Balasore

Balasore is a coastal city located in the state of Orissa, in the south-eastern region of India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Balasore District and is known for the Chandipur Beach. It is situated 194 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar. The city covers an area of 3076 km square km. It is surrounded by West Bengal in the north and the Bay of Bengal in the east.

The city is known as the ‘city of sand’ for comprising a large coastal area and an inner alluvial belt. Forests and mines also cover its large area. The Budhabalanga River and the Mahagiri Mountain in Balasore are its main attractions. The city is also the centre of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Program’s test range. There is also a rocket-launching site situated in Chandipur, near the Bay of Bengal.

The district of Balasore contains crisscrossed patterns of perennial and estuarine rivers due to close proximity with the sea. Two important rivers here include the Budhabalanga and Subarnarekha that flow from west to east to finally meet in the Bay of Bengal.

Balasore was originally a part of ancient Kalinga from where it later became the territory of Toshala or Utkal. It was possessed by the Mughals in 1568 and remained under their rule till the middle of the 18th century.

Balasore was under the Danish rule in 1763 during which it was governed by Tranquebar. The Danish gave away Balasore to the British in 1845 after which it became a part of British India. The city enjoys a strategic position since the beginning of the 20th century. There is an English settlement at Balasore that was formed in 1642, and has been an early trading port for British, French and Dutch ships.

The Bhujakhia Pir located in the middle of the city is a popular tourist attraction. This Pir is the tomb of the Sufi Saint Aasthana Sharif Hazrat. Along with this, there is also a shrine of Baba Bhujakhira Pir which is present here as a symbol of harmony and peace between Hindus and Muslims.

There are huge crowd of devotees that visit this Pir during the occasion of Urs. The Kshirachora Gopinatha Temple built by the Great King Langula Narasimha Dev who also constructed the Konark Temple, is situated 7 km from Balasore at Remuna.

Some other popular temples of the region include the Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia, ‘AstaDurga’ and ‘Bhudhar Chandi’. Chandipur-on-sea is among the most popular sea resorts known for mile long shallow beaches.  Panchalingeshwar is a famous scenic spot on a mountain located at a distance of 30 km south-west of the city.