There are very few places that have embraced opposites, such as the sacred and the profane, religious and secular, dogma and liberalism, particular and universal, the way Puri has, with beauty and serenity. Located at 60 km from Bhubaneswar on the shoreline of Bay of Bengal, Puri, the abode of Vishnu as Jagannath, is one of the four holy dhamas of India beside Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath. A host possessing a rich cultural heritage and integrated individuality, Puri has opened her gates with a spirit of universality, adaptability, and endurance.

Beaches in Puri
Puri beach, 60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the most sought after beaches in India and is an indispensable part of the city. The abode of Lord Jagannath attracts millions of tourists round the year, who come here to take a holy bath, which they believe is a golden path to Moksha or Eternal salvation. Stretching on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, this beach is crowded with vendors, acrobats, food stalls and merry-go-rounds round the year. The major attraction is obviously the sea. As compared to the Western Ghats, Puri enjoys relatively higher amplitude of bustling waves eager to rush and blot out the city. It is true that you cannot resist a leisure walk on the shore on the first day of your visit.

Major Beach Attractions

Romantic Sunrise and Sunsets: One of the major attractions of Puri beach is its sunrise and sunsets. Tourists gather in mass across the shore to view the magnificent play of colors in the sky. The blending of colors on the lap of sky is said to be best seen, here at Puri.

Sand Art: If you are lucky, you can even spot a professional artist indulged in making the best sculpture of his lifetime. Although not historically proved, an interesting story regarding the origin of sand sculptures, in the Oriya myth goes as... "Poet Balaram Das, renowned for his famous work Dandi Ramayana, was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Once during the Chariot Festival, he was insulted and was not allowed to climb the chariot.

Tormented, he went to the beach and carved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with the golden sand. Thanks to his devotion, the original deities from the chariot vanished and appeared at that place where Balaram Das was worshipping." Although the legend does not have a strong historical backup, but it is evident that sand art isn't a new episode, but dates back to 13th century B.C., at the time of Balaram Das and people of Puri are well acquainted with sand sculpture since then.Numerous people try their hands in this activity while sitting on the shore, enjoying "Jhaalmoori", burgers and ice candies. One can also find dancing monkeys, fortune tellers and mobile vendors selling fragrance sticks, toys and items made up of sea shells.

Adventures The shore stretches itself to a long distance and hence is ideal for swimming and surfing. You can even hire boats of fishermen and go for a long walk in the sea, enjoying every moment of your roam. The local fishermen, with their catamarans and conical cane hats, are very good masseurs also.

Nearby attractions 
Jagannath Temple: The splendid Jagannath temple is at a stone's throw from the beach. Magnificent in it's architectural opus, the temple also holds some place in the hearts of the Hindus, by being on of the four major pilgrimage destinations in the country.

Swargadwar: On the seashore to the south of the temple, Swargadwar (Gateway to Heaven) is a sacred spot where a dip in the sea is believed to give eternal salvation. According to scriptures, the Brahmadaru, from which the three main deities of the Jagannath temple are carved out, floated to the beach at Swargadwar. Moreover this place still resonates to the footsteps of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, harbinger of Vaishnav sect, who merged into Brahma from this shore.

Accommodation
Numerous hotels stand abreast to the sea providing a splendid view of the waves 24x7. Besides, Puri is crowded with villas, hotels and lodges to suit every pocket and interests.

Time of visit
The best time to visit Puri is in November when you can take part in annual Puri Beach festival. The culture, craft and cuisine of Orissa will never fail to entice you. Hop into catamaran and enjoy the scenic beauty or revel in the beauty of sunset and sun rise at the beach.

How to Reach
The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar, 60 km from Puri. Puri is well connected to New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai via railways. For intracity transportation, you can rely upon auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws, which are economical enough and gives you a lot of time to explore the city.

So all set for the pulsating holidays at Puri?