Legend and romance at Odisha's Chandrabhaga Beach

Beaches are usually about sun, sea and sand, so the mix of romance, legend and history at Odisha’s Chandrabhaga beach gives it an ethereal ambience, attracting poets, artists and couples in love.

Usually popular with tourists, the Chandrabhaga beach, situated close to the Konark Sun Temple, doubles up as a pilgrim centre to commemorate the sun god, who is said to have cured Sri Krishna's son Shambhu from leprosy. This is celebrated with a lively, colourful seven-day fair, and devotees come from around the world to take a dip in the holy waters.

The beach is named after the ancient river of Chandrabhaga, which has now dried to at best a narrow trickle. There is a lighthouse at the beach, and the sea here is rich in marine resources. A colony of fishermen from Andhra Pradesh residing near the dried river bed, add a tribal flavor to the area.

How to reach
The beach is situated about 5 km from Konark.
Nearest railway station: Puri, via NH 203 or Puri Konark Marine Drive, about 34 km
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneshwar Airport, via Old Pipli-Konark Rd and SH 13, about 68 km