Kalingapatnam is a long, quiet beach on the Bay of Bengal coast, about 30 kilometres east of Srikakulam town. The name marks its historical significance: this was one of the principal seaports of the ancient Kalinga kingdom, and later a busy trading post used by Arab merchants and eventually the East India Company. The remains of a lighthouse from the colonial period still stand near the waterfront, and the ruins of a Buddhist stupa survive close to the shore — physical evidence of the town's long mercantile and cultural history.
Today it is a fishing village with a peaceful, unhurried character. The beach itself is long, largely empty, and backed by casuarina trees. The water can be rough, particularly during and after the monsoon, so swimming requires caution. Fishing boats are pulled up on the beach in the mornings and evenings; the catch goes quickly to local buyers. There is minimal tourist infrastructure — a few chai stalls and nothing much else — which makes it exactly the kind of place that rewards visitors who are not looking for facilities.