Best Tourist places to Visit in Ganjam District, Odisha

Gopalpur On Sea Melancholy and Salubrious Sea beach with blue waters and attractive back water bed in the form of cracks and sleepy lagoon covered with canopies of lush green foliage. The remnants of a vanishing British made port buildings speak the golden days of Southern Orissa from where ships were sadling to Rangoon.

Hardly 16 km from Berhampur, the club of Southern Orissa, is the tiny town of Gopalpur on the Bay of Bengal. Enjoying the reputation of being a popular Beach Resort of Orissa, the deep and clear blue waters instantly provoke those who are good swimmers. The temptation of bathing here is irresistible. Not-so-good swimmers take the hands of the Nolias (local fishermen who help bathers) and enjoy a pleasant bath. White surf splashing on the golden sands makes

Gopalpur-on-Sea as one of the finest beaches on the eastern coast. A fascinating haunt for avid beach combers and sea worshippers, it is a splendid retreat.Intense heat of the summer is temperated by the sea breeze in the fantastic quietness of the beach amidst palm, coconut and casuarina trees. It is famous for a perennial hot spring of Medicinal Sulfuric Water which is located on the State Highways that connects Berhampur with Western Orissa. Being surrounded by a cluster of hills and thick forests, the serenity of nature at Taptapani is added by wonderful sights of sun rise, sun set moon lit night, tribal dance and music, chirps of birds and sight of wild animals. The place as such attracts large numbers of tourists of all category. Poets, writers, scholars, picnickers, holiday makers and newly weds can best exploit the place through all seasons.

How to Reach : One can reach Gopalpur by road from Brahmapur, which is 16 kms away. Best Time: November to February

Taratarini is a famous religious place in Southern Orissa where the twin sister Goddess i.e. Tara & Tarini adorn the sanctum situated on the top of a hillock girdled by the waddling holy river Rushikulya. Taratarani attracts thousands of devotes, picnickers and visitors through out the year. Special auspicious dates connected with the rites and titular of the twin goddess i.e. the four Tuesdays in the month of Chaitra and that of the all Sankranties in Hindu Calendar. Walking over 999 steps from the foot of the hill, to the hill top under shadows of green plantation is very much amusing and pleasure making.

At the hill top in a small but beautiful temple appears the famous Shrine of Tara-Tarini. Worship at this important centre of Shakta cult has been continuing since time immeonial . Two stones anthropomorphized by the addition of gold and silver ornaments and shaped to be seen as human faces are the main Shrine of this temple which represents the Goddesses Tara and Tarini.In between them are placed two fully celebrated and beautiful brass heads as their Chalanti Pratima. It has been said that from a tribal cult Tara-Tarini have been transformed into Shakti cult through the process of aryanisation.Of couse the name Tara, the Primordial deity of the Mahayana Budhist Pantheon , indicates Budhist influence of element in the Tara - Tarini worship which seems to suggest the incorporation of a tribal cult and Buddhist influence before its Hinduisation.

How to Reach: One can reach by road from Brahmapur or Chatrapur. It is 32 kms from Brahmapur and 30 kms from Chatrapur. Best Time : Month of Chaitra in Hindu calendar.