November.
2012 … This Diwali we planned for a family tour. The first common name was
Puri. All of us agreed to Puri, because it would be our second time visit and
after a long 18 years. So, we booked our tickets in Howrah-Puri express on 12th.
And reach Puri on 13th early morning. Subhankar, one of my close
friend, was waiting at rail station and received us warmly. We had our booking
in Puri Beach Resort for next nights.
The morning
breeze was chilling. We take an auto to our hotel, it is near Light House. While
crossing the main attraction are “Sargadyar”, we found that the beach was crowded
like a mela. The roads were inaccessible. The smoke, coming from burning ghat,
covered the sky with its grey colour and irritating smell. Somehow our driver
managed a narrow space for his auto and we reach our hotel.
From
Kolkata, we had booked a private suite room in that hotel, by paying an
advance. And found that the hotel admin
did not reserve that particular room. So, again we had to fight to get our best
accommodation, and we managed 2 deluxe rooms for us.
After
getting fresh, we went to “Jagannath temple”. My mom and dad went to inside of
temple and we two friends, wanted to visit the outer surroundings for searching
some topic regarding photography. So,
our journey started through the mob. After an our fighting, we found ourselves exhausted
and tired. There was nothing but mob, smoke, crying and chaos. After sometime, in front of temple, we met
together and returned to our hotel.
The mid sun
was crazy and the weather was seriously hot. At after noon we walked to wards “Mohona”,
and found that place somehow quite peaceful. From the light house to mohona,
there was no so called road, we enjoyed the walk along with the beach. At
evening we had to go again towards burning ghat., and found the pathetic
situation same or more like the morning experience.
After 18
years most of things were changed. I remembered my first visit. Then I loved
Puri. And now, truly speaking, the most disgusting place ever I seen is Puri. Everywhere
mismanagement, chaos is badly present in the air. Beggars are so powerful in crowding
the road. Finding some place for
yourself is too difficult. We suddenly realize that, if we want to spend our
holidays in our style, we should leave Puri.
Though we
had a 2 night booking in our hotel, the next morning we checked out and hired a
cab for Konark. We thought, we would manage some thing for us outside this
crowed. Puri-Konark Marine drive was awesome. It goes to Konark through
Balukhanda Wildlife Sanctuary. After 30min drive from Puri, we noticed an ad of
Lotus Resort and crossed it. We took an U turn and took the narrow road towards
the hotel. And at last we found our place. We talked to the front office
manager Mr. Suvendu and he managed 2 nos
of double bed cottage for us. We checked in into our dreamed place. The
Sun-temple was 10min drive away from the hotel.
We reached
Sun temple and noticed that this is the
structure remained unchanged. 18 years ago we saw the conservation work was
going on and now again we saw the conservation was still going on. The left
side of the temple was covered with steel shuttering and work was on progress. Perhaps
The Sun also do not know how long it will be on progress ! Okay. We went inside
the complex and memorised our old memory.
We returned
our hotel and after getting fresh, we had a walk in the campus. After spending
a day in Puri, I will tell you that place was out of the world. The resort is situated inside
the Balukhanda Wildlife Sanctuary. The campus is covered by green in 3 sides
and sea at the front. They have 23 cottages and 4 nos of villa. The cottage
rooms were excellent and the hospitality and services of the host were beyond
to excellence. They have their private beach also, that was connected to
Chandrabhaga beach. At evening we
enjoyed a boat riding on the sea. The weather was cool and comfortable. We had
a great Sun-set from Ramachandi Temple. The night stay was almost similar like
staying in a forest rest house and the only sound was coming from the sea.The next
day, we entered into the forest. That was wild and a paradise for resident birds.
You have to find them very patiently. Watching them and shoot (to frame) them
is my favourite time-pass. Finding something new and framing them was great in
that forest. If you love wildness, you will surely love this place
At evening,
we had to leave that sweat place, Diwali was “Khatam”, the city life was
calling. We reached Puri rail station by 6.30pm, our Howrah bounding train was
standing in platform.
Near Puri, if
you want to spend your holidays in your style and in peace, believe me, go to
this place. You will find something new. Have a look on the pics ....
The beach in front of the resort
You can try also fishing
In the Wildlife
The colour in the golden sand
Finding something new
The way to fly
The Wild Sanctuary
The life in grey
With the Nature
If you love the Nature
The Nature will love you
One more thing about Puri I forget to tell you and i.e. auto rikshaw fare. They were brutal to the tourists and like dacoit, they will charge to 70/80 bucks for only 1km ride, so, be prepare for it.
