Puri Tour Episode 05

Today, I want to share with you the fifth episode of my Puri tour, where I visited some amazing places and had a lot of fun.

Puri is a coastal city in the state of Odisha, India, famous for its Jagannath Temple, one of the four sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Puri is also known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and delicious cuisine.

In this episode, I will show you some of the places I visited on the third day of my tour, such as:

The Puri Beach, where I enjoyed the sunrise, the sand art, and the sea breeze.
The Sudarshan Craft Museum, where I saw some exquisite handicrafts made by local artisans.
The Raghurajpur Heritage Village, where I witnessed the traditional art of Pattachitra, a form of painting on cloth or palm leaf.
The Chilika Lake, where I took a boat ride and saw some rare birds and dolphins.
I hope you will enjoy this post and join me in my journey. Let’s get started!

Puri Beach
I woke up early in the morning and headed to the Puri Beach, which was just a few minutes walk from my hotel. The beach was already crowded with people who came to watch the sunrise and offer prayers to the sun god. I found a spot and waited for the sun to rise from the horizon.

It was a breathtaking sight to see the sky changing colors and the sun emerging from the sea. I felt a sense of peace and gratitude as I witnessed this natural wonder. I also saw some sand artists who created amazing sculptures on the beach using sand and water. They were very talented and creative.

After enjoying the sunrise and the sand art, I decided to take a walk along the beach and feel the sea breeze. The beach was very clean and well-maintained. There were many stalls selling snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and other items. I bought some coconut water and a seashell necklace as a souvenir.

![Coconut water and seashell necklace]

I spent some time on the beach, relaxing and listening to the sound of the waves. It was a refreshing and rejuvenating experience.

Sudarshan Craft Museum
After having breakfast at my hotel, I took a cab to the Sudarshan Craft Museum, which was about 3 km from the beach. The museum was founded by Sudarshan Sahoo, a renowned sculptor and Padma Shri awardee, who dedicated his life to the promotion and preservation of Odisha’s art and culture.

The museum displayed a variety of handicrafts made by Sudarshan Sahoo and his students, such as stone sculptures, wood carvings, terracotta, metal works, paintings, and textiles. The museum also had a workshop where the artisans demonstrated their skills and techniques.

![Stone sculpture at Sudarshan Craft Museum]

I was amazed by the craftsmanship and the beauty of the artworks. Each piece had a story and a meaning behind it. I learned a lot about the history and the culture of Odisha from the museum. I also bought a small stone statue of Lord Jagannath as a souvenir.

![Stone statue of Lord Jagannath]

The museum was a great place to appreciate and support the local art and culture. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you are in Puri.

Raghurajpur Heritage Village
After visiting the museum, I took another cab to the Raghurajpur Heritage Village, which was about 10 km from the museum. The village was a hub of Pattachitra, a traditional art form of Odisha, where the artists painted on cloth or palm leaf using natural colors and motifs.

The village had about 120 houses, each of which was a studio and a gallery of the artists. The walls of the houses were also decorated with colorful paintings and murals. The village was a living museum of art and culture.

![Raghurajpur Heritage Village]

I walked around the village and interacted with some of the artists. They were very friendly and hospitable. They showed me their paintings and explained the meaning and the process behind them. They also offered me some tea and snacks.

![Pattachitra painting]

I was fascinated by the Pattachitra art and the skill of the artists. The paintings were very intricate and detailed. They depicted various themes, such as mythology, religion, nature, and social life. I bought a few paintings as souvenirs and gifts for my friends and family.

![Pattachitra souvenirs]

The village was a unique and memorable experience. I felt like I was transported to a different era and a different world. I was glad that I visited this village and witnessed this amazing art form.

Chilika Lake
After spending a few hours in the village, I took another cab to the Chilika Lake, which was about 50 km from the village. The Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and a Ramsar site of international importance. The lake is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, including some endangered species, such as the Irrawaddy dolphins and the Olive Ridley turtles.

I reached the lake in the afternoon and booked a boat ride to explore the lake. The boat ride was about an hour long and covered some of the major attractions of the lake, such as:

The Nalabana Island, which is a bird sanctuary and a wintering ground for thousands of migratory birds from different parts of the world.
The Kalijai Temple, which is a popular pilgrimage site and a legend of a young girl who drowned in the lake while going to meet her groom.
The Satapada Dolphin Point, which is a spot where the Irrawaddy dolphins can be seen playing and jumping in the water.
![Boat ride at Chilika Lake]

The boat ride was a thrilling and enjoyable experience. I saw some beautiful birds, such as flamingos, pelicans, egrets, and herons. I also saw some dolphins, which were very cute and playful. They came close to the boat and made some sounds. It was a rare and wonderful sight to see.

![Dolphins at Chilika Lake]

After the boat ride, I had some lunch at a nearby restaurant. I tried some local delicacies, such as crab curry, prawn fry, and fish rice. They were very tasty and fresh.

![Lunch at Chilika Lake]

The lake was a perfect place to end my day. I enjoyed the beauty and the diversity of the lake. I also learned a lot about the ecology and the culture of the lake.

That was the end of the fifth episode of my Puri tour. I hope you liked it and found it interesting. I had a great time visiting these places and experiencing their charm and uniqueness. I also collected some wonderful memories and souvenirs from this tour.

In the next episode, I will show you some more places that I visited on the fourth and the last day of my tour, such as:

The Konark Sun Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a marvel of architecture and astronomy.
The Chandrabhaga Beach, which is a scenic and serene beach near the Konark Sun Temple.
The Pipili Village, which is famous for its applique work, a form of embroidery and patchwork.
Stay tuned for the next episode and don’t forget to upvote, comment, and follow me. Thank you for reading and have a nice day! 😊