Bhubaneswar is among the top cultural cities of India and carries the tag of the “City of Temples”. It is also an ideal base for planning memorable weekend trips with family and friends alike, as there are some exciting resort towns situated at a short distance. The usual tourist itinerary will mention Puri and Konark temple as the obvious choices but Orissa has much more to offer other than the spiritual cities of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark. We are highlighting four interesting beach destinations near Bhubaneshwar.
Digha: It is a famous seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, located 288 kms from Bhubaneshwar. The place is well developed and equipped with hotels and other tourist facilities.
Digha was originally known as Beerkul and it started getting popular when an English tourist by the name of John Frank Smith spent some time here and started writing about its charm. Being a seaside town, Digha offers a number of lovely beaches such as Digha beach, Udaipur sea beach, Junput beach and Shankarpur beach The sunrise and sunset at the beaches reflect sun rays off the misty blue water and offer the most stunning view. You can relax at the beach, swim in the water, or simply lie down and admire the blissful views. Apart from the beaches, Digha also has other places of tourism interest like Digha Gate, Marine Aquarium and Research Centre and Lord Shiva Temple at Chandaneswar. You can book taxi in Bhubaneshwar and reach Digha after 6 hours of journey.
Mandarmani: It is a serene and unpolluted beach town in the northern part of the Bay of Bengal. The sea beach here is the longest motorable beach of India. You can spot plenty of red crabs crawling along the 13 km beach. Mandarmani takes you into the rural way of life and is the perfect escape from the noise and stress of the city. The sound of sea waves hitting the shore and views of the Casuarina trees is a magical experience. The sea water here is shallower than Digha and hence better for swimming. There are a number of good holiday resorts right on the beach that offer you a luxurious and relaxed holiday.
Chandipur: It is a popular beach town located near Balasore in Orissa. It lies at 205 kms from Bhubaneshwar and known for its unusual tidal waves. The sea here recedes between 1 to 5 km during ebb tide and then slowly makes it way back to the coastline. You are assured to get some of the best sea food delicacies at beach side restaurants. Don’t forget to collect rare sea shells at the beach. Outstation cabs in Bhubaneshwar can be easily booked online to travel to Chandipur.
Bakkhali: Bakkhali is a lovely weekend destination, located at 300 kms from Bhubaneshwar. Bakkhali is part of the Sundarban marshes and is a well preserved area. The Bakkhali beach has hard sand and is suitable for driving, cycling, and walking. Henry’s Island, another lovely place, is just few kilometres away an ideal place to spend your day. The waves enveloping the shore at sunset, cool breeze and lovely blue sky are the sights that make this place truly charming.
