Top 12 Things To Do In And Around Brahmapur, Odisha – A Tourist Guide (2024)
Brahmapur, also known as the “Silk City of Odisha” is one of the biggest cities in the East Indian state. Apart from Berhampur silk sarees, it is also known for its beautiful temples and vibrant culture. Tourists from various parts of the globe visit this city in Odisha to experience the beauty of culture and spend time witnessing nature and beaches. Starting from strolling on the beaches, getting indulged in different water sports at Tampara Lake and Gopalpur sea beach, and shopping for different items at various malls and local markets, to visiting the hot spring at Taptapani, exploring different temples, and enjoying a luxurious stay at Mayfair Palm Resor, there are several things to do in and around Brahmapur.
In this article, we will guide you to know about the top 12 things to do in and around Brahmapur, Odisha.
Know-About Brahmapur
Brahmapur, or Berhampur is the “Land of Lord Brahma” and a religiously significant ancient city in the Ganjam district of Odisha. This city is situated on the eastern coastline of India and at a distance of 166 km from the capital city of the state, Bhubaneswar. Brahmapur is known for its rich silk textile collections and is thus also known as the “Silk City”.
It is also a major education hub in Odisha and has numerous well-established and well-known schools, colleges, and universities. The city offers you a great opportunity to mingle around its local markets and shop for different items, and have an amazing experience by visiting different temples, trying out the various lip-smacking street foods, getting involved in different water sports and adventurous activities, exploring various sandy beaches, and much more.
Top 12 Things To Do In And Around Brahmapur, Odisha – A Tourist Guide
1. Try Out The Delicious Foods At Every Corner Of Brahmapur
Coming to Brahmapur and not trying out its street food is just not worth a visit. The city has a variety of food points and street food stalls all around where visitors can enjoy delicious fast foods like Golgappa, Dahi-Vada Aloodum, Gughuni chat, Samosa, Puri, Upma, Idli, Dosa, and more. You will also find several healthy food stalls in the city where you get healthy and fresh foods like oats, omelets, sprouted moong, and more.
Apart from the street foods, you should also try dining at some of the most amazing restaurants and cafes in the city and enjoy scrumptious foods. Some of the well-known cafes and restaurants in Brahmapur are the Arra Café, Storyline Café, Mauka Café, Café Tatva, City Kitchen, Hotel Nandan International, Hyderabadi Bawarchi, DC House, Highway Restaurant, Olive Restaurant, Urban Dhabba, Chancellor Dhabba, Hotel Bhubaneswari Palace, Radha Hotel, Girija Restaurant, etc. You can also enjoy your food time at Domino’s, or American Pizza, or have your favorite coffee at Café Coffee Day.
If you love to explore the traditional eating customs of Odisha, then you should visit the “Pidha Hotel” where you sit on a wooden pidha (short-legged wooden stool) and have your food, which includes rice, matti handi mutton(mutton served in earthen pots), and other side items. This is a very old hotel in the city where the food is served on banana leaves or leaf plates.
Apart from the usual food, you should also try achaar-papad-badi in this city of Odisha, and all these are indeed some of the specialties of Brahmapur. Snacks like sipulu, dantakili, nimki, mixture, etc. are also quite famous in the city and you should not forget to try them when you are here. The best place where you can purchase all these is in the ‘Annapurna market”
2. Get Indulged In Adventurous Water Sports And Other Activities
If you love adventure and want to try various water sports and other adventurous activities at Gopalpur Sea Beach, Biju Adventure Park in Gopalpur, and Tampara Lake water sports at Tampara near Chatrapur, which are located between 15 km to 25 km from the Brahmapur city.
Gopalpur sea beach is one of the most famous beaches in Odisha and is a great place to enjoy a variety of water sports and also other beach activities. Scooter boats, swimming, windsurfing, speed boats, etc. are some of the activities you can do on the Gopalpur Sea. Moreover, you can also enjoy horse and camel rides, and drive several quad bikes on the sandy beaches of Gopalpur.
Apart from Gopalpur water sports, you can also get your adrenaline rush at the Biju Adventure Park in Gopalpur itself, where you can try out different adventurous activities like zipline, giant swing, Bunjee trampoline jumping, etc.
Another great place near Brahmapur where you can get indulged in different kinds of water sports is Tampara Lake. This is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Odisha. This beautiful lake is an amazing place for nature and adventure lovers. If you are seeking some thrilling activities then Tampara water sports will be the perfect ones for you. Some of the famous water activities here are jet skiing, banana rides, speed boat ride, ferry rides, kayaking, boating, etc. All these water sports will surely satiate your adrenalin rush.
