Swargadwar Beach
Swargadwar Beach is located a few kilometers away from the popular Jagannath Temple, along the main Marine Drive in Puri. The place ‘Swargadwar’, which in the local language means ‘Door to Heaven’, holds great religious significance for Hindus as it is believed that people who take a dip in the sea at this place attain salvation and reach heaven after death.
This is also the place where the Swargadwar cremation ground is located. After the cremation rituals, relatives of the deceased take a dip in the sea near Swargadwar as a way of praying to the gods to take their loved ones to heaven.
However, the most significant aspect of this place is its serene beach, which is thronged by tourists all through the year in large numbers. The pleasant wind from the sea and the view of the sea waves hitting the shore make it refreshing and reenergizing for the tourists at Swargadwar Beach.
Things to do at Swargadwar Beach
The Swargadwar Beach is a popular beach spot in Puri and thus, receives hordes of tourists all through the year. The beach gets crowded with tourists as the day passes by and is at its peak in the evenings when the makeshift stalls are set up. The entire beach comes alive during these hours, when tourists taste various local delicacies and make a purchase for a range of items on offer including sea shells, handmade products, toys, bags, decorative items, bead jewelry, etc.
During the day, tourists can spend their time relaxing at the beach and enjoying the sea breeze. Since the water is not shallow at this place, they can safely swim and bathe in the sea; however, caution should be taken to not go deep inside as the sea waves can be quite strong at times. Kids, on the other hand, can ride the camels and horses on payment at the beach.
In addition to spending time at the beach, tourists can head to the different famous attractions of Puri, especially the sacred and popular Jagannath Temple, which lies only about 2-3 km away. They can also visit places like Mahatma Gandhi Park, Blue Flag Beach, Sudam Sand Art Museum, and ISKCON Temple.
