PURI: BEYOND TEMPLES AND BEACHES

Time of India

7 hours ago

The ancient Jagannath temple and the pristine golden beach have long been the twin jewels in Odisha's tourism crown, attracting millions of visitors to Puri annually. However, a remarkable transformation is taking place in this coastal city that's reshaping its identity from a purely religious destination to a modern tourist paradise.
Just half a decade ago, the area beyond the Light House beach was an unexplored territory, dominated by casuarina forests and sand dunes, with no infrastructure or human presence. Today, this section of Puri, known as the new marine drive or Sipasarubali beach, has emerged as a symbol of progress and modern development, featuring wide roads, luxury hotels, trendy restaurants and vibrant tourist zones.
The new Puri area is set to see further growth thanks to the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Sipasarubali.
"The Puri beach has evolved to offer an experience that is reminiscent of popular global tourist destinations. The Sipasarubali area is going to get transformed in the next five years and is a potential goldmine for investors," according to businessman Nikhil Gupta, who was in Puri recently to explore business opportunities.
The game-changing factor in this transformation has been the development of the expansive marine drive road connecting Sipasarubali beach to Harekrushnapur on the outskirts of Puri.
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Previously, tourists often avoided Puri due to the congested main entrance via Bata Mangala — Atharanala. The lack of proper connectivity had also deterred the hotel industry from expanding into new areas.
Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, while emphasizing the importance of sustainable development, said, "We are witnessing unprecedented interest from investors in the Sipasarubali beach area.
While we are excited about the growth prospects, our focus remains on ensuring planned and regulated development that adheres to environmental and coastal regulation zone guidelines."
According to Debasis Das, secretary of Srikhetra Swabhiman Mancha (a cultural outfit), the Shree Jagannatha Parikrama Prakalpa (a heritage corridor project) which was inaugurated last year on Jan 17, set the ball rolling for Puri's transformation.
Under the Rs-500-crore ambitious makeover plan, Puri witnessed infrastructural development, tourist amenities, revival of sacred tanks, multi-lane roads and multi-level parking and a trumpet bridge.
The new Puri has become a popular weekend destination for residents of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, who can reach the beach town in just two hours by road. The area's appeal lies in its spacious infrastructure, ample parking facilities and relatively less crowded beaches compared to the bustling central beach near Digabareni and Swargadwar.
"The transformation of Sipasarubali from a handful of hotels to a thriving tourist hub has been remarkable. However, it's crucial that we maintain the area's natural charm while pursuing development," Padma awardee and renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik said.
The statistics support this growth story, with over 50 hotels, including two-star category establishments, and numerous restaurants now operating along the new marine drive.
The area received a significant boost when the Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education granted the prestigious Blue Flag certification to an 870-m stretch of Puri Golden beach in Oct 2020, making it Odisha's first beach to receive this international recognition.
The certified beach area now boasts of world-class amenities, including beach huts, jogging tracks, modern toilets, designated safe bathing zones, watchtowers, landscaped gardens, changing rooms and advanced security features like CCTV cameras and solar-powered street lighting.
The govt also has plans to develop beach and water sports activities in the Sipasarubali area. The recently approved 'Odisha Adventure Tourism Guidelines, 2025', promotes various water sports activities, from jet skiing and parasailing to snorkelling and windsurfing. However, following a recent boat capsize incident involving Cricket Association of Bengal's president Snehasish Ganguly, authorities are conducting thorough safety assessments before implementing these activities.
While the development has been impressive, visitors and stakeholders point out areas requiring attention. "We need more waste management facilities along the shore and better shade provisions for tourists," Gupta added.
Hotel Association of Puri's vice-president Debasis Kumar stresses the importance of security. "With the expanding tourist zone, we need dedicated police outposts along the marine drive and enhanced beach patrolling, especially in the 10-km stretch from Sanskrit University to Sterling," Kumar said.
To address the growing traffic, the govt is constructing a five-storeyed multi-level car parking facility at Digabareni Chhak that will accommodate 257 vehicles. Infrastructure improvements also include a 6m-wide granite-paved pathway along the marine drive, replacing the narrow footpath that existed previously.
"The transformation of Puri represents a delicate balance between preserving its ancient spiritual heritage and embracing modern tourism development.
As this coastal city evolves, we, as stakeholders, remain committed to sustainable growth that benefits both locals and visitors, while protecting the natural environment that makes Puri unique," Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of India-Japan Friendship Centre, an outfit working on promotion of tourism activities in Puri, said.
According to Dash, the arrival of tourists, including foreigners, will increase after commissioning of the proposed international airport. "We need to have viable tourism projects attracting foreign tourists," he added. He advocated for the development of theme parks, shopping centres, museums and cinema halls. "These additions would encourage visitors to prolong their holidays in the coastal town, bolstering the economy," he said.