Gopalpur

Dubbed the `best beach resort in Orissa’ by the cognoscenti, Gopalpur-on-Sea is a lovely laidback 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 any more. Gopalpur has gone back to being a quiet, relaxed place, but with one major difference- it’s today growing into one of India’s prettiest beach resorts. Nowhere as commercial and trendy as Goa, but with a charm all 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.
The best thing about Gopalpur, besides the golden beach, is the seafood. This is a seafood lover’s paradise, but, like everything else in this resort, don’t expect meals in a hurry. The restaurants, shacks and even the locals are quite willing to cook a special meal for you – just remember to give them plenty of notice.
Best time to visit:-

Gopalpur is a year-round destination, but the best time to go is from October to April. The temperatures range from a summer high of 35°C to a winter low of 16°C. The monsoon season (June to September) sees some hot and some very wet days.
Access:-

The nearest airport is at Bhubaneshwar, 180 km from Gopalpur. Bhubaneshwar is a one-hour flight from Kolkata, to which it is also connected by rail and road. From Gopalpur-on-Sea, the nearest railhead is Berhampur (16 km) on the Kolkata-Chennai line. You can drive in to Gopalpur on National Highway 5 from Berhampur, Bhubaneshwar and Barkul (75 km). Buses, minibuses, tourist taxis and even auto-rickshaws can be hired from Berhampur.
Auto rickshaws are available for moving around within the town - remember to agree on the fare beforehand.
Accommodation:-

There is no dearth of places to stay from star class hotels, tourist resorts and beach shacks. Luxury hotels offer rooms facing the sea, and come with all the frills you’d expect of a fine property. Quaint old bungalows built at the turn of the century have been refurbished and are let out to tourists, while backpackers can head for economy options like the youth hostel.