Balasore Tourism And Travel Guide

Balasore city is the administrative headquarters of the Balasore district in northern Orissa. The district was once part of the ancient Kalinga dynasty, and later became a part of the Maratha kingdom. After eventually coming under the rule of the Mughals, the British established the first factory here that made Balasore an important trading port. While agriculture and fishing is a major source of livelihood for the locals here, tourism also plays a significant role in driving the economy of Balasore district.

With beautiful coastlines and splendid architectural landmarks, there is a lot to explore in Balasore that will keep you coming back for more each time. Here is a brief travel guide to help you with planning a trip to Balasore. 

By Air: 

The nearest airports from Balasore are the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata (255 km) and the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar (200 km). There are various modes of transportation available at either airport to take you to Balasore directly.

By Rail: 

Balasore has its own railway station, which is a major railhead on the Howrah-Chennai main line and a part of the South Eastern Railway. Regular trains operate between Balasore Railway Station and important cities all over the country, including cities within state like Bhubaneswar and Puri.

By Road:

Balasore has a good network of roads that connects it to all neighbouring cities and towns, making road routes a relatively convenient option to reach here. Public and private buses ply regularly to and from the bus station at Balasore, along with taxis available from all regions nearby.

Winter (October – February):

The best season to visit Balasore is during the winter months. The weather is perfectly cool and pleasant to enjoy the city to its fullest, without getting too chilly even during the peak winter months that would make any outdoor movement uncomfortable.

Summer (March – September): 

Summertime gets intensely hot in Balasore, making these months an unsuitable time to visit the city. Temperatures rise to very high levels and make outdoor activity an inconvenient affair. The monsoon rains provide some relief from the heat, but on days that it doesn’t rain, the climate only gets more humid.

Visit the Rivers and Beaches:

Chandipur Beach is one of the most well-known coastlines in Orissa; mostly for its unique feature wherein the seashore recedes to anywhere between 1 to 5 km during the times of the ebb tide. Locals and tourists alike love to visit this sea just for the opportunity to be able to walk on the ocean floor. Dhamra is also a popular beach situated at the meeting point of the rivers Brahmani and Vaitarani. The Chandbali river port is well known for boating and ferrying to nearby locations like Aradi and Bhitarkanika National Park.

Visit the Temples: 

There are a number of temples in the Balasore district area that receives a lot of devotees all through the year. The Panchalingeswar Temple is one of the famous ones here and is devoted to the phallic form of Lord Shiva. The Chandaneswar Temple attracts religious devotees in large numbers during all the holy festivals, while the temple dedicated to Baba Akhandalmani at Aradi is located along the banks of river Vaitarani – a trip that can be combined with a fun boating experience from Chandbali.

Visit the Picnic Spots: 

The ancient forts of Raibania are a fun excursion spot that offer a glimpse into the history of the region. Chashakhand is another popular beach spot located where the Balaramgarhi River meets the sea. Apart from being a great location for picnics and fishing activities, this is also the location where the famous freedom fighter Jatindranath Mukherjee was martyred against the British forces – making it a historically significant place for the locals.

Balasore has a few local eateries that offer a variety of options in cuisines and local delicacies. The oldest restaurant in the area is the Swarnachuda Restaurant with pretty decent food and quality services. Mega Bites is a famous hangout café on Chandipur Beach that serves a variety of snack items, while Barjorji’s Bhojan is the best option for vegetarians. Head down to Yum Chinese for delicious Indo-Chinese cuisine and Green Earth Restaurant for an interesting cottage type dining experience.