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Voykit pocket guide · India
Kendrapara
Use Kendrapara as a base for Bhitarkanika National Park and the Hukitola island: one night is enough for the sanctuary, two if you add the temple and a boat ride.
Kendrapara is a small town on Odisha's north coast, 55 km from Cuttack and 95 km from Bhubaneswar. Its main draw is Bhitarkanika National Park, India's second-largest saltwater crocodile sanctuary, 35 km away. The town itself has a 16th-century temple and access to Hukitola, a tidal island with a British-era navigation building. Most travellers use it as a one-night stop for the park.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, park may close)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local thali meal | ₹50–150 |
| Auto-rickshaw ride within town (up to 5 km (3.1 mi))Auto-rickshaw ride within town (up to 3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹50–100 |
| Taxi Kendrapara → Bhitarkanika (one way) | ₹800–1,200 |
| Boat ride at Hukitola (per boat) | ₹1,000–2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BBI · Bhubaneswar
- 95 km (59 mi); taxi or bus to Kendrapara, about 2 h59 mi (95 km); taxi or bus to Kendrapara, about 2 h
Typical fares
- Bhubaneswar → Kendrapara by bus
- about ₹150–250, about 2 h (check)
- Kendrapara → Bhitarkanika by taxi
- ₹800–1,200, about 45 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and taxis for short trips; buses to Bhitarkanika and nearby villages. Hiring a taxi for the day (₹1,500–2,500) is common for the park and Hukitola.
See and do
Known for
- Bhitarkanika National Park
- Hukitola island
- Sri Baladevjew Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bhitarkanika National Park | Bus or taxi from Kendrapara town, about 35 km (22 mi), then a boat inside the parkBus or taxi from Kendrapara town, about 22 mi (35 km), then a boat inside the park | About 1 h |
| Hukitola island | Taxi to Jambu (about 18 km (11 mi)), then a 9 km (5.6 mi) boat rideTaxi to Jambu (about 11 mi (18 km)), then a 5.6 mi (9 km) boat ride | About 1.5 h |
| Sri Baladevjew Temple | Auto-rickshaw or taxi, about 5 km (3.1 mi) from town centreAuto-rickshaw or taxi, about 3.1 mi (5 km) from town centre | About 15 min |
| Chandipur | Taxi via Bhadrak, about 80 km (50 mi), 2 hTaxi via Bhadrak, about 50 mi (80 km), 2 h | About 2.5 h |
| Cuttack | Bus or taxi, about 55 km (34 mi), 1 hBus or taxi, about 34 mi (55 km), 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Kendrapara town centre
- Budget hotels and guesthouses near the bus stand and market; easiest for buses to Bhitarkanika.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | এটা কত?eṭa kôto? |
| Where is the bus stand? | বাস স্ট্যান্ড কোথায়?bas sṭyanḍ kôthay? |
| I need a boat. | আমার একটি নৌকা দরকার।amar ekti nouka dôrkar. |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhônyôbad |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Bhitarkanika requires a boat and guide; arrange at the park entrance or through your hotel.
- Hukitola is tidal: check the tide timings before hiring a boat.
- Monsoon (June–September) may close the park; check the official Odisha forest department site.
Kendrapara is a quiet town; the main risks are heat, mosquitoes and negotiating boat fees. Keep valuables secure and agree on taxi/boat prices before starting.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kendrapara yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bhitarkanika National Park
- Hukitola island
- Sri Baladevjew Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kendrapara, revision 5276516 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5276516
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kendrapara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.