Berhampur

(Silk City ) Berhampur has many surprises up its sleeves. An important commercial center of Orissa, Berhampur is also famous for its silk variety and quality. Easily accessible by road and rail, tours to Berhampur serve as a gateway to visit the other tourist attractions in the Ganjam district of Orissa.

Using Berhampur as a base camp, you can go on an excursion to the most famous beach in Orissa at the seaside resort of Gopalpur. Besides swimming in the sea and sunbathing on the beach, the backwaters of Bay of Bengal are a must to see on your tour to Berhampur with Tourism of Orissa packages. Another beach flanked by Casuarinas that you should visit on your tour to Berhampur is the one at Aryapalli, headquarters of Ganjam district.

Mahendragiri Hill, 5,000 feet above sea level, is another place you can visit on your tour to Berhampur. Surrounded by evergreen forests and mythological stories from Ramayan and Mahabharat, Mahendragiri Hill is a must visit during the Shiv Ratri festival. Taratarani Temple, devoted to the worship of the twin Goddess Taratarani, is another place that you must visit on your tour to Berhampur.

The natural hot water spring at Taptapani is a major tourist attraction. You can also take a bath in pond where the spring water is collected so that tourists, like you and me, can relish the fruits of nature's labor.

October to June is the best time for tours to Berhampur. However, tours to Berhampur during the festivals celebrated in the district can also be arranged. The main festivals of the region include Car Festival, Dusshera, Taratarini Festival, Thakurani Yatra, Buda and Khambeshwari Yatra.

Shopping at Berhampur, on your tour to Berhampur with Tourism of Orissa, is a delightful experience. Besides the world famous silk and silk items, shops in Berhampur also keep stocks of handicrafts from neighboring areas in the district. You can purchase Ganjam brass work, Gopalpur coirmats and Paralakhemundi horn work as souvenirs from your tour of Berhampur. Chandragiri carpets are also famous with the tourists for their creators are refugees from Tibet.

GOPALPUR-ON-SEA : This sleepy resort in Ganjam district with its deep sea was once an ancient sea port. It is 16 km from Berhampur having all sorts of touristic facilities.

Taptapani : This hot sulphur spring, 50 km from Berhampur, is an ideal Health Resort and picnic spot, One can stay at Panthanivas, Taptapani- 761014, Tel ; (36814) 47531, Tariff : Rs. 250/ to Rs. 500/-

Jaugarh, 35 km from Berhampur, is famous for Ashokan Rock Edicts and other archaeological remains.

How to get there : Berhampur is a major railhead on the S. E. Railway & N. H. No. 5 passes through the city.

Where to stay : (Telephone numbers in brackets) : Hotel Moti (202386), Hotel Nandan (200232), Municipal Guest House (200466), Lake View Lodge (203334), Ananda Bhavan Lodging (208364), Hotel Radha (202341), Laxminivas Lodging (204381), Hotel Shankar Bhawan (203309), Sriram Bhawan ( 203369), Berhampur Rest House (203636) & Others.

Assistance : Tourist Office, New Bus Stand ( 1st Floor), Berhampur, District Ganjam, Tel : 203226, Gram : ORISSATOUR & Tourist Counter, Railway Station, Berhampur, Tel : 203870.