Directions
From Sewri, drive to Illambazar and take the connecting route to Panagarh. From there continue on till NH2. About 170 kms later you will see a fork with the left arm showing "Kolkata" and the right arm saying "Mumbai". Take the right arm. This is the direct connector to NH6 which bypasses Kolkata.
For WB beaches - Continue on NH6 till you cross Kolaghat bridge and see Sher e Punjab dhaba on your right. Should be about 75 kms from where you started. Just after Sher e Punjab there's a road which goes left. Continuing on this road will take you to a junction called Nandkumar More. Ask anyone which is the road going to Digha. Mandarmoni/Shankarpur/Tajpur are all roads which divert from this road, and it ends at Digha.
For Orissa beaches - Continue on NH6 well after Kolaghat. After about 160 kms you will see a diversion (flyover) and part of the road continuing straight. Take the straight road. The diversion is actually NH6 which takes you through Kharagpur.
The straight road becomes NH60 which connects you to NH5. Chandipur - Continue on NH60 till it joins NH5 and you hit Balasore. Take any left from the highway and it will take you to Balasore town. Ask someone the directions to Chandipur. Its barely 15 kms from the highway.
Puri - Continue on NH5 from Balasore. In about 200 kms you will hit Bhubaneshwar. They have built a wonderful road (about 50 kms) from Bhubaneswar to Puri.
Rambha - This is a destination I strongly recommend. Its not a beach but a spot on the shore of Lake Chilka. Take a speedboat ride through Chilka to see dolphins and migratory birds (in season).
Continue on NH5 from Bhubaneshwar. In about 123 kms you will hit Rambha. No diversions to take.
Gopalpur on Sea - Continue further on NH5 till you reach Berhampur (about 170 kms from Bhubaneshwar). GOS is a short drive from there. Not much to see, just chill out.
Places to Stay Mandarmoni - Rose Valley Resort.
Tajpur - No picks in particular. All 1 star/2 star hotels with decent lodging.
Shankarpur - Hotel Nest. Though not on the beach, yet recommendable just for the quality of seafood and the VFM proposition. They also have free pick up/drop to the beach.
Digha - Plenty of options. I personally hate the place (overcrowded with the wrong kind of people), but you can find plenty of threads and member suggestions.
Chandipur - OTDC Chandipur. Nothing else is worth.
Puri - Again plenty of options. My personal favourites are OTDC Panthanivas and Chanakya BNR. But there are 5 star options too.
Rambha - OTDC Panthanivas. Fabulous seafood, and again on the edge of the lake.
GOS - Mayfair Palm Beach Resort.
For more information you can read my threads. Though a few years old, will give you general information on planning out your trip and what to expect.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...-2300-kms.html http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...al-orissa.html