Gopalpur-on-Sea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gopalpur | |
  Gopalpur
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Orissa - Ganjam |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 1 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
6660 - |
Gopalpur is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam District in the Indian state of Orissa.
Gopalpur-on-Sea is a beach and tourist attraction near Berhampur. It is about 15 km by road from the nearest town, Berhampur. It is a part of the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.
Gopalpur also has an ancient, commercial port, now lying in ruins. From an obscure little fishing village, Gopalpur became a prominent trading port during the days of British East India Company. The East India Company built large warehouses and godowns because the trade with Burma had picked up and it had become a trading point for rice from Rangoon. Today, the British and the wealthy Bengalis, who once made Gopalpur a vibrant, happening place have left. Gopalpur has reverted to being a quiet, relaxed place but with one major difference — it is one of India's most sought after beaches, with a distinct charm of its own.
Barely 16 km away from Berhampur, the commercial hub of southern Orissa and close to the border of Andhra Pradesh, is the tiny town of Gopalpur on the Bay of Bengal. You can forget yourself at Gopalpur-on-Sea and can have a lovely lazy holiday. This languorous beach with coconut groves, casuarinas and gentle sand dunes is deserted for miles. A place where you can loll on the sand, stroll down the beach and gorge on sea-food or tackle the high waves on a yacht. Watching the life on the beach is also exciting. The fishermen desperately pulling their catch or mending their nets add joy to one's feelings.
Renovated in 1970s at the initiative of the Orissa Government, the jetties were supposed to revive the trading activities of Gopalpur port. It's a wonderful drive-in for the people and from here, you could see the vast expanse of deep blue sea and the horizon. Another thrilling sight was the long stretch of cashew nut trees. Cashew nuts are processed here and exported. A major landmark of Gopalpur-on-Sea is its lighthouse. The view from the top is splendid and one can see at a glance the entire town of Gopalpur. Gopalour-on-sea is also famous for its 'beach festival' organised annually.A nearby beach is Dhabaleshwar, which also houses temple of the same name.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Gopalpur is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 1 metres (3 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Gopalpur had a population of 6660. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Gopalpur has an average literacy rate of 51%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 59%, and female literacy is 42%. In Gopalpur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] References
[edit] External link
Gopalpur-on-sea travel guide from Wikitravel
