Paradip - Hidden Gem of Odisha

As surprising as it may seem, this quaint little town in Odisha is known "only" for its port. Few would recognize it for its amazing stretch of beach, a unique Jaganath temple, the wonderful view of the confluence of Mahanadi river and the Bay of Bengal, the rugged Rock Beach , the bright and colorful Smruti Udyan and the jaw dropping collection of fish species in the Marine Aquarium.

Best time to visit - November - February

Camera - Canon EOS 600D, 18-135mm, f 3.5-5.6

               Samsung Galaxy S3

Starting the post with "POT" - Pic of the Trip

The Gorgeous Beach

Getting There : This little known town is approximate 2 hrs from the nearest airport Bhubaneswar. Its a four lane highway which makes the drive of 124 kms virtually effortless.

Paradip : One of the largest ports in Eastern India, this is primarily an industrial town. Might be the reason why it is not on the tourist's radar while visiting Odisha. With so much to see, I am not sure why the place is not properly marketed by the handful of hotels present there.

Time Required : Since it is a small town, An overnight stay is enough to explore the place.

Places to see : 

Jaganath Temple : Built  in 1972, this is probably the only Jaganath temple in India which allows Muslims and Christians inside the temple premises. Quite a startling fact considering the centuries old tradition of "Hindus only" in the famous Jaganath temple of Puri.

Jaganath Temple - Paradip

The above discovery easily made this place the best visit of my trip. I was elated to know that atleast somewhere in India, we get to see a truly secular place. Kudos to the temple administration!

History of the Temple of Universal Brotherhood :  A certain Mr.MY Rao, the then chairman of the Paradeep Port Trust was unceremoniously pushed out of the Puri Jaganath temple by the priests after realizing that he was a Christian. Taking this insult in his strides, he decided to build a Jaganath temple which would be open to people of all religion, caste and creed thereby creating an ideal place reflecting the true essence of religious spirit and faith. 

Rock Beach :  Located on the eastern side of Paradip (Paradeep), it is 10 kms from the city center. This is a man-made rock beach to prevent the ever intrusive sea from entering the main land. On several previous occasions, the nearby areas have been inundated by the rough sea on this side. 

The Crude Rock Beach

Ideal time to visit is during sunrise. The tranquility of this place is only disturbed by the occasional splash of the waves against the gigantic boulders.

Muhana Point : This is the place where the river Mahanadi meets the Bay of Bengal. The difference in the colors can be clearly seen below. The bluish water at the far end is the bay of bengal.

The confluence

Adjoining this wonderful place is a nice small beach flanked by casuarina trees. Quite ideal to spend some quality time in solitude.

Smruti Udyan : Built in the memory of thousands of souls who perished in the "super cyclone" which hit Paradip on 29th Oct' 99 leaving behind a trail of death and devastation, this bright and colorful garden is worth a one time visit.

Smruti Udyan

Paradip Beach : A highly underrated beach (if I may call it so), as it doesn't find mention anywhere in the tourist map of Odisha. I wonder why such a wonderful and clean stretch of beach with azure blue water and a view of the port is hardly known to many in the state.

Check out the pics.

Paradip Beach

Marine Aquarium : Located exactly in front of the beach at the other side of the road, this is a small well maintained enclosure consisting of unique species of marine life. 

My View : Despite its proximity to the state capital, Paradip is never really known to be a tourist destination though it offers much more than what meets the eye. This is an ideal place for a perfect weekend getaway.