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Fine white sands,
roar of the breakers rolling in from the Bay of Bengal and countless
devotees flocking the place for a purification dip are the synonyms to
the Puri Beach. The beach has continued to be a sacred venue for an
endless number of pilgrims coming to pay homage to Lord Jagannath
With the annual Beach
Festival taking place in November, the beach has now become a favorite
haunt of both Indian and foreign beach lovers. Located at a mere
distance of 35 kms from the Sun Temple and 65 kms from Bhubaneshwar,
the beach is an ideal place for an introvert holiday maker for the
scarcity of crowd here
The beaches of Puri
are also renowned for the sand sculptures created particularly by the
internationally famed Sudarshan Patnaik. The subjects are generally
inspired by sculptures covering the temple walls, characters and
episodes from the mythology and also the contemporary events. An
entire beach stretch can be completely yours given the immense number
of beaches in Orissa and a comparatively lower number of fun lovers,
the city being a popular pilgrimage point for Indians
The beach at Puri
offers a unique opportunity to witness the striking sunrise and the
sunset on the same beach. Often crowded with holiday makers bathing in
the afternoon, and enjoying the brightly lit kiosks in the night, the
stretches, parallel to the main Marine Drive Road, form the domain of
the domestic tourists, with a row of hotels, food stalls and kiosks
selling souvenirs.
A comparatively clean
and quite place for sunbathing and a relaxed swim can be found at the
eastern end. Local fishermen easily distinguishable by their
triangular straw hats and dhotis serve as lifeguards on the beach, and
take visitors out to sea in their boats to watch the sunsets. On the
Chakratirtha side, the long stretch of golden sand is more tranquil
and pleasant place to stroll. Take enough precaution while swimming as
the currents can be treacherous in Puri
It is interesting to
visit a fishing village along the coast, with dozens of boats made of
solid trunks ply off the coast during the day. Once landed, the rich
catch of prawn, pamphlets and other fishes drawn into the nets is
transferred to baskets. The best time to pay a visit is around dawn,
when the fishermen head out from the village and row the fleet towards
the rising sun over the sea
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