Paradeep
©
Paradeep

Paradeep

Odisha port city at the Mahanadi's mouth, with cargo docks, casuarina-backed beach, and marine drive.

Paradip (also spelled Paradeep) is a major port city on the coast of Odisha, where the Mahanadi River meets the Bay of Bengal. It is one of India's busiest cargo ports, but it also has a surprisingly pleasant beach and a marine drive that make it worth a stop if you are travelling the Odisha coast.

The beach is wide and largely uncrowded, backed by casuarina groves. The port area itself is interesting to watch — massive container ships come and go. Paradip is about 94 km from Cuttack, with regular bus services making it an easy day trip. The Mahanadi delta wetlands surrounding the town are rich in birdlife, and the Bhitarkanika mangroves are a short drive north.

Guide

Getting There

Paradip is about 94 kilometres from Cuttack and 100 kilometres from Bhubaneswar. Regular OSRTC buses and shared jeeps connect Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to Paradip; the journey takes around two to two and a half hours. The nearest major railway junction is at Cuttack. There is also a railway station at Paradip itself on a branch line, though services are limited.

Guide

Things to Do

Paradip is primarily a port city, but the beach, the marine drive, and the surrounding wetlands make it worth a stop on the Odisha coast. Most visitors come as a day trip from Cuttack or Bhubaneswar.