Puri To Konark Road Trip: Routes, Stopovers, Best Time to Visit

A road is what a true blue traveller craves and plans whenever there is time on hand. Nothing creates the ultimate adventurous experience like an exciting and fun-filled road trip. Eastern India is full of amazing routes that are ideal for a wondrous road trip. Bikers and automobile aficionados are always on a lookout for newer destinations for a road trip. The adrenaline rush and thrill of embarking on a road trip is hard to be matched by any other kind of journey. The anticipation of the next destination in the long trail and the achievement of completing the trail and route successfully is simply awesome.

One of the most famous routes for a thrilling road trip starts at Puri and ends at Konark. The historically famous places enchant travellers with amazing things to see en route. Chilika Lake, Shree Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Puri Beach and handicrafts of Pipli are some of the most famous destinations in Puri and Konark. Puri is one of the most famous cities in the state of Odisha. Puri is situated on the east coast by the Bay of Bengal. Konark is a fascinating town situated in Puri District in the State of Odisha. A journey from Puri to Konark is replete with beautiful features. This enchanting trip will introduce you to the cultural heritage of eastern India. Let us look at all the vital aspects of this amazing journey.

Best Time To Visit

The ideal time period is between October and February as the climate is pleasant. The drop in the temperature gives a much-needed relief to the bikers and drivers on this road trip. The intricate details carved in the solid structures of temples are simply mesmerising and present a new view from dawn to dusk. Odisha’s mesmerising presence can be seen when you embark on a road trip from Puri to Konark. It is a great idea to plan this road trip from Puri to Konark in the winter months. The landscape is full of natural and manmade wonders.

Places To Eat

Oriya cuisine is delectable and there are plenty of interesting places to explore the local cuisine. There are at least 8-10 restaurants with veg and non-veg options. Golden Green, Peace, Hotel Ganapati, and Victoria Club Hotel are some of the best restaurants in Puri. You can enjoy the local delicacies like Oria Veg Thali and Bhapailish. Hotel Ganapati is a multi-cuisine and spacious restaurant that is easy on the pocket but big on flavours. You and your family or friends can have food of your choice on your way to Konark. At Konark, you can relish a variety of dishes at Hotel Chandrabhaga, Waterfront Grill Cafe, Geetanjali Restaurant, and Nature Camp Konark Retreat. Around a few minutes into the trip on the Marne Drive that goes from Puri to Konark, you will come across places serving a delicious variety of food. You will be delighted to relish the usual south Indian dishes as well as some really tasty Oriya cuisine. Ensure that you have informed the restaurant owner about your preferences. Most of the eateries serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is also advisable to pack some snacks for the journey. Hotel Chandrabhaga is a great choice for planning your meals with your friends and fellow travellers on the road trip.

Route

The highways of Odisha are smooth and safe for a road trip. A road trip from Puri to Konark will cover a distance of 35.8 km. A road trip from Puri to Konark will take an hour or two. The journey takes place on the mesmerising marine drive from Puri to Konark. Since it is a journey that can be undertaken in a day, you can plan it over a long weekend of 2-3 days. The route will make you witness the warm and welcoming culture of Odisha. The rural Odisha is vibrant and it is fun to explore it on your road trip. You will begin at the holy city of Puri and travel to an ancient city of Konark which is a distance of about 35-40 kilometres from Puri. You can head west on Grand Road towards Balagandi Road and then take a U-turn at Medical Square. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Puri-Konark Marine Drive for about 21 kilometres. Turn right onto Konark-Puri Road. Here you will pass by Maa Jogeshwari Temple Godhan Pada. After 850 meters, turn left onto Konark-Kakatpur Road. Turn right onto Gop-Sanakundura-Kuruma-Banakhandi-Konark Road and drive for 550 meters. Turn right and then turn left and pass by Jagan Variety Store and arrive at Konark. Once you reach Konark, you can undertake a day trip to Pipli. Take a good night’s rest and begin sight-seeing at Konark. You can head back to Puri via the Puri-Konark Marine Drive after staying at Konark for a day or two.

What To Eat And Stopovers

The road trip from Puri to Konark will present you with many gastronomical delights. You will get to eat the cuisine of Odisha and Bengal. You can sample the tasty Pakhala, Khichdi, Dalma, Santula, Kanika, Chaatu Rai, Kadali Manja Rai, Besara, Amba Khatta, Dahi Baigana, Ou Khatta, Machha Besara, Machha Chadchadi, Ghugni, Muri Mutton, Rasgulla, and Chakuli Pitha. There are many other tasty options of street food as well as a scrumptious Oriya Thaali. It is safe to eat moderately spicy food to avoid any stomach upsets or heartburn during your road trip. Avoid drinking any alcoholic beverage during your road journey from Puri to Konark. You can stop over at several popular and hygienic restaurants that serve vegetarian food. Plan a visit to Stone Carvers of Odisha en-route Marine Drive. There are amazing temples situated on either side. You can plan a stopover to visit Ramchandi and Beleshore Temple. The temples are surrounded by beaches where you can spot crabs, turtles and wild boars as well. Sudam Sand Art Museum is an unmissable treat of sand art.

Reaching There And Places To Visit

Konark is an ancient city with great historical significance. The mesmerising beauty of the Sun Temple and sprawling campus attracts thousands of visitors from across the world all throughout the year. This amazing land welcomes you with warmth. Konark is a town in the Puri District of India. The Bay of Bengal is an eternal source of life and happiness for the people of Odisha. Konark is around 60 kilometres away from Bhubaneswar which is the capital city of Odisha. The Sun Temple of Konark is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. This 7th Century Sun Temple is also known as Black Pagoda as it is built in black granite. Most visitors explore the Sun Temple Museum maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. Konark is famous for an annual dance festival called Konark Music and Dance Festival which is usually held in the month of February. Visitors and tourists enjoy the mesmerising Indian classical dance form of Odisha and get enthralled by the musical extravaganza.

Konark has plenty of amazing locations that visitors can explore. You can visit Konark Beach, Chandrabhaga Sea Beach, Ramchandi Beach, Ramchandi Temple, Archeological Museum, