The revered Jagganath temple, tranquil beaches, a culinary extravaganza, and more — there are many reasons why Puri is a much-loved destination for people from neighbouring states like West Bengal looking for a quick getaway. While everyone wants a sea-facing room in Puri, we also want easy access to the beach, some traditional food, a pool, maybe a spa, and also a spot where we can take our furry family members pet-friendly accommodation — seems like a lot to ask for, right? But during My Kolkata’s recent visit to the seaside town in Odisha, we found it all and more at Sterling Puri. Here’s what you can expect from this sprawling 15-acre resort located by the estuary of Dhaudia River and Bay of Bengal.
An opulent stay near the beach
Enjoy the views of the estuary from the room
The soft rays of the sun kiss you good morning at the sea-facing rooms in Sterling. You can enjoy your first cuppa of the day lazing on the balcony, watching fishermen at work and enjoying the lush greenery that surrounds the resort. Situated by the Dhaudia River estuary, Sterling Puri offers great beach views. The resort has 121 rooms — Privilege Suite, Premiere room and Classic rooms. About 24 Privilege and Classic rooms face the sea or river while others have garden views. About six pet-friendly accommodations are housed separately with garden access. We stayed in the Privilege Room which came with a separate living area and a sea-facing balcony. The well appointed rooms also have LED TVs, mini-refrigerators, electric kettles, safe lockers, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries.
A mural depicting the cultural heritage of Puri at the hotel
A soft, sophisticated colour palette of browns and creams, and traditional artwork adorn the rooms. Intricate woodwork, and patachitra art on the walls and ceiling bring the cultural aspects of Odisha to the space. The bed runners and cushion covers are stitched out of Sambalpuri silk, representing Odisha’s popular handloom ikat silk saris. Speaking about the cultural influence of the state in the resort, Shitanshu Bhargava, regional general manager of Sterling Puri said, “We have tried to highlight the art and culture of Odisha in the decor. Odisha has a rich cultural heritage, and we want our guests to experience it throughout their stay.” The resort opened in 1994, and it went through a renovation in 2017 and again in 2021. Sterling also has a banquet hall (4,125 sqft) divided into two spaces — Ashoka and Kalinga. There are also two open-air spaces — the wedding lawn can accommodate 300 to 1,200 guests while the riverside lawn can accommodate 125 to 150 guests.
A feast of Odia and world cuisine
Amo Odisha serves lip-smacking Odia cuisine
When at Sterling Puri, we recommend you try out their breakfast buffet at Utkala, savour the flavours of Odisha at Amo Odisha and then head to Utkala again for dinner or experience a global spread by the pool.
The resort recently opened its speciality restaurant Amo Odisha, which serves traditional Odia thalis and is headed by executive chef Abhijit Nag. The thalis include rice, roti, dalma (a traditional Odia lentil and vegetable curry), chicken curry, mushroom and vegetable curries, chutney, papad, and chena poda to end the meal. One can also choose signatures like Dab Chingudi, Handi Mutton, and more from the a la carte menu. The curries and gravies of Odia food are quite similar to Bengali cuisine. We tried the Dab Chingudi — prawns in a coconut milk gravy, similar to the Bengali Malai curry, which was served in a green coconut shell. The Handi Mutton was all about the flavourful and tender meat in a thick red gravy, and paired well with the steamed rice. The dalma was a total comfort dish — toor dal cooked with veggies like carrots and green papaya made it a perfect accompaniment with rice for lunch.
At Utkala, enjoy buffets and a la carte menus serving global cuisine
The resort also has a multi-cuisine restaurant Utkala serving lip-smacking food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant has buffets and a la carte menus serving Indian, Continental, Chinese, and Odia cuisine and more. The elaborate breakfast buffet consists of an English breakfast, south Indian dishes, north Indian breakfast staples, along with tea, coffee, and more. We tried Chakuli — Odisha’s special rice flour crepe with potato curry. For lunch, we tried the Tandoori Pomfret, Crab Masala, Paneer Pardah Kebab, and more. The sweetmeat crabs, sourced freshly from Chilka Lake, were cooked in a spicy gravy. Utkala also serves what they term Global Desi cuisine, where traditional flavours are elevated with a modern touch. Talking about the fare, Manjil Bhattacharya, food and beverage manager, said, “Global Desi is a modern-day cuisine and we aim to present evergreen dishes with a twist. A combination of Western and Indian food is tweaked to perfection.
