Habalikhati Beach

Habalikhati Beach is a secluded sandy beach located within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, Odisha, near the Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem. Accessible only by boat through creeks and mangroves, it is known for its pristine shoreline, tranquil environment and seasonal Olive Ridley turtle nesting. Managed as part of an ecotourism nature camp, it offers visitors a remote coastal experience away from commercial development, with forest and marine landscapes.

Visitors can expect a remote, undeveloped beach reached only by authorized boat from Gupti or Chandbali through Bhitarkanika creeks and mangrove forests. The beach features a long stretch of clean sand, casuarina plantations, and views of the Bay of Bengal. There are no shops or commercial shacks; accommodation is limited to the Habalikhati Nature Camp cottages run by Odisha Ecotourism. Visitors can walk along the shoreline, observe birds and seasonal Olive Ridley turtles, and experience a quiet natural environment within a protected marine sanctuary.

Habalikhati lies within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, declared in 1997 as Odisha's only marine sanctuary and recognized as one of the world's largest rookeries for Olive Ridley sea turtles. The area is part of the Bhitarkanika conservation landscape historically protected for its mangrove and marine biodiversity.

The beach is significant for wildlife conservation culture in Odisha, particularly community and forest department efforts to protect Olive Ridley turtles. It is associated with ecotourism initiatives that promote awareness of coastal and mangrove ecosystems.