Golden Beach, Puri, Sacred beach in Puri, India
Golden Beach is a stretch of coastline along the Bay of Bengal near the Jagannath Temple in the city of Puri, Odisha state. The sand shows a golden-brown color and the surf brings in waves year-round that roll evenly across several hundred yards of shore.
The coastal stretch lies in a region that formed a route for trade vessels between India and other parts of Asia for centuries. Pilgrims have been coming here for more than a thousand years to bathe in the seawater after visiting the temple.
During the annual Puri Beach Festival, local artists present traditional Odissi dance performances and create intricate sand sculptures depicting mythological scenes.
Most visitors come in the early morning or toward evening when the temperature is more comfortable and the light softer over the water. Some areas have lifeguards and there are many small stalls selling snacks and drinks.
At low tide the water recedes far back and leaves a wide wet strip where you can walk and watch small sea creatures in shallow pools. This tidal movement changes the appearance of the shore visibly twice each day.
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