Puri is one of the most popular tourist places and religious sites. People from all over the world visit Puri to offer prayer in the Jagannath temple. Other than the amazing sightseeing locations in Puri, one of the main attractions in Puri is surely the beautiful beaches in Puri. There are many famous beaches in Puri and some beaches are a little offbeat and unknown. Each of the beaches has its own unique element.
So are you looking for some sea beaches near Puri? Do you want to know about the famous beaches in Puri that you must explore? In this article I will list down the best Beaches in Puri that you should definitely visit when you are there.
8 Beaches of Puri
Puri beach
Location
Puri Beach is in the city of Puri in Odisha 2km away from Puri Railway station. It is on the shore of Bay of Bengal.
One of the best beaches for family holidays is Puri beach. This one is a popular beach among the devotees who come to Puri to visit Lord Jagannath. Puri beach is a beach near Puri Temple. Puri beach is surrounded by ancient holy temples and therefore attracts lots of tourists. The devotees take a dip at this beach for purification before visiting the temple. There is a specific area in the Puri Beach known as the Sudarsan Pattnaik Sand Art Area which was created by the renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik.
The Beach Festival happens in the month of November every year that is sponsored and initiated by the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, the Indian Ministry of Tourism in Puri, and the Eastern Zonal Cultural centre, Kolkata. It is a full fledged extravagant cultural festival. It includes the kaleidoscopic display of various Classical dance forms and folk dances of India. Exhibitions are also held where you can get different handicraft items. Sand artists from all over the world also come and take part in this festival.
Best time to visit
The time of the annual festival can be ideal for visiting this beach but other than that you can visit Puri Beach almost the whole year round.
Activities
Other than regular activities like walking around the beach, sporting events like beach volleyball, kabaddi are popular. Activities like yacht races also take place along with surfing, boat ride and sea cruising.
Swargadwar Beach
Location
Right in front of the Swargadwar crematorium this beach runs along the main Marine Drive of Puri.
Swargadwar Beach is the most popular beach and the most crowded one as well. There is a huge crowd gathering on this beach every day and the beach looks very vibrant with so many people. This beach is also religiously important as it is popularly known as the bathing area of Sri Chaitanya Mahapravu, a well known sage. Also ‘SwargaDwar’ literally means the Door to Heaven. There is a popular belief that this is the place from where Lord Jagannath had entered earth from heaven and so it is believed that the souls of the people who are cremated in Swargadwar directly reaches heaven You can get a lots of street food corners serving seafood and other items around the beach. Also there is an ample number of hotels and Resorts in front of the beach which promises sea facing views as well.
Best time to visit
You can visit this beach any time because the beach is always bustling with activities and recreation.
Activities
Regular activities like walking, swimming, sun bathing, long evening walks and watching the sunrise and sunsets are popular here.
Chandrabhaga beach
Location
Chandrabhaga Beach is located 3km east of the Sun temple of Konark in Puri. It is 30km from the main city of Puri.
Chandrabhaga beach is the largest and one of the most popular beaches in the village of Chandrabhaga in Puri district. This beach holds a lot of cultural and traditional importance as it highlights the identity of Orissa by hosting many cultural activities. The most iconic of them is the Chandrabhaga Mela which is a fair organized in honor of Lord Surya for 7days. Another notable event is the Konark International Sand Art Festival organized by the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). Every year artists from across the world come and take part in this event.
Chandrabhaga beach is India’s first beach to get the Blue Flag Certification by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) that is given to the environmentally friendly clean beaches that are well equipped with all the necessary amenities according to International Standards.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit this beach is obviously during December when the Konark International Sand Art Festival takes place. At that time the beach rises to its utmost glory and it would be a treat to witness the spectacular artworks.
Activities
You can try activities like parasailing and surfing or you can try swimming or boating if that is your area of interest. The beach looks beautiful so you can just take leisurely walks along the beach or click some good photographs. You can also satiate your taste buds with local dishes like Pakhala Bhat, Dalma and Chakuli Pitha.
Baliharachandi beach
Location
Baliharachandi beach is located in Sipasarubali 10km from central Puri.
