Chandipur the virgin beach of Orissa

Wonderful Chandipur...

Star fish on the sea bed

Orissa has a long coastline of over 480 km.on the Bay of Bengal interspersed by a couple of lovely beaches. Added to their seductive beauty is a vast hinter land of antiquities and holy shrines. Backed up by musical sway of casuarina trees and creepered sand dunes, Chandipur is one such beach, but with a unique distinction on its own. Unlike other beaches, the sea water here recedes away from the shore line about five km twice a day, an unusual phenomenon, rarely found anywhere. ?You can see the sea literally vanishing before your eyes and also watch it coming back rhythmically at regular intervals, as if playing hide and seek.  Elsewhere, the waves come and go dashing on the shore like madcap but here they are like a musical fountain, soothing to the eyes and ears. Elsewhere, the waters wait for the visitors but here the visitors have to wait for the waters. Elsewhere, the waves go wild and the visitors calm but here the ecstasy of visitors will go wild while the waves remain calm.

Way to the beach

This marvel of Nature gives the bathers an unexpected pleasure of fearlessly walking into the sea and happily playing with the waves. When the waters disappear, you can even take jeep ride on, the widest beach. The beauty of the exposed bosom of the beach is further enhanced by the small red crabs. If a beach comber, you will be delighted with its abundant wealth of sea shells and drift wood.

Sea at high-tide

Hardly 2 km away is Balaramgadi where the river Budhabalang meets the sea. A trip through the mouth of the meandering river on a fisherman's boat is a pleasant experience. Watching them cast their nets and pull their catch of fish is memorable.

Confluence at Balaramgadi

Road : Chandipur is well connected by an excellent all-Weather road. 16 km from Balasore on N.H. 5, 230 km from Bhubaneswar and 314 km from Kolkata. Regular bus services are available. Taxis and Auto rickshaws are also available from Balasore.

Shell - various types and size

Rail : Nearest railhead is Balasore (16 km) on the S.E. Railway served by a number of fast trains from Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Puri, Tirupati, Bhubaneswar etc.

Air : Nearest airport is Bhubaneswar (230 km) and Kolkata (314 km).

Accommodation:  OTDC Panthanivas and Yatrinivas (Ph. 370051), Hotel larika (Ph. 370045), Hotel Chandipur (Ph. 370030), Hotel Subham (Ph. 370025), Hotel Anandamayee (Ph: 370012), Hotel Santinivas (Ph: 370018) besides a few more. 

Place Of Interest:  There are a few places to which day trips can be made from Chandipur, OTDC has provision to organise conducted tours to some of the places (Contact : Manager, Panthanivas Ph. (06782) 370051.

Panchalingeswar (45 km) Ensconced in the verdant of Nilagiri Hills with panoramic views around, it is a place of scenic beauty, sanctified by the five lingams over which runs a perennial stream. Popular as a Saiva Shrine, you have to lie flat on the rock parallel to the stream to touch and worship the lingams, which is itself as exciting as adventurous. Herds of elephants can be seen occasionally moving up and down the hill. It is also an ideal base for trekking the Nilagiri hills. There is a Panthasala of Orissa Tourism Department for night stay. (Reservation - Tourist Officer, Balasore, ph. 362048)

Mountain streams at Panchaligeswar

Remuna (25 km) Famous for the shrine of Khirachora Gopinath, it is a seat of Vaishnavite culture for centuries. Sri Chaitanya, his teacher Madhavendrapuri and disciple jeevaswami Goswami are said to have visited the shrine and worshipped the lord. Khira (a special milk preparation) is the most delicious offering of the temple. Champak and Kadamba trees inside the courtyard fill the air with sweet and scented fragrance all the time.

Nilagiri (40 km)
Harbouring the Kuldiha Sanctuary, which is also an ideal base for trekking, Nilagiri is known for the Jagannath Temple. Headquarters of an ex-princely state, set against the green mountain, it is a charming place on the lap of nature.

Nil Giri

Sajanagarh (45 km)
About 5 km from Nilagiri is Sajanagarh, the shrine of Bhudara Chandi. A seat of sakti cult, the place is archaeologically rich.

Similipal (100 km)
Covering an area of about 2750.sq. km, it is a wildlife sanctuary and one of the few Tiger Reserves of India. Apart from.Tigers, it is the home of leopards, Elephants, Deer,Crocodiles and Reptiles. Over 230 species of birds including the talking myna and dancing peacocks fill the air with their chirpings.
Filled with lush green forest covers, especially luxuriant sal trees and vast expanse of grassy meadows, cloud kissing peaks, the wild beauty is enhanced by the sparkling water fails and unique orchids. There is an Aranyanivas of the OTDC (Reservation ,Tourist Office, Batipada, Ph. 06792-52710) at lulung for night stay. There are also Forest Bungalows at different places inside, (Reservation: Field Director, Similipal Tiger Reserve Project, Baripada, Dist: Mayurbhanj, Orissa, Tel : (06792) 52593. DeokundIt is an enchanting place with a series of waterfalls and a Sakti shrine, set against the outer periphery of Similipal.