3. Enjoy The Beach-Time At Gopalpur And Other Beaches
Gopalpur-on-Sea is a serene and beautiful sea beach located along the Bay of Bengal in Odisha. It lies at a distance of just 16 km from Brahmapur city in Ganjam. Goalpur served as a major port for the seafarers of ancient Kalinga (Odisha). It is also the place where the first ever modern hotel was built in the east Indian state of Odisha. The Palm Beach Resort was built by an Italian man named Signor Maglioni, in 1914. In 1948, the hotel was bought by the Oberoi Group of Hotels, and currently, it is owned by the Mayfair Group of Hotels.
If you are in Brahmapur, you cannot miss out on visiting the Gopalpur Sea beach. This beach is mostly secluded and also one of the cleanest beaches in the country. The sun-kissed beach, golden sand, and blue water of the sea make for an enchanting sight. You can enjoy your beach time here while sitting on the sands or having a cup of lemon tea, some snacks, and making sand castles with your friends or kids. You will find various beachside shops where you can shop various types of shells and decorative items made of sea shells and other beach items. Apart from this, you can also enjoy a wonderful walk through Gopalpur town and witness several old dilapidated buildings from ancient times.
Apart from Gopalpur sea beach, there are many other beaches near Brahmapur like Dhabaleswar Sea Beach, Aryapalli Beach, Pati Sonpur Beach, etc. All these beaches are worth seeing if you are in Brahmapur. In fact, Pati Sonpur Beach located at a distance of 40 km from the city of Brahmapur is one of the Eco retreat centers in Odisha that attracts numerous tourists from all over the world. The beach is naturally beautiful and is equipped with bamboo sitting arrangements, lovely trees, and a wonderful kids’ park too. You will surely have a refreshing time on the sea beaches.
4. Bath In The Taptapani Hot Spring
Taptapani, situated 50 km away from Brahmapur is a naturally occurring hot spring, which drives a lot of tourists to it. Being one of the very few hot springs on Earth that is easily accessible, this spot remains crowded most of the time. It is believed that this hot spring has got tremendous medicinal and healing properties because of the high sulfur content present in the water. There are also temples in Taptapani dedicated to “Kandi Mata”, a tribal Goddess, and also Lord Shiva. So, when you are in Brahmapur, you should check out this place and bathe in this hot spring.
5. Hang Out At The Janata City Center Or Watch A Movie At The PSR Cinemas
The most happening place in Brahmapur is the “Janata City Center”. It is the city’s biggest mall where you can enjoy shopping at various showrooms like the Max Fashion, Style Bazaar, or More Mart, and hang out at restaurants like KFCs and not to forget the multiplex PSR Cinemas where you can watch a good movie enjoying some fun times.
This is also a great place for ladies who love to put on Mehendi (Heena) on their hands as you can find good Mehendi designers within the premises. This is also a fun place for the kids as there are many battery-operated remote cars and bikes outside on which they can sit and enjoy a playful evening. The best thing about this place is its wonderful parking facility (which is usually a problem in the city).
6. Go Shopping At Brahmapur Malls And Local Markets
“If shopping brings you happiness, then Brahmapur will surely feel like heaven to you”. Starting from Brahmapur silk textiles, especially the Berhampuri Patta and Bomokai Patta sarees, you can purchase numerous things from this city in Odisha. If you are looking to shop from local markets, then go to the “Annapurna Market”, which is the most important market in the city. You can shop for various dresses, shoes, toys, bangles, travel bags, and much more from this market. This market is also famous for different pickles and local snacks. Bada Bazaar and Sana Bazaar are the oldest markets of Brahmapur where you can shop for Jewelry items (as there are many branded as well as local jewelry stores here), bicycles, brass and copper puja items, handlooms, etc.
However, if you love to shop at malls then you have great options here in the city. Some of the famous malls here are The Janata City Center, The City Mall, Vishal Mega Mart, The Sanawalas, Bazaar Kolkatta, etc. You can also find many supermarkets from where you can shop for grocery items, household things, stationeries, and many other things. Mowgli Market is one of the major supermarkets here.
7. Enjoy Trekking On Bankeshwari Hills
Bankeshwari Hills, situated at a distance of 10 km from Brahmapur is a good place for trekking. It is in the Kerandimala hill range on the Eastern Ghats. The hills are covered in dense forest and numerous streams surround the hills. This is a famous picnic spot for the people of Brahmapur and local tourists come here for excursions, especially during the winter months.
