Discover Balasore Where Heritage Meets the Sea

Balasore ranks among the most important districts of Odisha, earning its place not only on the national map but also on the international map for its history, geographical position, culture, marine development, and important institutions such as Proof and Experimental establishment, Interim Test Range.

People are often confused about how Balasore got its name. Ancestors initially referred to Balasore as 'Baneswar'. According to legend, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation 'Baman' asked King Mahabali for a tri-feet (Tripada) gift. He got the gift from the king and covered the whole land surface of the world under his feet. So naturally, he was devoid of all the land, and there was no place to go for him, as he did not have any right to his father’s property. He was helpless, and thus he went to Lord Varun (Sea) and asked for help. Seeing his plight, Lord Varun gifted him a small plot by the sea. King Bata evaporated the sea in his land, covering it with enormous amounts of sand. People named the place Balasore, meaning 'the city of land on the seashore'. Thus, Balasore's name came to the limelight.

Geographical Location

Balasore is one of the coastal districts of Odisha that lies on the northernmost part of the State between 21° 03′ North to 21° 59′ North Latitude and 86° 20′ East to 87° 29′ East Longitude. The district covers a geographical area of 3,634 sq km. The Midnapore district of West Bengal borders Balasore to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, Bhadrak district to the south, and Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts to the west.

• Forests: We can broadly divide this district into three geographical regions, namely the Coastal belt, the Deltaic Alluvial plain, and the North-Western hills. The coastal belt spans about 26 km in width and resembles a strip. In this region, sand dunes stand out along the coast, accompanied by some ridges. Brackish water from estuarine rivers mostly floods this region, making it unsuitable for cultivation. Farmers now use this area for coconut and betel cultivation. Shrimp culture and salt manufacturing units have recently started developing in this area. The second contiguous geographical region is the Deltaic Alluvial Plain. It stretches wide with highly fertile and irrigated land. This area is highly populous and devoid of any jungle. The third region, the North-western hill region, covers most of the Nilgiri sub-division. It consists mostly of hilly terrain covered in tropical semi-evergreen forest. The hills of Nilgiri have the highest peak of 1783 feet above sea level.
• Rivers: Perennial and estuarine rivers criss-cross Balasore, the coastal district of Odisha, due to its proximity to the sea. The two important rivers of Odisha, namely Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha, pass through this district from West to East before surging into the Bay of Bengal. Industrialization is also gaining ground as the rubber, plastic, Paper, and alloys industries are mushrooming around Balasore town.
• Soil: The soil of Balasore district is mostly alluvial laterite. The soil of the Central region is mostly clayey, clay loam, and sandy loam, which is very fertile for paddy and other farm products. Nilgiri Sub-division is mostly gravelly and lateritic soil, which is less fertile. A small strip of saline soil appears along the extreme coastal part of the district.
• Climate: The climate of Balasore district is mostly hot and humid. The hot season starts from March to May, followed by the rainy season from June to September. During this period, the South-west monsoon causes maximum rain. But the district experiences the highest rainfall during July and August. Because of its strategic location, this district faces most of the cyclonic storms and depressions that originate in the Bay of Bengal. The cold season from December to February is very pleasant. The district’s average temperature ranges between 22°C and 32°C, with an average annual rainfall of 1583 mm.

How to reach there?

The South Eastern Railway covers a distance of 102 km within Balasore District, connecting it with Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Chennai. Besides, National Highways pass through the district and run from Kolkata to Chennai. The NH-5 covers a distance of 66 km, and the NH-60 covers a distance of 53 km. Balasore lies about 220 km by road and 232 km by rail from Kolkata, and about 215 km by road and 206 km by rail from Bhubaneswar. It takes about four hours by road or rail to reach Kolkata International Airport or Bhubaneswar National Airport from Balasore.

• Airways: The nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar, located 198 km from Balasore. Flights from Bhubaneswar connect the city with Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Raipur, and Nagpur.
• Rail: Balasore has a railhead on the South Eastern Railway. All Kolkata-Chennai rail routes of South-Eastern Railway touch Balasore. Several trains from Howrah, including the Dhauli Express, Falaknama Express, East-Coast Express, Puri Express, and Jagannath Express, stop at Balasore at different times of the day. Several local trains also serve the station.
• Road: Roads connect Balasore well with Bhubaneswar (198 km), Cuttack (228 km), and Kolkata (234 km). The Chennai-bound NH-5, which links Kolkata, Balasore, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar, serves as the main road connection. There are several other bye-routes, such as the Kolaghat-Digha-Jaleswar routes and the Belda route. A good motorable road (5 km from NH-5) also connects the area. Regular buses run from Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Puri, and other major locations.

Where to stay?

Balasore attracts thousands of tourists every year with its rich history and scenic beauty. The district offers many attractions for travelers who visit. So, travelers can find good accommodation options at various locations across the district.

Fairs and Festivals

Durgapuja, Siva Ratri, and Raja Parba

Shopping

The brass work of Remuna, stone carvings of Nilgiri, local handicrafts, and Sapa Masina (mate) from Jhaleswar and Bhogarai have gained widespread recognition.