Astaranga is a fishing and agricultural village and a community development block in Puri district in the Indian state of Odisha. It was a part of 'Lavana Satyagrah', a nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India led by Mahatma Gandhi. It is a major exporter of betel leaves, mainly to Kolkata and other countries. The most popular tourist place, known as Pir Jahania, is situated at the shore of Bay of Bengal. Beautiful Casuarina trees are planted in a vast area to give shades to the tourists. Astaranga also has two other picnic spots like Ganga Devi muhana & Nuagarh jethi. The government has planned for a marine drive road along the seashore. In Astaranga, there is a nodal primary school above a century old, a high school above 50 years old whose first headmaster was 'Sarala puraskar' winner for his wonderful poetry Kulamani Swain, a Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Anganbadi for small children and three CBSE schools.
Etymology
Astranga means 'colorful sun set'.
Geography
Astaranga is located at. It is near the mouth of the Devi River. It is about east of Puri and lies on the Bay of Bengal coast. It is about from Konark.
Economy
Port
Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Co. is planning to construct a Rs. 6 billion port at Astaranga. The company will implement the port project near the Devi River in three phases on a build- own-operate-share-transfer basis, with an investment of Rs. 1.50 billion in the first phase. The second and third phase of the project will comprise Rs. 2 billion and Rs. 2.50 billion, respectively. Astaranga is one of the four new ports being set up on the Odisha coast. Nineteen sites for ports have been identified on the Odisha coast. Navayug Engineering Company Limited submitted techno-feasibility report with the State government for setting up port at Astaranga in Puri district. It approached East Coast Railway to extend the project a rail link. The Odisha government has relaxed a vital clause in its MoU with the Navayuga Engineering Company Limited enabling the latter to sign a concession agreement with it for developing an all weather port at Astaranga.
