Beaches in Orissa

Jharkhand, bound Orissa on the north on the northeast by West Bengal, on the east by the Bay of Bengal, on the south by Andhra Pradesh and on the west by Chhattisgarh. The relatively unindented coastline lack good ports save for the deepwater facility at Paradwip. The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi River delta, is exceedingly fertile.

The state is known for its temples, especially in the cities of Konark, Puri and Bhubneshwar.

In ancient times the region of Orissa was the center of the Kalinga kingdom, although it was temporarily conquered (250 BC) by Ashoka. This region was scene of the bloody war fought by King Ashoka the Great of Magadha, and whose death and destruction later served as a precursor as one of the main centers of Buddhism. After Ashoka, the Mauryas held the region for almost a century.

With the gradual decline of Kalinga, several Hindu dynasties arose and built temples at Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Konarak. The dynasties that ruled Orissa beginning in the third century BC included:

- Murundas Dynasty
- Matharas Dynasty
- Nala Dynasty
- The Vigrahas and the Mudgalas
- Sailodbhava Dynasty
- Bhaumakaras Dynasty
- Nandodbhavas Dynasty
- Somavamsis Dynasty
- The Eastern Gangas
- Suryavamsi Dynasty

After long resistance to the Muslims, the region was overcome (1568) by Afghan invaders and passed to the Mughal Empire.

After the fall of the Mughals, Orissa was divided between the Nawabs of Bengal and the Marathas. In 1803 the British conquered it. In 1950, Orissa became a constituent state of India.

Some of the popular beaches of Orissa are as under:

Gopalpur on sea - It has been rated as the best beach resort of Orissa. It is a laid back 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 anymore. It has gone back to being a quiet, relaxed place, but with one major difference - its today growing into one of India's prettiest beach resorts. Nowhere as commercial and trendy as Goa, but with a charm of 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.

Puri - The pious land of Puri is probably one of the finest beaches in India on the coastline of Orissa.

Though the pulsating beach of Puri attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year the best time to check out the beautiful beach at the pious Puri is early November when you may participate in the annual Puri Beach Festival. The combination of the crafts, cuisine's and cultural of Orissa will not fail to charm you. The catamarans the cane hats will get embossed in your mind.

The golden memories of the golden glowing sands, the scintillating surf and the beauty of the beach are unparalleled.