalows are available at Gopalpur, with good servicing facilities and excellent view of the sea.

Some of the good quality hotels and resorts areThe Oberoi Palm Beach, Ganjam; Hotel Mermaid; Song of the Sea Resort.