Rest of Odisha · Colonial-era beach town with a lighthouse
Gopalpur-on-Sea
A laid-back Bay of Bengal beach with a working lighthouse, fishing boats, crumbling colonial bungalows and calm seas ideal for swimming and surfing.
History & legend
Gopalpur was Paloura, a port of ancient Kalinga from which ships sailed to Burma, Sumatra and Java as early as the 3rd century BCE. The British East India Company revived it in the 18th century as a trading harbour and it flourished as a port for exporting rice and labour to Burma until World War II, when the British built the lighthouse and the town became a supply base. It later became a genteel seaside resort for Bengali families, and the 1980s saw the Oberoi Palm Beach hotel restore its colonial charm.
Timings
Beach open all day · lighthouse 3:30–5:30 PM
Best time to visit
October–March · Beach Festival in December
Entry fee
Free · lighthouse ₹20
Approx. cab from Puri (one way)
₹4,500 · 180 km × ₹25/km
Don't miss
- Lighthouse sunset climb
- Surf & swim
- Fresh crab at the shacks
- Colonial ruins walk
Local tip: Sea is calmer than Puri — good for families. Rent a room by the beach and stay for the sunrise.
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