Paradip
Located in the confluence of mighty Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal, Paradip or Paradeep is a gem of a place somehow neglected by the tourist rush. At Paradip you can enjoy mesmerizing sunsets and sunrises, pristine beaches, age-old temples, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles, a magnificent lighthouse and one of the largest ports in India. Paradip is located some 125 km towards the east of Bhuvaneshwar and 94 km towards the east of Cuttack. Fishing is a very important activity of the people of Paradip and the best part – it is not crowded. BOOKING DETAILS OF PARADIP
Places to see in Paradip: One of the biggest attractions is the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the sea. Beautiful scenes of sunrise and sunset make the spot a really exciting one. There is the Hukitola Building, which showcases the rain harvesting system of the earlier days. Among the ‘must visit’ destinations of Paradip, there is the Tulasi Kshetra, which is very famous for the Baladeva Temple, the Gahirmatha beach, which has now been converted into a breeding center for Oliver Ridley turtles. Also, you must never miss a trip to the Light House, Paradeep Port, Marine Aquarium, Jagganath Temple, Smurti Udyan and Hanuman Temple.
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Nearby attractions of Paradeep: The most popular attraction near Paradeep is the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary that is spread over 672 square kilometers and is home to a wide variety of animal life like sea turtles, crocodiles and water monitor lizards apart from the wide variety of birds. The famous Gahirmatha Wildlife Sanctuary located on the fringes of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is also a great place to see the nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles. The caves of Udayagiri and Ratnagiri are also located nearby.
Paradip Port
Things to do in Paradip: Enjoy long walks along the beach, visit temples, take camel rides on the beach and watch the mesmerizing sunsets. You can visit the local temples or go for a boat safari through the mangrove forests.
How to reach Paradeep: Cuttack station is the nearest railhead of Paradip. You have to hire taxis from Cuttack to reach Paradip. You would also get hired cars to Paradip from Bhuvaneshwar. Paradip is only 125 kilometers from Bhuvaneshwar. National Highway 5A passes through Paradeep, connecting the sea side with Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri.
Best time to visit Paradip: The best time to visit Paradip is during the months of November to March.
Paradip Accommodation
Lodging and dining facilities at Paradip: The Tourism Department accommodation at Paradeep is facilitated with AC Double Bedrooms, Dining Hall, Lawns and all other modern facilities. We arrange Tourism Department bookings for this Tourist Complex at Paradip directly from Kolkata through our affiliated authorised Travel Agent. Paradip is famous for its seafood – lobsters, prawns and crabs form a very common item of the local cuisine. You can also taste a lot of sweet dishes, which are quite popular here like ‘pithas’ or small cakes and Chanapora. Apart from all these, tasting the ‘Mahaprasad’ or the ‘Bhog’ offered to Lord Jagannath is a must try during a visit in Paradip.
Photographs by Amit Chandra, Kshitij Kapoor, Sanjeev K, Amar Panigrahi and Aditi Pany.
