 |
Dubbed the `best beach resort in Orissa’
by the cognoscenti, Gopalpur-on-Sea is a lovely laidback seaport village, far removed in
spirit from the nearby temple towns of Orissa. Starting life as an obscure little fishing
village, Gopalpur-on-Sea became a prominent trading port during the days of the British
East India Company. Today, neither the British nor the wealthy Bengalis who once made
Gopalpur a vibrant, happening place are here any more. Gopalpur has gone back to being a
quiet, relaxed place, but with one major difference- it’s today growing into one of
India’s prettiest beach resorts. Nowhere as commercial and trendy as Goa, but with a
charm all its own. |
You can forget yourself at Gopalpur and have a lovely, lazy
holiday. This languorous beach with coconut groves, casuarina coppices and gentle
sand dunes is deserted for miles. Picture blue waters and high waves, sleepy lagoons and
tiny creeks, a place where you can loll on the sand, stroll down the beach and gorge on
seafood. Or tackle the high waves on a yacht moored at the crumbling ancient jetty…
and then climb up the ancient lighthouse for a spectacular view of the bay.
The best thing about Gopalpur, besides the golden beach, is
the seafood. This is a seafood lover’s paradise, but, like everything else in this
resort, don’t expect meals in a hurry. The restaurants, shacks and even the locals
are quite willing to cook a special meal for you – just remember to give them plenty
of notice.
Best time to visit
Gopalpur is a year-round destination, but the 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.
Access
The nearest airport is at Bhubaneshwar, 180 km from Gopalpur. Bhubaneshwar is a one-hour
flight from Kolkata, to which it is also connected by rail and road. From Gopalpur-on-Sea,
the nearest railhead is Berhampur (16 km) on the Kolkata-Chennai line. You can drive in to
Gopalpur on National Highway 5 from Berhampur, Bhubaneshwar and Barkul (75 km). Buses,
minibuses, tourist taxis and even auto-rickshaws can be hired from Berhampur.
Auto rickshaws are available for moving around within the
town - remember to agree on the fare beforehand.
Accommodation
There is no dearth of places to stay from star class hotels, tourist resorts and beach
shacks. Luxury hotels offer rooms facing the sea, and come with all the frills you’d
expect of a fine property. Quaint old bungalows built at the turn of the century have been
refurbished and are let out to tourists, while backpackers can head for economy options
like the youth hostel.
Further information can be obtained from the OTDC offices
or the Government of Orissa’s tourist offices. Gopalpur-on-Sea does not have a
tourist office, but there’s one at Berhampur. It’s near the New Bus Stand (1st
Floor), Berhampur, Distt Ganjam. (Tel: 0680- 2280226). |
