October 2025 | 1184 words | 5-minute read, 14 slides
Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the coastal city of Puri facing the Bay of Bengal in the eastern state of Odisha, is among the holiest pilgrimage spots in India. Home to the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus, the city has been known by different names since ancient times and the area around the sacred city contains multiple Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sites.
History, spirituality, scenic beauty, culture, crafts, arts and architecture come together seamlessly in and around Puri. The newly-open Taj Puri Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to explore this ancient city and its many historic and scenic spots that are in close proximity.
This sprawling sea-facing property built using khondalite and laterite stones, with 90 beautifully-appointed rooms and suites set amidst lush greenery, affords splendid views of the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. Located just 67km from the Biju Patnaik International Airport, Taj Puri Resort & Spa combines luxury with easy access to all the principal sights of this historically and culturally rich sacred site, namely the temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the several big and small temples dotted about the city such as Shri Gundicha Temple, Shri Vimala Shakti Temple, the Sun Temple at Konark, the craft village of Raghurajpur, the Blue Flag Beach, Golden Beach, Lighthouse, and a little further afield Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, the Chilika Lake.
The property offers myriad delights. Muted earth tones, neutral shades of upholstery, floor-to-ceiling glass windows are enlivened with the bright pop of colour of a pattachitra painting or a traditional ikat weave or a terracotta pot or figurine offering a glimpse of local craftsmanship and a peek into Odisha’s rich culture. Airy corridors and rooms with balconies mean that the sea is never far from view no matter where you are in the hotel. Enjoy stunning views and exceptional dining experiences, savour local experiences such as the samudra aarti and gotipua dance in a charming little amphitheatre facing the sea, make the most of the spacious lawn for family reunions, corporate events or destination weddings, and rejuvenate both mind and body with world-class Ayurvedic therapies at the J Wellness Spa. And if it’s business that has brought you here, there are the banquet/meeting spaces: Teeraa, Bhumi Lawn, Tatini and Boardroom.
After a day of darshans at temples and visiting historic sites, take in the setting sun with a stroll on the beach followed by an Oriya thali at Vista, whose chief highlights are the locally sourced seasonal greens and wild mushrooms. Vista specialises in local fare that takes inspiration from both temple food and cultural practices; it is also mindful of a more global palate with many continental offerings. But remember to keep at least one evening devoted exclusively for a dinner at Jatra, the specialty restaurant that celebrates Odisha’s centuries-old maritime heritage with an imaginatively recreated and vastly eclectic menu. Typical South Asian delights are given an unexpected, and utterly delightful, Odiya touch with mindfully sourced ingredients.
At Jatra, history and geography and culinary traditions come together seamlessly along with a healthy dose of imagination. The Bali Yatra was a seafaring route that began at Kalinga with merchant vessels carrying all manner of textiles, spices and precious metals, going all the way to Siam, Malaysia and Bali on the farthest end of the archipelago. On the way back, these ships carried exotic foods and fabrics, rubies and silks from all over South East Asia. In memory of the Bali Yatra, the chefs at Jatra at Taj Puri Resort & Spa have created an entire menu documenting this historic journey and its long lasting influences on cuisine and culture. Over a leisurely dinner, sample an amuse bouche of saaga bhaja, bao buns stuffed with jackfruit, dim sums with an astonishing variety of stuffings, a pomfret cooked in banana leaf, a mulligatawny-like curry eaten with sticky rice and finally, a typically Odiya chhena poda for dessert!
The hotel’s exceptionally helpful front desk is happy to organise darshan at the Jagannath temple culminating with the mahaprasad sevan, and advise guests regarding the best time to visit the other temples. Young Krushna Chandra Pradhan, a local lad who works as a guide for the hotel guests, proves to be a wonderful companion if you are planning excursions further afield such as Chilika. With a healthy population of dolphins, an annual influx of migratory birds from as far away as Siberia and North Europe, as well as plenty of local species of waders and egrets, the lake affords some interesting sights at any given time of the year: barges ferrying people, cars, even trucks between the many islands dotting the lake and from the lake isles to the mainland as well as fishermen catching crabs using seemingly primitive, but apparently very effective, time-honoured means.
If the day’s excursions have tired you out, head to the J Wellness Spa. Here, in its serene setting with wood-tiled floors, fresh flowers and muted soft furnishings, Sonalika will tease and coax all the tiredness out of your aching limbs knowing exactly which knotted muscles to gently relax, precisely how much pressure to apply at which pressure points with just the right amount of mildly fragrant Ayurvedic oils.
If time permits, do head out to the Sun Temple at Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stopping to enjoy a pony ride at Chandrabhaga beach on the way, or a stopover at the Sand Art Museum with its astonishing variety of 3D sand art models. The hotel arranges knowledgeable guides to walk you through the intricately carved 13th-century temple with its gigantic chariot of the Sun God, Surya, comprising 12 pairs of ornamented wheels pulled by seven horses. The temple plinth, decorated with reliefs of fantastic lions, musicians and dancers, is a sight to behold.
When it is time to head back home, remember to drop in at Dhauli, on route from Puri to the nearest airport at Bhubhaneshwar. It was here that Emperor Ashoka fought his last war, the Battle of Kalinga in 261 BCE. Climb the stairs to the beautiful and serene white stupa atop a hillock with vistas of the lush green countryside, so typical of the undulating Eastern Ghats. Anguished by the murder and mayhem he had caused, the lakhs of dead and mutilated bodies that made the river Daya flowing nearby run red with the blood of the dead and wounded, Ashoka decided to forsake violence and embrace ahimsa (non-violence). He repaired the second-century stupa already in existence and left this spot forever marked by a peace and calm that can still be felt despite the milling crowds. Buddham Sharnam Gachchami.
Previously published in Taj Magazine.
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