Puri Beach Entry Fee
- No Entry Fee
Puri Beach Phone
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Puri Beach Address: , Puri Odisha, 752001, India
The city of Puri is famous for being home to the sacred Jagannath Temple, which draws thousands and thousands of devotees from across the globe each year. There are some more notable Hindu shrines in the city making it a popular pilgrimage destination in India. However, there is more to Puri beyond the sacred temples, and one of the major attractions other than the Jagannath Temple is the Puri Beach.
It is also known as the Golden Beach because of its golden-colored sand. The beach is considered among the safest in the country; thus, giving opportunities to beach lovers to leisurely bathe and swim in the sea.
The Puri Beach is flocked by hundreds of vacationers on a daily basis; it buzzes with people of all ages from early morning till late night. Devotees of Lord Jagannath too visit the beach as it is believed that taking a dip in the sea at Puri is like paying reverence to the Lord. Be it in the morning, evening or at night, the view of the sea waves hitting the shore, the sound of the waves and the constant pleasant wind from the sea makes this place a fantastic beach destination.
All through the day, hawkers sell various items including snacks, sweets, conch shells, beads, toys etc. on the beach. Local photographers too can be seen roaming around offering their instant photo service. A number of camels and horses too can be spotted. Both kids and adults can be seen taking rides on them. At different places on the beach, there are various small shops that offer tea, snacks and other local delicacies.
It is noteworthy that the Puri Beach bagged the prestigious Blue Flag certification in 2020. The certification means that the beach satisfies different criteria including safety, accessibility and environmental, among others. Another significant aspect of the beach is that the renowned sand artist, Padma Shri Sudarshan Pattnaik creates spectacular sand art at one segment of the beach.
History of Puri Beach
Every year in the month of November, the Puri Beach Festival is organized. During this 5-day festival, cultural programs, fashion shows and exhibitions are organized on the beach. This festival was first started in 1993 and is organized by the Hotel Association of Puri (HAP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, the Department of Tourism & Culture, Government of Odisha, Song & Drama Division, EZCC, Kolkata, New Delhi and ICCR. The festival not only celebrates the culture, art, sports, craft and cuisines of Odisha but other states of India as well.
Image Gallery of Puri Beach
Things to do in Puri Beach
There are a lot many things to do at the Puri Beach and enjoy with friends and family. Early morning visits to the beach to watch the fishermen heading to the sea or catch the sunrise can be a good start. This can be followed by sipping hot tea while enjoying the cool breeze and watching the sea waves hitting the shore.
If kids are accompanying, then making sand castles with them is a must! Getting into the sea to swim and bathe should definitely be on the list; it is simply refreshing and reinvigorating. While everyone is allowed to head into the sea, adults should be careful when kids are around as the retreating sea waves can sometimes pull people into water with great force. Enjoying on the beach is not limited to just going into the water and making sand castles for kids, they can also enjoy riding on the camels and the horses on the beach itself.
Throughout the day, the small eatery shops on the beach cook a variety of delicacies and trying them out can be fun; however, some places might not be hygienic and precaution is advisable. In the evenings, the beach comes alive with a makeshift market, where a range of products including clothes, bags, handicrafts, toys and much more are on sale. This market is set up more towards the Swargadwara Beach while the eastern end of the beach remains comparatively quiet with fewer crowds.
Besides spending quality time at the Puri Beach, tourists can head to the sacred temples of the city, especially the famous Jagannath Temple. In addition, there are parks, museums and other popular beachfronts in Puri that must be definitely visited on a trip to this holy city.
Puri Beach Timings and Entry fee
There is no entry fee to visit Puri Beach. It remains open on all days 24 hours (except on days the local administration warns about impending cyclones or extremely high tides). However, certain restrictions come into force after 10 pm, with lifeguards warning people not to go too close to the waters as high tides hit the seashore with great force.
The best times to visit the beach are in the wee hours of the morning when the fishermen head to the sea to catch fish and at the time of sunrise and sunset.
How to reach Puri Beach
The popular Puri Beach lies at an approximate distance of 1.3 km from the Puri Railway Station and about 3.1 km from the Puri Bus Stand. Auto rickshaws, battery-operated rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and private taxis can be hired from these two places to reach the beach in less than 10 minutes.
Currently, the nearest airport to the city of Puri is the Biju Patnaik International Airport, around 60 km, in Bhubaneswar. Tourists upon getting down at the airport can hire private taxis from the list of top car rental companies in Bhubaneswar till Puri. Alternatively, they can head to the Bhubaneswar Railway Station to board a train going towards Puri or take a bus to Puri from the bus stand, located outside the railway station.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Puri Beach
- Dry clothes should be kept handy in case there is a plan to bathe in the water.
- Special care should be taken of kids near the shore.
- Avoiding throwing litter on the beach is advised. There are designated dustbins at the beach.
- Sunglasses and sun protection creams/lotions should be carried.
- Walking barefoot on the sand in the afternoon is not advised as it can become quite hot at times.
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