Kendrapara is a town and municipality in Kendrapara district of the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of Kendrapara district.
To reach Kendrapara you can take State Highway SH9A Jagatpur-Salipur or National Highways No. 16 and 53. Kendrapara is a two and a half hour drive from Bhubaneswar Airport via National Highway 16 and State Highway 9A. The nearest railway station is at Cuttack, 54 kilometers from Kendrapara Municipality via State Highway 9A.
Baladevjew temple is located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha. Every year, a Chariot Festival, or Rath Yatra, is celebrated in the month of Ashadha (June/July). Lord Baladevyev's chariot is known as Brahma Taladhwaja and is considered the largest chariot of its kind in the world.
Gajalaxmi puja in Kojagari Purnima village or Kumar Purnima Durga Pujaat Amruta manohi is celebrated in the month of October, and Kartikeya Puja and Maa Kali Puja in Olaver are celebrated in November every year. Gajalaxmi puja is an important festival in Kendrapara and is celebrated for 7 days.
Maa Basanti Durga Puja in Basupur has been one of the most famous festivals in the region for over 80 years. The Oriya sweet dish, Rasabali, has its origins in Kendrapara. Kendrapara is also known as Tulasi Ksherta (as Tulasi, different from basil tulsi, the wife of Lord Balabhadra) and Gupta Kshetra (Lord Balabhadra wanted to stay here secretly). The different types of prasad prepared and used in Baladevjew temple are Rasabali, Potali Pitha, Magaja Ladoo, Kakaraa, Khaja, Karanji, Chhena Kheeri, Ghanabrata, Dahipakhala, Khiri and Puri.
