Puri Beach

Puri Beach is one of the finest coastlines in East India, bordering the Bay of Bengal, and is 35 km from the Sun Temple. With the sun gleaming on the pristine waters of the beach, the place is ideal for holidaymakers looking for some solitude. It is often flocked by devotees visiting the beach for a purification dip who come to Puri to pay their homage to Lord Jagannath. The beach is also renowned for the sand sculptures made by internationally-known sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik. The sculptures are usually inspired by the art covering the temple walls or other mythological characters or episodes.

Adorned with fine golden sand and gushing waves, Puri Beach is quite renowned for its peaceful and calm surroundings. You can get a taste of the local life of Puri as well, as it is a favorite haunt of the natives of this place. Tourists can easily distinguish the local fishermen by their triangular straw hats and dhotis. These fishermen also serve as lifeguards on the beach and take visitors out in the sea on their boats to look at the mesmerizing sunset. The stretch on the Chakratirtha side is much more tranquil and pleasant for a long stroll, and if you're feeling a little adventurous you can also go into the waters for a swim.

Puri Beach Festival

Interestingly, Puri Beach hosts the annual 'Puri Beach Festival', a colorful celebration of culture and heritage held in November. It is conducted by the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (Orissa) (HRAO), co-sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha (Orissa), Development Commissioner of Handicrafts and the Eastern Zonal Cultural Center, Calcutta.

The festivities include kaleidoscopic displays of various classical and folk dances of India, and an exhibition of handicrafts, handloom, and sand art, which is perhaps the highlight of this festival. Sand sculptors from all over the country participated in this event. The celebrations are carried forward by events such as fashion shows and rock shows are also held which add another element of fun to this celebration.

Traditional sporting events like beach volleyball, kabaddi, malkham, regatta boat, or yacht races are also quite popular.

Things to do at Puri Beach

A coastline as picturesque as that of Puri Beach is always the perfect place to enjoy a quiet walk as the sun goes down or look out to the beautiful horizon of the landscape. However, this attraction has a lot more to offer its visitors. Tourists can have great fun with camel rides and horse rides at the beachside, which is the perfect way to get a better look at the wonderful scenery of this place. In addition to these, scuba diving, surfing, swimming, and sunbathing are popular activities at Puri Beach.

Surfing

The beach stretches over a long area, which makes it an ideal choice for surfing enthusiasts. The warm and cold currents and the waves breaking over the sandbar give a spectacular view not just to the surfers but also to the people enjoying the sea bath.

Long Walks

On the Chakratirtha side, the significant lot of brilliant sand is a more peaceful and charming spot to walk with your soul mate. What else can be greater than pleasing your eyes with the view and your partner?

Swimming

Needless to say, this long stretch of beach with its splendid waters provides a great opportunity for visitors who just want to channel their inner Michael Phelps and enjoy there to the fullest.

Camel Rides

A perfect and fun option if you’re visiting the beach with your entire family including children. The mothers can shop the intricate handicrafts and children can have a great time riding a camel.

Jet ski ride

What’s fun if you’re visiting a beach with one of the longest coasts in the city and don’t want to exhibit your daredevil side? The lifeguards are anyway there for you while you revel in the waves of the sea.

Sand sculptures and Eateries

Local artists demonstrate their insane artistic skills during the Puri Beach Festival. SudarsanPattnaik is a well-known artist who’s also internationally recognized. You can tingle your taste buds also during the festival when the shack vendors experiment with street food.