Visiting the place in the early morning will make you sense the scenic beauty of nature in its true essence and you can also enjoy watching the magnificent sunrise.
8. Have A Cozy Stay At Mayfair Palm Beach Resort
One of the top things that can be done around Brahmpur is to have a cozy stay at Mayfair Palm Beach Resort. Being a prestigious heritage property, Mayfair Palm Beach Resort nestled in Gopalpur, near Brahmapur is a five-star deluxe beach resort that will give you all comfort and help you relax at your best.
Apart from the premium suites, family suites, and exclusive executive suites along with in-room luxury facilities, there are several other amenities that this beach resort offers its guests. Some of these facilities include access to the swimming pool surrounded by cabanas, a spa offering wellness and treatment options, a boutique, an adjoining fitness center, a library lounge, a kids’ play area, and a convenient travel desk. Moreover, the lush lawn of this five-star resort has numerous sit-outs where you can spend some peaceful time. So, if you are in Brahmapur, do not miss out on staying at Mayfair Palm Beach Resort.
9. Drench In The Beauty Of Spirituality At Different Temples In Brahmapur
Do you want to drench in the beauty of spirituality and divinity? If yes, then Brahmapur is a great place for you since it upholds several beautiful and prehistoric temples that will fill you with divinity and leave you awestruck with their marvelous architecture. Some of the most famous temples here in Brahmapur are Sidhi Vinayak Temple, Budhi Thakurani Temple, ISKCON Temple, Gokuldham, etc.
Apart from these temples, some other famous temples around the city include the Siddha Bhairavi Temple, Maa Taratarini Temple, Mahuri Kalua, etc. These temples are some of the oldest pilgrimage places in Odisha.
10. Visit The Majestic Sports Arena And Enjoy Spending Your Evening In Biju Patnaik Park
Recently inaugurated in Brahmapur city, Sports Arena is a majestic sports center that includes indoor badminton courts, table tennis courts, a skating track, a synthetic jogging track, volleyball courts, an outdoor gym, children’s play equipment, and a park. If you are staying for a month, you can become a member here and learn or practice different sports. However, even without joining you can also take a round around the complex or enjoy jogging and indulge in the outdoor gym.
You can also visit one of the biggest parks in Brahmapur, i.e. Biju Patnaik Park, and spend your evening here. You can have a cup of coffee inside while enjoying the beauty of the park or can try boating inside the park. Children will have a great time here playing different games and roaming around.
11. Catch Sight Of The Ramlingeswar Park 3D Laser Show And Musical Fountain
One of the top attractions of Brahmapur city in Odisha is Ramlingeswar Park. This is situated at the center of the city and many people visit this park because of its specialty, which is the 3D laser show with musical fountains. The musical fountain has been set up with new-age technology developed by OASE, Germany. The same technology has been used for such shows in Singapore, Dubai, Paris, and other cities across the globe.
There is a huge statue of Lord Shiva in the middle of the park and that gives a sense of spirituality and peace to the mind. Moreover, the story that is played, the music that is played, and the Odissi dance that is being performed within the park while the 3D laser show is on will give you goosebumps and make you feel down to the earth.
Apart from the laser show and musical fountain, the park has special pathways all around to enjoy a nice walk around the park and it also has several sit-outs at different places to sit and chill around. The beauty of this park is due to the vibrant lights and green grasses all around.
So, while your stay in Brahmapur, make sure to visit this beautiful Ramlingeswar park, and yeah, do not forget to try some street foods outside the park.
12. Visit I.T.I Brahmapur And Witness The Metal Art Marvel By The Students
One of the most exciting things to witness in Brahmapur is the metal art sculptures made by the I.T.I students that are installed in their ITI ground. The ground is accessible to the public where they can enter freely and explore the marvelous works of the students and teachers of the Berhampur Industrial Training Institute (ITI).
Some of the most astounding works from ITI students include the giant giraffe standing tall, which is around 32 feet high, a giant guitar 70 feet high, Iron Man’s sculpture, Majestic India Map, and many more. The best thing about these works is that these metal artworks are prepared using metal waste materials.
So, if you are in Brahmapur then do not forget to visit ITI on the Engineering School Square of the city.
Final Words
A trip to Brahmapur will surely be a worthy experience for you because of the different places you can visit and the diverse range of things that can be done here. Maybe it is shopping, getting involved in water sports or adventurous activities, or spending leisurely time at various places, Brahmapur will never leave you disappointed. So, plan a tour of this beautiful city in Odisha and leave the place feeling happy and carrying a bagful of your shopping stuff.
