GOPALPUR-ON-SEA
Location : 16-km from Berhampur, Orissa
Main Attractions : The Blue Beach & The Blue Bay
Best Time to Visit : October To April
Excursions : Chilika Lake & Taptapani sulphur-spring


One of the most pristine beaches of Orissa, this small beach is a splendid
retreat for sea worshippers, located about 16-km from Berhampur. Once a humming
seaport, Gopalpur offers its visitors a slice of serenity in environs that are
conducive to introspection and conviviality.

One can still see the crumbling walls and pillars of the jetty, witness to its
past glory of commercial activity. The pleasures of the Blue Beach and the Blue
Bay of her backwaters continue to lure the water babies. Gopalpur-on-Sea is a
surfer's delight and excellent for sailing.

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.

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.

EXCURSIONS
Chilika Lake:
Situated at a distance of 45-km from Gopalpur and spreading over an area of
1,100-sq-km, this is the largest brackish water lake in the country and
attracts large number of migratory birds.

Taptapani:
As the name suggests, is a hot water sulphur spring situated around 67-km from
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.

HOTELS & RESORTS
The Oberoi Palm Beach, Ganjam
Hotel Mermaid
Song of the Sea Resort

FOR MORE TRAVEL INFORMATION
Climate:
Being a beach resort, Gopalpur has a uniform temperature throughout the year.
Temperature in the summer months touches a high of 350C and a low of 230C,
respectively. Winter months are relatively cold with a maximum and minimum
temperature of 270C and 160C, respectively. Gopalpur recieves an average annual
rainfall of 118.7 cm.

Languages:
Oriya, Hindi & English