This one is an offbeat beach that is not explored much. If you want a calm experience then this beach is going to be perfect. This beach is popular as a picnic spot as well. You will get a clear view of the sea and just looking at it would take up all your time. The location is a convenient spot from Bhubaneswar as well as The Konark Sun Temple. Usually travelers take a quick stop here when they are exploring the other tourist places. You will get a few stalls there serving light snacks.
Best time to visit
There is a beach festival that happens annually in the month of November. So you can think of visiting the beach around that time if you are interested.
Activities
On a peaceful beach the most attractive activity is lazing around and gazing at a distance. The view will be obstructed for as much as your eyes can see. This can be an ideal spot for a picnic. You can also go hiking through the forests as well if you want some adventure.
Balighai beach
Location
The Balighai beach is a long stretched beach on The Puri Konark Marine Drive Road and is 8kms away from Puri and 17km from Central Puri.
The beach is named Balighai because of the white sand here which glitters during full moon night. It is very clean and has beautiful Casuarinas and Eucalyptus trees. There are many luxury resorts around the beach so you can even make this your destination as well. The beach would be an enchanting sight to experience specifically during sunrise and sunsets. The beach is a little secluded than any other beaches in Puri so experiences less footfall. Do not miss out on this beautiful beach if you are looking for a serene environment away from the crowd. This beach is a favorite spot for the fishermen so you will get to witness the fishing activities here and spot many ships while sitting and gazing at the waves.
Best time to visit
You can visit this beach any time of the year. This beach is famous for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles which you can see during the months of December and January. During this time they visit the beach to lay eggs. There are many migratory birds as well that you can notice during this time of the year. So if you want you can visit the beach around this time.
Activities
Activities like parasailing, sightseeing, swimming, surfing, sun bathing, walking and photography are popular. Other than these activities you can visit the Balihirana Deer sanctuary which has endangered Balihirana antelopes even though it is a little rare these days. Another place you can visit is the Sea Turtle Research Centre where you can find large turtles. Animal lovers are going to enjoy these two spots to the fullest.
Golden Beach Puri
Location
This beach is located 20kms away from Puri on the highway leading to Konark.
The golden beach derived its name from the beauty of the golden hour. The sand glistens like pure gold under the sun and everywhere there is a golden glow reflecting. The beach is not overly populated so that makes it one of the most peaceful beaches in Puri.
Best time to visit
There is no specific time to visit here. You can visit any item you wish.
Activities
Activities like sightseeing, swimming, sunset viewing and walking are common. Scuba diving, Surfing, and sunbathing are also popular activities.
Baleshwar Beach
Location
This beach is situated at the mouth of the Nuanai River and it is 4km away from the Konark Marine Drive Road.
Baleshwar beach which is also known as Chandipur beach is one of the less crowded beaches in Puri. The tide pattern in this beach makes it unique. The sea recedes back from the sandy beach up to 5km from the sandy beach during particular ebb times. This leaves muddy traits behind. The sea keeps on playing hide and seek and that mysterious element makes this beach a unique one.
Best time to visit
This beach is not a very crowded one so you can visit any time. Try visiting during the tides to notice the tidal activities which would be an interesting thing to explore.
Activities
You can indulge in leisurely walks or watch the beautiful view during sunrise and sunsets. You can also swim in the sea there.
Astaranga Beach
Location
Astaranga beach is located at 60km distance from Puri and 34km away from Konark.
Astaranga beach can be a one day trip destination. The beach got its name from the beauty it exudes. ‘Asta’ literally means Sunset and ‘Ranga’ means Colour. You can spend the day here and enjoy the magnificent view of the sunset. The place is ideal for beach picnics as well.
Best time to visit
You can visit the beach at all times year round. The beach is always basking in its glory and visitors are not going to get disappointed.
Activities
Beach picnics are common here. You can take lazy strolls at the beach or gaze at the sunrise and sunset. This one is a perfect place to spend some quality time with yourself or your family away from the commotion.
Listed above are the popular beaches in Puri. Make a list and visit all of them if you want to delve into the intricate differences of the famous beaches of Puri. You cannot miss these beaches while you are exploring the best beaches in Puri.
