Traveling to Bhadrak’s final edge, you arrive at Dhamra, where lush green mud and sparkling silver waters converge to create a beautiful natural setting. Long before you see the enormous vessels, you are first greeted by the Kanika Sands lagoon — a vast expanse of calm water used for fishing. This lagoon lies at the very flux point between the Baitarani River and the saltwater of the sea. Others believe that there is an underground channel between both rivers that connects them to one another. The local people say that even when high tide pushes the sea into shore aggressively, the tides remain motionless in the lagoon.
When the sun first breaks through the surrounding mist early each morning, many fishermen use the reflections of the mist on the water as a guide on where to locate fish. These traditional images give you confidence that you have just entered Odisha’s coastal waters.
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ToggleThe Dhamra port is somewhere that has an incredible amount of strength. Unlike quiet village beaches, it is a land with steel and black earth. The land is also uniquely shaped because of the water’s depth, enabling the largest vessels in the world to come directly to the land. I remember standing around the main jetty during a windy day in February (Tuesday). There were large cranes (larger than most temples) moving steel and coal with a steady hum. Dhamra port Odisha is located, where all of these structures now exist, once was nothing but salt marshes. It is amazing that humans can change the world. You can see that in your heart even though you cannot read it; therefore, the new heart of our state’s commerce is that port. It is heavy with activity as well as feels as if it is the future.
As big ships are busy transferring coal across the bay to and from the land; they are far and away from one of the most active fishing ports in Odisha. The air is filled with salty fishy smells and there is a culture of hard-working and proud people. These hardworking, proud local fishermen mend their giant blue nets at the edge of the harbour while pointing in the direction of the ocean with their hands and smiling. People who live and work in this area of Odisha know the tides better than any clock, and on good days the harbour looks like a sea of colours (silver fish, orange nets and multi-coloured wooden boats). You are asked to show respect and honour the sea as it provides everything for them in this area.
The best time of year to see the area around Dhamra port is during the winter months. The summer’s high temperature makes the coast too hot. There are 80 kilometers between Bhadrak and Dhamra, with the road lined with small villages. I recommend you get on the road by sunrise and wear a scarf for protection against the dust created by coal trucks. Bring your own water and snacks such as “Bara” or “Aludum” with you from Bhadrak; there are no large restaurants near the industrial gates. Take a slow walk through the fishing harbor and enjoy watching the boats coming in.
