Bhitarkanika National Park is very close to Bhadrak Rail station which is around 3 hour journey from Bhubaneswar and 4.5 hour journey from Kolkata by train/road. The core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over 145 km and is surrounded by the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary spread over 672 km2. It is designated as a Ramsar site by UNESCO. Gahirmata Beach and Marine Sanctuary lies to the east, and separates swamp region cover with canopy of mangroves from the Bay of Bengal. The beach is famous for thousands of Olive Ridley species of turtles.

The national park is home to Salt water crocodile, Indian python, King cobra, black ibis, darters and many other species of flora and fauna. It hosts a large number of mangrove species, and is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India. The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala.