Brahmapur

Brahmapur (also spelled as Berhampur) is a city on the eastern coastline of the East Indian state of Odisha. Brahmapur is a business hub, and has many things to offer in terms of tourist attractions and activities. Tara Tarini, an ancient Shakti Peetha, Breast shrine of Adi Shakti and one amongst the 4 major Shakti Peethas in India, is 25 km from the city. In addition, the world famous Gopalpur-on-Sea sea beach, Bhairabi & Mahurikalua temples, and Tampara lake are around 10km from the city. The famous Chilka Lake at Rambha and Taptapani Hot Springs are around 45 km from the city.



Understand
Brahmapur (previously known as Berhampur) (Oriya: ବ୍ରହ୍ମପୁର), and nicknamed "The Silk City", is a city on the eastern coastline of the state of Odisha. It is the third-largest city in Odisha, with a population of 355,823 (with agglomeration the population of the city is around 800,000).

The rural development NGO Gram Vikas is located 14 km outside of Brahmapur, and hosts a number of international volunteers each year. If you're from outside India, don't be surprised if locals keep asking you if you work for Gram Vikas.

By train
Brahmapur is well-connected by rail. Brahmapur station is part of East Coast Railways, and is 2½ hours from the capital city of Bhubaneswar and around 3½ hours from Visakhapatnam. Brahmapur is a major stop on the line from Kolkata to Chennai, making it a convenient stop along the way, with many trains running every day. There are many trains connecting Puri to Brahmapur. Even you can catch a train to Khurda Road Junction, and switch there to Brahmapur (Berhampur).



By plane
Bhubaneswar Airport is well-connected to major Indian cities. Many national low-cost and full-service airlines operate through the airport. You can fly to Bhubaneswar, and take one of the more than 50 trains connecting Bhubaneswar and Brahmapur daily.

By bus
There are a number of buses that go and come to Brahmapur. They tend to be cheaper than the trains. Buses arrive in the New Bus Terminal, located some distance outside the city centre. You will need an auto-rickshaw or cycle rickshaw to reach the centre. (See "Get Around" below.)

Get around
The main mode of transportation in Brahmapur is the auto-rickshaw and taxis. Cycle rickshaws are also available, and are slower but cheaper. You should ask for the price up front, and are expected to bargain.

The centre of town is called the Old Bus Stand Barracks. Located around the Old Bus Stand or Barracks are the five largest hotels in town, Nandan International, Spectrum, Bhubaneswari Classic, Radha and Jyoti Residency. In front of these hotels, you can find taxis. They are more expensive than auto-rickshaws, but more comfortable for longer drives. Again, expect to bargain for your fare up front.

See
Brahmapur is a busy, crowded business city with many things to attract foreign tourists. There are friendly people and a few great food discoveries awaiting the intrepid explorer.



Do

 * Walk in the city's markets, haggling for souvenirs, Odisha handicraft, or handwoven (khadi) fabric.
 * Grab a chai or lassi in the many street stalls around the city centre, or a quick meal at a street food stall around the Ramlinga Tank.
 * Brahmapur has a long tradition of theatre, and its denizens are passionate about cinemas. The city is famous for its cinema theatre complexes, including Gautam, Rukmini, Shiva, Shakti, Payal and Paramjyoti. Hindi movies are the most popular, followed by Odia movies. English and Telugu movies are shown on a regular basis.

Work
Brahmapur is close to many tribal villages in rural Odisha. The NGO Gram Vikas, who work with rural and tribal communities in Odisha, are located 14 km outside Brahmapur. They welcome serious, committed international volunteers interested in rural development.

Buy
It is silk city so silk products are cheap and readily available. This place is also famous for a variety of Pickles, Mixtures and Papped. For the intrepid explorer, Brahmapur offers a variety of good shopping options and food discoveries.


 * Many shops around the Old Bus Stand sell handwoven (khadi) silk or cotton. If you are in town for a few days, you can get these fabrics fitted and tailored. Make sure you visit a tailor first, and have your measurements taken, so the tailor can tell you how much fabric you should get.
 * Silk sarees, called Brahmapur pata, are famous and the reason Brahmapur is nicknamed "The Silk City".
 * The city is a big market for fruits, especially mangoes when they are in season. Berhampur has the 5th biggest Mango market in the country.
 * Brahmapur is famous for the shops in Bada Bazaar, Annapurna Market and Bhapur Bazaar.
 * There are some relatively large department stores in the city, including Vishal MegaMart, Bazaar Kolkata, Reliance trends, the City Mall, the World and Metro Bazar. Prices are higher than in street markets, but you can get a sense of the price of things by shopping there.

Eat
Brahmapur is famous in India for its papad (popadum), aachard (pickles), and badis. Additionally, there are many food options, ranging from street stall to fancy hotel restaurant. Not all of the street stalls are sanitary, so be sure to observe the proceedings, and eat only at stalls that get a lot of business.

Some places worth trying:

Drink
Brahmapur is a fairly conservative Indian city, so bars are very rare, almost exclusively for men, and pretty shady. The 'nicest' bar is probably Regency Bar, between Nandan Hotel and Jyoti Residency. Note that women are very rarely patrons of these establishments, and may be refused service altogether. It is not recommended for solo female travellers to go into these bars. Restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol.

Sleep
You can find many hotels and lodges in and around the city. Most of them are quite affordable and cheap except a few. Here are the best hotels in the city:

Stay safe
The biggest hazard in Brahmapur comes from the chaotic traffic. Make sure to look both sides before crossing a street, even in a one-way street!

Although Brahmapur is not a tourist city, make sure to keep your belongings close to you and in a safe place, particularly around the train station or the Old Bus Stand.

There is a police station right next to the Old Bus Stand, in front of Nandan Hotel.

Respect
Brahmapur is a traditional Indian city. Make sure to wear culturally-appropriate clothes, especially if you are a woman. You won't get in trouble if you don't, but you might attract a lot of unwanted attention from men.

The people may approach you, asking for your name and nationality, and wanting to shake your hand. As a rule, these are not people out to scam you in any way, just curious, friendly people. Take the time to chat with them, and try and make a good impression! Don't feel obliged to agree to anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Cope
The city can get very hot in the hot season, between March to June. The winter (October to February) is the best time to visit, with dry, cool evenings and very few rain. In the monsoon season (June to October), streets can get flooded with rainwater.

Like many places in India, although there is a lot of delicious street and restaurant food around the city, not all of them are clean and hygienic. Make sure to observe stalls or restaurants, and only go to those with a lot of people, and that inspire you to eat there. Make sure to regularly wash your hands, especially before meals. If you fall ill, there are a number of pharmacies and health stores around the city where you can get medicine.

Go next
Brahmapur is 2½ hr away from Bhubaneswar, and 3½ hr away from Puri. It's a good jumping-off point to nearby places such as Gopalpur.
 * Bhubaneswar — the capital of Odisha.
 * Chilika Lake
 * Gopalpur
 * Puri — known for its beaches and the Jagannath Temple. Nearby Konark is known for the sun temple.
 * Sambalpur - Hirakud Dam and wildlife sanctuaries.