If you are looking for a quiet and serene seaside retreat or adventurous hill trek or water falls or temples in the state of Odisha then Baleswar is one of the most preferred destinations. All of those wonderful places are situated around this place. It has a prominent beach at Chandipur on the Bay of Bengal and 16 km away from Balasore ( Baleswar ) railway station.
How to reach Balasore
Baleswar can be reached from Kolkata by taking a train. It takes around three and half hours to reach Baleswar from where the tourists can take autos or buses to reach different locations e.g. Chandipur or resorts near Panchalingeswar etc. Given below trains timings of howrah and sealdah to balasore – you may check them before booking tickets.
Howrah to Balasore trains and Sealdah to Balasore trains.
Popular tourist destinations near Baleswar
Chandipur Beach
Glorifying the beauty of nature, the beach in Chandipur is far too good to resist. One of the most amazing things to note about this beach is that it is not a constant feature on the map and the water of the sea recedes to about five kilometers during the ebb tide and it seems that the sea disappears around the day.
While the hide and seek game that the sea plays here is a phenomenal feature, it is an unforgettable experience to watch the sunrise and the sunset from the beach. Surprisingly, the sea comes back to fill the empty space from where the water recedes during the ebb tide. For the tourists keen to walk into the seabed, Chandipur is one of those destinations that provide them the opportunity of the lifetime. Only the feet stays submerged in the shallow water of the sea when the water recedes.
Simlipal forest reserve
Simlipal is a beautiful town in Odisha in the Mayurbhanj district and is known as one of the prominent tiger projects of India and wildlife sanctuary enriched with natural treasures. With dense forests, scenic waterfalls, big rivers, and the wonderful meadows, it is a blessed bio-diversity offering the tourists the opportunity to come across some of the largest species of flora and fauna.
The lush green surrounding of the forest makes it an ideal spot for camping. You can also enjoy a trip to the Simlipal Elephant Reserve, a complete ecosystem with forest vegetation and the tribal settlements of the adjoining areas are also present here. It is situated at a distance of 35 km from Chandipur and the tourists must visit this beautiful national park during a trip.
Nilagiri
It is a charming place situated in the Balasore district and known for the Nilagiri Jagannath Temple.
Panchalingeshwar Shrine
With greenery spread over the Nilagiri Hills, the Panchalingeshwar Shrine is located at about 45 km from Chandipur. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva with five statues placed over the perennial stream. Apart from this, the location also offers the excitement of trekking and a one night stay in the tourist lodge of the Odisha government gives you an opportunity to spend enough time in this location if you can spare a few more days during a trip to Chandipur.
Bhudhara Chandi Shrine
This is another shrine located at Chandipur with the Goddess of Maa Chandi with ancient art. If you love visiting religious places, making a stopover at this destination is a good idea.
Dagara beach
Dagara beach in Balasore district is one of the most beautiful long beach filled with red crabs and green casuarina forest. The best part is it is less crowded unlike beaches of Puri or Konark. It is 36 km from Chandipur beach via coastel route and by road it is 62 km from Baleswar.
Kshira Chora Gopinath Temple
This is another temple situated in Remuna town about 9km away from Baleswar and dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is believed that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple on his way to Puri and his lotus footprints can be noted at this temple.
Synopsis:
You know Odisha to have some of the best beach scenes of all time. If you are particularly eyeing a spot with amazing beach scenes, then Chandipur Beach is the one for you to address. It is situated in district of Baleswar and houses some of the top-notch tourist spots of all time. Some of those examples over here are Chandipur Beach, the infamous Simlipal forest reserve and definitely the Nilagiri. If you want, you can dedicate a day to visit Panchalingeshwar Shrine and even the religious Bhudara Chandi Shrine. If you want to attain peace, try visiting Kshira Chora Gopinatha Temple at least once.
If you have like this sea beaches and hills I believe you will like to read about 15 fantastic places in northern Sikkim.
Few more information given below which came from readers queries.
Top tourist places acound Balasore
Famous Tourist Places in Baleswar are Chandipur beach, simlipal forest reserve, Panchalingeswar, Dagara beach, Nilagiri.
What is Balasore famous for?
Balasore has many famous temples of Lord Shiva e.g. at Panchalingeshwar, Chandaneshwar, Baneshwar, Maninageshwar, Bhusandeshwar and many other.
Which festival is famous in Balasore?
Balasore and its surrounding area celebrates many festivals, irrespective of religion. Major festivals are Shiva Ratri, Durga Puja, Makar Sankranti, Raja Parba, Kali Puja, Ganesh Puja.
Which dish is famous in Balasore?
Balasore is famous for its fish preperations. Lip smaking dishes are:- Machha Ghanta (it has numerous types & names). Then Machha Besra (Seafood preperation) and Chuna Machha Khata.
Does Balasore have a beach?
Yes, Very famous Chandipur beach ( I think it is one of its kind)
What craft is famous in Balasore?
Baleswar has a rich culture of art, to be specific Lacquer art. One can create bangles and ornaments using lac art.