A novel optical recording medium is here disclosed in which an underlayer and a heat-sensitive color-developing layer are laminated in this order onto a base material, the underlayer containing a near infrared absorbent, the heat-sensitive color-developing layer containing a basic colorless dye and an organic developer. The near infrared absorbent may be a dispersible near infrared absorbent which absorbs a wave length in a near infrared region of 0.7 to 2.5 .mu.m, and this dispersible near infrared absorbent is graphite, copper sulfide, lead sulfide, black titanium or tri-iron tetroxide. A transparent protective layer may be superimposed on the heat-sensitive color-developing layer.