Beach, Bazaar & Swamiji Day
A day without the temple, for a change of pace
About This Plan
Not every day in Puri has to be a temple day. This plan is for the beach at one end of Grand Road, the market in the middle, and the older streets behind it — and it works well as a rest day between temple visits. Puri Beach runs a long way north from the main area, and the interesting thing about it is that it is not one beach but a series of them with different characters. The stretch closest to Grand Road is busy and commercial. Further north it becomes progressively more open and, depending on the season, you can walk a considerable distance with relatively few people around. The water here is rough and the currents are strong; the sea is not somewhere to be casual, and swimming here is genuinely risky. Come to walk, watch the sunset, or sit on the sand, and treat the water with respect. The Grand Road sweet shops are the other reason people linger. Puri has a long-standing tradition of sweet-making, and the shops along Grand Road sell everything from the light chena poda that is meant to be eaten within a day of making to packaged items you can carry home. Buy from the shops where the sweet is being made in front of you, and it is noticeably better. The back streets behind Grand Road are quieter and worth a walk, particularly in the early evening when the traffic has thinned and the shutters are half down. If you are in Puri for a longer stay, this is a good afternoon to simply wander rather than schedule.
Itinerary
Walk to the beach
The beach is a short walk along Grand Road. Late afternoon is the best time — the heat has dropped and the light is better for walking.
Beach time
Walk, sit, or watch the fishing boats coming in. Note that currents are strong and swimming is not safe in this stretch of the coast.
Grand Road sweet shops
The shops are best before the evening crowd builds. Look for the ones making chena poda on the premises, and buy it the same day.
Back streets behind Grand Road
Quieter than the main road, and pleasant once the traffic thins. A good walk after dinner, and an easy way to end the day.
Highlights
FAQs
Is it safe to swim at Puri Beach?
We would not recommend swimming. The currents along this stretch of the Odisha coast are strong and there have been drownings in the surf zone in tourist season. The beach is a good place to walk, sit, and watch the sunset, and that is what most guests do.
What sweets should we buy?
Chena poda is the classic Puri sweet and is at its best the day it is made. The shops along Grand Road also sell kharvasana, a fried sweet coated in sugar syrup, and a range of packaged Odia sweets. Buy from the shop where the sweet is being made rather than from a reseller.
Do you have beach access from the hotel?
No. We are on Grand Road at the West Gate, and the beach is a walk away through the main town. The walk is easy and flat, but it takes you through busy public areas rather than a direct route from the door.