Gopalpur-on-sea: Times of yore and beyond

Distance from Bhubaneswar: 180 kms

The seaside town of Gopalpur, remains one of the most underrated tourist destination of the state. The beautiful beach sans the crowd is the place to be for people looking for solitude and serene environment. The never ending and quiet coastline provides a soothing effect and the visuals get enhanced by the breathtaking sunrise and sunset and the sight of fishermen trying to make a catch makes for an interesting photography session.
 
The beach town during the ancient times was an important port for commerce, with connections to different countries during at ancient times. Traders sailed from Gopalpur to distant countries in South East Asia like Java, Bali and Sumatra and plied their trade. During the British era, Gopalpur port was used to send army reinforcements to Burma and other places during the world war. The remnants of the crumbling ancient jetty, ancient bungalows and old buildings scattered across the quaint town stands testimony to its bustling past. Later it was converted into a transit point to export sugar and cheap labourers for the tea gardens of Assam in north eastern India. One of the major attractions here is the lighthouse that continues to reflect its times of yore and charm the visitors.  
 
The annual Gopalpur Beach Festival and aqua sports is yet another attraction of the beach drawing huge crowd. So, if you are looking for some relaxing time gazing at the shimmering golden beach accompanied by the  rhythmic lapping of waves, Gopalpur is a must visit for you.