Baleswar (sometimes spelt Balasore) is a coastal district on the north-eastern seaboard. It was the first seat of British settlement (1657) in what was then Bengal, and was an important trade center for
rice and salt in the 18th century. Baleswar has vast stretches of paddy fields. It has a network of rivers and blue hills.
Baleswar has a land area of 3,706 sq km. It receives an annual rainfall of 156 cm and is quite cold in winter.
Oriya,
Hindi, English, and Bengali are the languages spoken.
Major tourist attractions are the religious centers of Remuna, Chandaneswar, and Panchalingeswar, Chandipur Beach, Raibania, and Talasari Beach. Baleswar is also home to the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO), a government agency manufacturing arms and ammunition including ballistics missiles.
