Balasore, also known as Baleswar,[4] is a city in the state of Odisha, about 215 km (134 mi) from the state capital Bhubaneswar and 300 km (186 mi) from Kolkata, in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore district and the largest city as well as health and educational hub of northern Odisha. It is best known for Chandipur beach. It is also called 'missile city'.[5][6] The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme's Integrated Test Range is located 18 km south of Balasore. Excavation at villages nearby by Balasore has given evidence for three distinct cultural phases of human settlements, viz., Chalcolithic (2000–1000 BCE), Iron Age (1000–400 BCE) and early historic period (400–200 BCE).[7]