Would you want to miss some really exciting flavors of the Indian culture and that too on a beach? Well, that's a complete no-no situation, isn’t it? Yes, as today there aren’t many festivals where you get to witness a spectacle which is all about fun, happiness and lots and lots of entertainment.
And Puri Beach Festival is one such interesting festival. It is an incredible blend of all these factors and that is why it is a must-visit. If you find it hard to believe that such a fun quotient can exist in an event or a festival then you might need to rethink your perspective.
And for this, all you would need to do is imagine yourself on the shore of a beach enjoying the wind along with the rejuvenating waves because this is the kind of vibe which this festival essentially has. The festival of Orissa goes on for a time frame of about 5-7 days, and this year, it is supposed to be held in the month of November, the dates are yet to be announced though.
History of Puri Beach Festival
It was on October 29, 1993, that the very first Puri Beach Festival was inaugurated by Late Sri Biju Pattanaik who was also among one of the leaders of the state along with Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister for tourism at that time. It is majorly organized by the Hotel Association of Puri (HAP) along with the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Tourism and culture, etc.
Major Attractions of Puri Beach Festival
This festival takes place in the coastal city of Puri which was a hidden gem for a long time, but, owing to the Puri Beach Festival, it has gained a lot of exposure in terms of being a travel-worthy tourist destination of Odisha.
Essentially, this festival is all about celebrating the spirit of art, craft, culture, sports, cuisines, etc. It is in this festival where a diverse range of folk dances of Odisha as well as other states are performed. There is also an exhibition of some really brilliant and beautiful handloom products which mainly consists of Pata Sari and Pattichitra Sari. These are essentially placed for the visitors.
Apart from that, the sand art made by skilled artists only adds to the overall charm of this festival. Overall, this festival offers a simply majestic experience to tourists and locals alike. And due to this, it always remains in high demand and witnesses full attendance when the celebration times come.
How to Reach Puri
Puri is a city located in Orissa. It is a place that is all about exploring the religious fervor which India has to offer. Puri is located at an approximate distance of 1,700, 1,458, 1,785, and 495 km from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata respectively. Let’s discuss how we can reach this place via the following routes.
By Air
If you are planning to reach Puri via flights then your best option would be Biju Patnaik Airport (BBI). This airport is located at an approximate distance of 50-60 km from Puri.
Also known to many as Bhubaneshwar airport, it is the primary airport of this region serving Odisha and other nearby districts. The connectivity from Bhubaneshwar Railway Station to this airport is fairly good as it is situated 4km (approximate) south-west of the airport.
Various airlines like Air India, Vistara, IndiGo and Go Air operate to and fro Puri connecting it to cities like Delhi, Lucknow. As you deboard at this airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance via some means of public transportation like a cab or a bus.
By Road
Puri is fairly well connected to many nearby cities via well-maintained road networks. From Coimbatore, you will need to cover a total distance of 1,740 km via NH16, from Mumbai you will need to cover a total distance of 1,797 km via NH53 or NH16. From Ahemadabad, you will need to cover a total distance of 1,782 km (approx) via NH47, NH57, or NH53.
Apart from that, you can also rely on travelling via interstate buses. From Visakhapatnam, it will take you 6- 14 hours costing you around Rs.300-600. From Ranchi, it will take you a time frame of around 10-14 hours which will cost you somewhere between Rs.500-600.
By Train
To reach Puri via train, your best bet would be Puri Railway Station. Some major trains that operate to and fro from this station are Indore Humsafar Express, Howrah Garib Rath Express, Howrah Shatabdi Express, Sealdah Duronto Express, and Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express.
From Delhi, you will need to board Nandan Kanan Express, Purshottam Express via Anand Vihar Terminal and New Delhi Railway Station respectively. From Visakhapatnam, you will need to take TPTY Puri Express via Visakhapatnam Junction. From Ranchi, you can take Tapa Swini Express from Hatia railway station.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
