Explore the virgin golden sand covers of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Infiniteness of the sea with roaring waves crashing against the shore calls out to the tired souls to come and rest on its untouched golden sand cover and feel a gentle breeze rustle through the hair. The winter cannot but be the most appropriate time to visit Odisha’s unblemished, untapped beaches, stretching from Talasari to Gopalpur.

While the beaches of Puri, Gopalpur and Chandipur continue to attract people in hordes, several others lie forlorn for the greater part of the year. Let’s hop through these lesser explored beaches of the state, which are the beacons of nature’s unspoiled beauty.

Talasari Beach

You can feel the rhythm (Tala) on the beach surrounded by casuarina, coconut and palm trees that make for a beautiful sight. Near the Odisha-Bengal border, the beach is quite flat and the waves small and playful.

The estuary of Subarnarekha river can be seen in the distance and one has to cross the backwaters to reach the sea, which makes the trip all the more exciting. Watching sunrise and sunsets from the gleaming stretch of white sand on the last beach in the odisha to the north is a rewarding experience.

Gahirmatha Beach

The largest nesting beach of Olive Ridleys, this beach located on the converging point of a river and the Bay of Bengal attracts naturalists and researchers, besides tourists, from November to February when these turtles mate, nest and lay eggs. Thousands of hatchlings crawling their way back to the sea through the sandy beach on a moonlit night, is a sight to behold!

A part of Gahirmatha Wildlife Sanctuary, which has been declared a Ramsar site, it is slowly attracting a lot of attention.

Paradip Beach

On the confluence of the Mahanadi and the Bay of Bengal, it is one of the most picturesque destinations. Visitors can spend hours frolicking in the clear blue water with the soft sand tickling the feet. The stone-lined beach is famous for its serenity with green cover, a good marine drive and the port.

The tranquil sea water and breath of fresh air puts the mind to rest as one enjoys the amazing sight of setting sun.

Aryapalli Beach

The silvery, quiet beach of Aryapalli is ideal for unwinding. About 30 km from Berhampur, it is surrounded by casuarina plantations. During the sunrise and the sunset, the azure sky offers an amazing colour play.

Ramchandi Beach

Looking for some adventure, then it is the place you should be heading for. Scenically situated on the confluence of Kushabhadra river and the Bay of Bengal, this is a perfect stop to unwind and enjoy sea surfing. Walking on the golden sand lined with huge palm trees, is nothing less than ethereal.

The beach, on the Marine Drive and about 7 km from Konark, has been named after goddess Ramchandi, the presiding deity of the region. This spellbinding seashore is an ideal place to spend quality time with friends and family.

While Puri and its golden beach remains a tourist attraction all year round, there are several lesser known beaches near the Pilgrim Town waiting to be explored.

Baliharachandi Beach

Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, this beach about 27 km from Puri, is a good place to relax and spend the weekend. Besides the tranquil seaside, the place is famous for Baliharachandi temple.

She is believed to be the goddess of water and navigation, who protects boatmen and fishermen when confronted with danger in the sea.

Balighai Beach

A standalone beach, 8 km from Puri, where serenity reigns and life is in sync with the crests and troughs of the waves. Located near the mouth of the Nuanai river, the surrounding casuarinas gives it the jungle feel.

The clear water and the clean beach make the relaxing beach holiday a pleasant experience.

Astaranga Beach

True to its name, the scenic beauty of the beach, about 90 km from Puri, just goes up several notches during the sunset. It famous for its fishing centre, where large crowd wait for the boatmen to return with catch every morning.

Jahania Beach

Near Astaranga, this long sandy beach is famous for the shrine of Pir Jahania. Both Hindu and Muslims seek blessings at the shrine near the beach, which also attracts picnikers.

Plan a trip, hire/arrange a vehicle, book tickets, pack your bags and travel to these serene, scenic spots along Odisha coastline for some ‘me time’ away from the maddening crowd.