Chandipur beach, about 16 kilometres from Balasore town, is one of the genuinely unusual beaches in India. At low tide the sea withdraws so far — up to five kilometres in some conditions — that the exposed sand flats stretch to the horizon and the water vanishes completely from view. The sand is reddish, the light is flat and coastal, and the effect is unlike any other beach experience in the country.
The beach is backed by casuarina forests and is reasonably clean for a public beach in this part of India. The tidal phenomenon is at its most dramatic around the time of the new and full moon, when tides are strongest. Note that Chandipur is also the location of India's Integrated Test Range missile testing facility, which occasionally results in access restrictions — check locally if your timing is critical. The beach itself is free to access when open.