The Chhatrapur beach placer deposit, on the southeastern coast of Orissa, is well known for its heavy mineral resources. These heavy minerals contain radioactive elements like uranium,thorium and potassium in their crystal lattices. The concentrations of radioactive  lements such as ²³⁸U and ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured by gamma ray spectrometry, using a high purity germanium detector. The average activity concentrations of ²³²Th,²³⁸ U and ⁴⁰K were found to be 2500 ±80, 250±60 nd 56± 22 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively, in beach sand samples.The mean absorbed gamma dose rate in air due to these naturally occurring radionuclides were found to be 1680±75 nGy h⁻¹ . The dose rate is similar to that found in other high background radiation areas along different parts of India, the soils of which are also enriched in heavy minerals