A dreamy set up for dinner by the pool
The dinner was a romantic affair by the pool with a beautiful spread of chef specials from the Global Desi menu paired with mocktails. The course began with an amuse-bouche of watermelon and pineapple, Mushroom Duplex (mushroom stuffed croquettes), Thread Prawn, chicken shish kebab and red beet kebab. For the mains, there was Mutton Kosha Stroganoff, and Char-grilled Cottage Cheese Steak in Makhani Gravy. The dessert was a creative affair with a rabdi stuffed parwal sweet. The meal ended with a paan shot.
Some of the dishes from the Global Desi menu
Dinner by the pool is made available on request at a cost. A table is put up by the pool and decorated with balloons, flowers and lights. There is a set menu consisting of vegetarian or non-vegetarian starters, a main course, desserts and a beverage. While guests can avail of the set-up by requesting a day in advance, walk-ins are also welcome. Whether it is an anniversary celebration, birthday dinner, proposal or just a date — it is a perfect way to surprise your loved ones while on a holiday in Puri.
Unwinding in style
Take time out from the itinerary and spend leisurely hours by or in the pool
Sterling Puri has several activities within its property that will keep you busy. Besides taking a stroll on the beach and visiting the nearby sightseeing spots, one can indulge in a relaxing spa or swim in the huge pool. There are outdoor and indoor kids’ play areas. The indoor area has complimentary and chargeable activities like a sand art corner, air hockey, archery, table tennis etc. For more relaxation, get massages and therapies at the in-house Subuthi Spa.
The souvenir store named My Store has a collection of traditional craft items
You can also shop for souvenirs at My Store in the resort from 7am - 7pm. The store is run by an artist from Raghurajpur who sells traditional handmade art and crafts from the state. From patachitra paintings to stone-carved showpieces, you will get everything here.
Gotipua dance performance at the amphitheatre
Evenings, especially on the weekends, can be spent at the resort’s amphitheatre where several events are held. During our stay, we were treated to a dance performance by a Gotipua group who performed the traditional Gotipua dance form. The dance portrayed several forms of the goddess Durga. Gotipua dance, a popular folk dance form is also known as a precursor of sorts to Odisha’s classical dance form, Odissi. The dance involves mesmerising movements accompanied by stunts, and is usually performed by young boys and men dressed in women’s attire.
Places to visit nearby
One can visit several places from Sterling Puri. You can request a rented car at the front desk, and most of the sightseeing activities can be covered by road. Here are some places to visit nearby:
The Konark Temple is a popular historical spot to visit nearby
Puri Jagganath Temple: The popular pilgrimage spot, the Jagganath Temple is located 7.6km away and takes about 16 minutes to reach.
Konark Sun Temple: It is about 50km away from Baliapanda. We also checked out the Konark Sun Temple Museum right beside the main temple complex. The museum has four galleries showcasing installations and exhibits on the sun temples of the world. It also has a theatre where the folklore of the Konark temple is screened as an animated film.
Konark-Puri Marine Drive: On the way to Konark Sun Temple, drop by the Konark-Puri Marine Drive to enjoy a pristine and clean beach.
Shop for handmade crafts at Pipli market
Pipli’s Chandua Bazar: Shopaholics can visit Pipli’s Chandua Bazar (43km) to buy Puri’s traditional applique work bags, lamp shades, wall hangings, saris, dupattas, etc.
Raghurajpur Artist Village: Raghurajpur Artist Village, 17km from the resort, is where you can see patachitra artists at work. You can also purchase souvenirs from the studios.
Sudam’s Sand Art Museum: Head to Sudam’s Sand Art Museum (24.2km) to see huge sand art installations by award-winning sand artist Sudam Pradhan.
Sterling Puri at a glance
Sterling Puri reception area
Launch date: 1994
Distance from airport: 5.7km, about 10 minutes by road
Keys: 121, divided into Privilege Suites, Premiere Rooms and Classic Rooms
Culinary delights: Utkala (24-hour multi-cuisine restaurant) and Amo Odisha (Odia cuisine)
Room rates: Classic Garden View Rs 7,000 - 8,000; Premier Garden View Rs 8,000 - 9,000; Deluxe Sea View Rs 10,000 - 12,000; Privilege Suite Sea View 15,000 - 18,000 (rates are dynamic and excluding GST)
Meet the family: Sterling Puri is owned by Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited
Website: https://www.sterlingholidays.com/resorts-hotels/puri
