Sunset at Gopalpur

TRAVEL GUIDE
Making tracks

The nearest airport is at Bhubaneshwar, 180 km from Gopalpur. Bhubaneshwar is a one-hour flight from Calcutta. 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.

On the move

Auto rickshaws are available for moving around within the town - remember to agree on the fare beforehand. You can hire tourist cars for the day to visit the sights outside Gopalpur.

Room with a view

There is no dearth of places to stay from star class hotels, tourist resorts and beach shacks.

Best time to go

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.
 

Weekend Getaway

From Kolkata

Gopalpur-on-Sea is a lovely laidback seaport village, far removed in spirit from the nearby temple towns of Orissa. You can forget yourself at Gopalpur and have a lovely, lazy holiday. This languorous beach with coconut groves and gentle sand dunes is deserted for miles. Picture blue waters and high waves…sleepy lagoons and tiny creeks…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 climb up the ancient lighthouse for a spectacular view of the bay.

Gopalpur got its name from an 18th century temple dedicated to Krishna (Gopala), the beloved blue-God. 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. Perhaps you can buy fresh fish from the market and ask your hotel cook to dish it up for you!

Gopalpur is realy peaceful and quiet, but if you are seeking further rejuvenation, take a trip to Taptapani, 67 km away. As the name suggests, Taptapani has hot water springs and is a wonderful place to literally soak away your aches and pains. Chandragiri, 36 km south of Taptapani, is a Tibetan refugee village, recognised by its temple and prayer flags, its Lhasa Apso dogs and the intricate carpets that the Tibetan community weaves for a livelihood.

The tribal culture of Orissa survives in the ethnic communities in the hills and forests around Ganjam. Visits can be arranged to the tribal villages, with sufficient notice for official permission, especially during the festivals and markets. Be prepared to trek up the hills and to camp in very basic accommodation.