Odisha beach where the sea retreats 5 km at low tide

The biggest draw of a beach visit is usually the sight of water and waves. But imagine reaching the shore only to find the waves have vanished. That is exactly what happens at Chandipur beach in Odisha, which is why it is also known as the "hide and seek beach". At low tide, the sea recedes nearly 5 kilometres from the shoreline here. Where waves could be seen rising a little while earlier, people are soon seen walking on foot.

The main reason the sea retreats so far at Chandipur lies in the shape of the coastline. The seabed here is shallow and comparatively flat over a long stretch, which makes the sea's retreat far more visible during low tide than at ordinary beaches. Because of this feature, Chandipur's sea sometimes appears right at the shore and at other times seems to stop far away. The water does not actually disappear; it simply moves back some distance during low tide, so it is no longer visible at the shore.

This retreat of the sea at Chandipur is not a mystery or a marvel, but the effect of the natural process of tides. As low tide sets in, the seawater gradually recedes from the shore, and owing to Chandipur's geography, it withdraws quite far. When high tide follows, the water returns close to the shore again. This tidal change occurs twice a day at the beach, so visitors arriving between these two phases can witness this unusual natural sight.

When the sea recedes at Chandipur, the entire look of the beach changes. In place of waves, only wet mud is visible, and the part of the seabed usually hidden beneath the water becomes clearly visible. Tourists walk here for hours during this time, enjoying the moment. The different patterns left on the sand by the tides are also quite interesting to observe. The water recedes only for a certain period before gathering back at the shore again; to see exactly what changes take place on the shore during this time, one has to visit Chandipur.