Balasore is the first major town in Orissa coming from Calcutta, about halfway between Calcutta and Puri. Balasore means “Town of Baby Krishna.” This is the nearest train junction to the Gopinath Temple at Remuna.

Where to Stay and Eat

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Deepak Lodging, across from the cinema, is a decent place. From the train station, go to the main road and turn left. The hotel is on the right, across from the cinema.

Hotel Swarnachuda (73440), Sahadevkhunta Rd, near the bus stand, is a good, well-managed place with rooms for Rs 200/250 and A/C rooms for Rs 350/500.

Suraj (72657), near the bus stand, has basic rooms for Rs 150/200.

Top of the line is the Hotel Torrento (63481; fax 64084), 3km out of town on NH #5. It has large, comfortable rooms, most with central A/C, for Rs 1200/1450. Recommended.

Rainbow Restaurant is a good vegetarian place. Recommended.

 

Travel
Balasore falls on the Calcutta-Chennai route. There are regular trains to Calcutta, Puri, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar (five daily). The railway station is just off the main street. It is a ten-minute rickshaw ride (3km) from the railway station to the bus station.

 

There are regular buses to Remuna, Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, and Chandipur.

Chandipur
Chandipur, on the coast 16km from Balasore, has one of the best beaches in Orissa. The tide recedes 5km each day. You can get an OTDC Tour from Chandipur that visits the temples in the area. It departs twice daily.

 

Practicalities
OTDC Panthanivas Tourist Bungalow (72213), near the beach, is a colonial building with rooms for Rs 350 and Rs 500 with A/C. It is well-managed and friendly.

 

Shubam Hotel (72025) is in an old colonial building and has a nice garden. Rooms are Rs 450/500.

Chandipur Hotel (72313) has good rooms for Rs 175/225.

 

Yarica Yatri Niwas (72374) is a modern place with rooms built around a courtyard for Rs 250 and Rs 500 with A/C. It also has dorm beds.
There are five buses a day going between Balasore and Chandipur. An auto-rickshaw costs about Rs 75 from Balasore to Chandipur.