Gopalpur in Odisha is a magnificent compilation of sand, surf and sun. This sand town of Odisha serves as splendid beach resort.
Gopalpur is a town and a notified area council on the Bay of Bengal shore line in Ganjam district in the southern part of Odisha.
Location of Gopalpur
Gopalpur is located barely 16 km away from Berhampur, the commercial hub of southern Odisha and close to the border of Andhra Pradesh. IT is a tiny town with scenic and historical beauty on the shore line of Bay of Bengal. Gopalpur has a latitudinal and longitudinal extent of 19.27 degree North to 84.92 degree East on the coast of Bay of Bengal. Gopalpur is situated around 160 km south of Paradip and 260 km north of Visakhapatnam, another important sea port in Andhra Pradesh.
History of Gopalpur
Gopalpur in Odisha also has an ancient, commercial port, now lying in ruins. From an incomprehensible little fishing hamlet, Gopalpur became an important trading port during the regime of British East India Company in the Eastern part of India. The traders and the administrative body of British East India Company built large warehouses and godowns because the trade with Burma (Myanmar) had picked up and it had become a trading point for rice from Rangoon (Yangon), the Former capital of Burma. The Britons and the people of Bengali Community once made Gopalpur a vibrant and most happening place in eastern region. Now in the post colonial era, Gopalpur has reverted to being a quiet and relaxed place with charm of its own.
Climate of Gopalpur
The coast line of Gopalpur falls in the rain-shadow of the region. The climate in the region is tropical wet and dry. The temperatures range from 32 degrees in summer to 17 degrees in winter. The region of Gopalpur and the Gopalpur -on -Sea receives rainfall in both advance and retreat of the Southwest monsoon.
Demography of Gopalpur
The population of Gopalpur in Odisha is about 6660. The males constitute 50 percent of the population and females 50 percent. Gopalpur has an average literacy rate of 51 percent, which is lower than the national average literacy rate. Out of 59.5 percent literacy rate in Gopalpur, the male literacy rate is 59 percent and the female literacy rate is 42 percent. In Gopalpur, 12 percent of the population is under 6 years of age.
Tourism in Gopalpur
Gopalpur in Odisha was once a commercial port in British Colonial era. Now, Gopalpur is serving as a famous sea beach and tourist destination in Odisha. This ideal tourist destination is located around 15 km from Berhampur. Gopalpur has the remaining of the early colonial bungalows, forts, light houses and colonial era monuments. Gopalpur has a vast stretch of mangrove or tidal forest zone (4 Kilometres), which adds as the tourist attraction site. The languorous beach of Gopalpur is covered with coconut groves, casuarinas and gentle sand dunes. The old jetty of Gopalpur is now serving as the tourist hotspot. For the sake of tourism, the Government of Odisha, renovated the colonial jetties for the travelling. Some of the tourist attraction sites in Gopalpur are Gopalpur-on-Sea or Gopalpur Beach, Berhampur, Taptapani, Mahuri Kalua, Patisonaour, Taratarini, Jaugada and Chilka Lake.
