A major commercial town of the Ganjam district Berhampur lies south of Chilika Lake, in southern Orisha, Berhampur is a trading centre for...
A major commercial town of the Ganjam district Berhampur lies south of Chilika Lake, in southern Orisha, Berhampur is a trading centre for the beautiful hand-woven Ikat silk. The agriculturally fertile area surrounded by dense forest, dates from prehistoric times and once constituted a part of territory under the Emperor Ashoka's rule.
Berhampur is the railhead for the sea resort of Gopalpur-on-Sea, 18 km away and provides a convenient base of visit to Jaugada and Buguda, see pg 26
It is a rewarding experience to see weavers sitting at their looms in the busy bazaar and shop for silks. The brass and bell metal ware, horn toys, wood carvings and carpets are also available. The shrines of Thakurani, Jagannath and Nilakantheswar Shiva Temples within the town are worth visiting. The museum here has a collection of some sculptures, and specimens of anthropological and natural history.
GOPALPUR-ON-SEA
16 km from Berhampur, the Gopalpur-On-Sea is a popular beautiful sandy beach. Clusters of coconut and palm trees, white sand dunes overgrown with casuarinas plantations separate the beach from the blue water of the sea. During the days of the days of Kalingas it was known as the port of Paloura from which traders sailed as far has Java, Bali and Sumatra and piled up wealth dealing in silk and pearl. Later in was a transit point to export sugar and cheap labourers for the tea gardens of Assam in north eastern India. The crumbling walls and the pillars of an ancient jetty together with some crumbling bungalows are witness to its swinging maritime past.
The beach with its golden sand of the blue sea has its own sleepy charm. The beach is a very quite and comparatively clean place to swim and sun bathe, but take precautions because of treacherous undercurrents. Watching Gopalpur's endless empty shoreline getting swarmed with fishermen with their hand-nets full of catch is interesting and enjoyable to while away time in the stunning stillness. Whether it is the rising sun over the azure waters or the rhythmic lapping of waves shimmering in the bright moonlight, it is an enduring experience. The old lighthouse open to visitors each afternoon, but for a very short duration, offers
good views.
Very easily accessible from Berhampur, it has plenty of accommodation options (advisable to book in advance during the high season, November-January ; for the rest of the year, it is just idle).
EXCURSIONS
Beaches
The unexplored beaches in this area around Gopalpur-On-Sea are luring. Offering peace and tranquility, these are picturesque places to relax leisurely and introspect. Notable among these are-the beach at Patisonapur, 30 km south of Gopalpur across the river Bahuda and the one at Aryapalli, 16 km from Gopalpur.
Taptapani
50 km west of Gopalpur-On-Sea, Taptapani is a spa village located in a forest setting in the Eastern Ghats renowned for its hot spring. The water very high in sulphur contents is channellised to a pool for a refreshing bath and its believed to provide cure for chronic ailments.
Near the pool is a small temple dedicated to a Goddess Kandhuni who is believed to cure infertility. Tribal women, mainly Saoras can often been seen trying to pick up seed pods from the mud at the bottom of the pool, that have fallen from a tree that overhangs the pool.
Places to stay and eat
OTDC HOTEL-PANTHANIVAS
Taptapani ph-06814-211631
17 rooms Rs 850-2900
Tree house, tents, restaurant, just below the pool has hot water from the spring piped directly into its bathtubs
Taptapani has direct bus frequent connections for Berhampur and also to Bhubaneswar (240 km). Enroute to Taptapani, about 20 km short, is a scenic sport, Mahuri Kalua, adorned with the temple of Goddess Kalua.
Chandragiri
32 km south of Taptapani, there is a Tibetan settlement at Chandragiri. They were allotted land here by the State Government after the Chinese invasion in 1957. Since then they have settled here and for a living weave carpets. Their dwelling units are characterized by the temple and the Buddhist flags fluttering from the roof tops. It is interesting to watch them at work of weaving carpets. The entire drive beyond Taptapani, winding through narrow hill road in sal forests is exciting.
Taratarini
Near the village Purushottampur, 30 km from Gopalpur on the bank of river Rushikulya, there exist the famous temple of the twin Goddesses Tara and Tarini. perched atop a hill top, the temple is reachable by a fight of about one thousand steps or alternatively a motorable road from the foot-hill reaches the summit. The temple is revered as a shaktipitha of tantra sect and on the Raja Sankranti day in March /April a fair here attracts multitude of devotes.
good views.
Very easily accessible from Berhampur, it has plenty of accommodation options (advisable to book in advance during the high season, November-January ; for the rest of the year, it is just idle).
EXCURSIONS
Beaches
The unexplored beaches in this area around Gopalpur-On-Sea are luring. Offering peace and tranquility, these are picturesque places to relax leisurely and introspect. Notable among these are-the beach at Patisonapur, 30 km south of Gopalpur across the river Bahuda and the one at Aryapalli, 16 km from Gopalpur.Taptapani
50 km west of Gopalpur-On-Sea, Taptapani is a spa village located in a forest setting in the Eastern Ghats renowned for its hot spring. The water very high in sulphur contents is channellised to a pool for a refreshing bath and its believed to provide cure for chronic ailments.
Near the pool is a small temple dedicated to a Goddess Kandhuni who is believed to cure infertility. Tribal women, mainly Saoras can often been seen trying to pick up seed pods from the mud at the bottom of the pool, that have fallen from a tree that overhangs the pool.
Places to stay and eat
OTDC HOTEL-PANTHANIVAS
Taptapani ph-06814-211631
17 rooms Rs 850-2900
Tree house, tents, restaurant, just below the pool has hot water from the spring piped directly into its bathtubs
Taptapani has direct bus frequent connections for Berhampur and also to Bhubaneswar (240 km). Enroute to Taptapani, about 20 km short, is a scenic sport, Mahuri Kalua, adorned with the temple of Goddess Kalua.
Chandragiri
32 km south of Taptapani, there is a Tibetan settlement at Chandragiri. They were allotted land here by the State Government after the Chinese invasion in 1957. Since then they have settled here and for a living weave carpets. Their dwelling units are characterized by the temple and the Buddhist flags fluttering from the roof tops. It is interesting to watch them at work of weaving carpets. The entire drive beyond Taptapani, winding through narrow hill road in sal forests is exciting.
Taratarini
Near the village Purushottampur, 30 km from Gopalpur on the bank of river Rushikulya, there exist the famous temple of the twin Goddesses Tara and Tarini. perched atop a hill top, the temple is reachable by a fight of about one thousand steps or alternatively a motorable road from the foot-hill reaches the summit. The temple is revered as a shaktipitha of tantra sect and on the Raja Sankranti day in March /April a fair here attracts multitude of devotes.
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