When you take the road to the coast of Baliapal block, you can feel the atmosphere getting different. The air that smelled only of the dry crops is now refreshed by the sharp and salty breath of the Bay of Bengal. This is the place of Dagara. Just before you hit the beach waves, a total inland water body near the village will come into view. It is a small and natural pool where local fishermen often keep their spare nets. Why this spot? This place holds the belief that the water remains always calm here because the sand dunes act as a shield to this pool from the ocean’s fury.
The locals call this water the “eye of the beach” as if it were the guardian who keeps watch over every visitor. At the break of dawn, the rising sun changes this pool into a mirror of liquid gold. It is a simple charm that tells you that you are standing at the most serene sea beach of Balasore.
The Dagara sea beach is a completely different world. It is not like the crowded, noisy beaches of Puri at all. Here, the sand is very hard and flat. The water recedes to a great distance during low tide, resulting in a huge and deserted open space. However, the most fascinating thing about Dagara is the red crabs. Thousands of them suddenly appear from the sand, turning the beach into a bright red carpet. I recall that I was there on a Sunday in February. If you move very quietly, they remain. But if you run, they disappear into their holes in the blink of an eye. I must admit it is quite a scary feeling when a lot of small eyes are staring at you. On the other hand, it is very lovely.
The reason Dagara Beach is geographically different is that it is guarded by the dense casuarina forests along its length. They serve as a green wall, keeping the wind at a calm, musical level.
Here is a very popular Balasore picnic spot among local families. It has the charm of simplicity. People don’t come here primarily for “fancy hotels”. Rather, they come to sit under the shade of the trees and share a meal. On the banks of the Balasore Sea, you will find friends from Baliapal and Jaleswar making fresh fish on small wood fires.
The locals demonstrate a quiet pride. They don’t use much language when they sell you things. They simply point you to the spot for the sunset with a small knowing smile. They love the Balasore beach as if it were their backyard. The feelings understand what the signs don’t say: the ocean is a mother who provides for everyone, and the locals show their respect to her by keeping the shore peaceful and clean.
To have the best experience in Dagara, go in the winter. The summer sun can be very harsh on the open sand. Wear sandals that you can easily carry. When the tide goes out, you will have to walk a long way to the water. It is so nice to have the wet sand between your toes.
My suggestion? Bring your own water and a few snacks from the Baliapal market. There are no big restaurants on the Dagara beach itself. Head out in the late afternoon. See the sun set into the water and wait for the red crabs to show up. It is a moment of pure peace that makes you realise how great the world is and how little our worries are.
