History of Gopalpur
This otherwise non-descript town was once a part of the ancient and wealthy kingdom of Kalinga. It was called Paloura then. During its prosperous days, the city traded with Sumatra, Java and Bali in silk and pearls. The East India Company would transport cheap labor from here to the Company-owned tea
estates in Assam.
Orientation of Gopalpur
Gopalpur enamours the visitor with its pristine beauty and solitude. This picturesque place offers a relaxed vacation amidst casuarina groves on the Bay of Bengal. Desolate beaches, vacant resorts is what the place sees during most seasons. Gopalpur falls within the Berhampur district, famous for its
trade in silk fabric. Silk-weavers line the street beside the Jagannath and Nilkantheswar temple at Berhampur, 17 kms from here.
Quick Gateways near Gopalpur
Taptapani - It literally means 'boiling water'. A short drive west of Gopalpur, hot sulphur springs well up in low forested hills here. The water, believed to have curative powers, is channeled into a pool where tribal women bathe to cure infertility.
Chandragiri - This lies about 32 kilometers south of Taptapani. The place is famous for the Tibetan carpet weavers who have settled in a refugee colony here. The temple and the Buddhist prayer flags here make up for a distinctive atmosphere. There are enough
handicrafts shops to step around (quite reasonably priced) or you may just watch the weavers and craftsmen at work.
Getting There & Away to Gopalpur
The nearest airport to Gopalpur is Bhubaneshwar, 170 kms away. There are daily, direct flights from Calcutta to Bhubaneshwar. However, the closest railhead is at Behrampur on the Howrah-Madras line. The town is a short 16 kms drive away. And you can always get taxis from Behrampur.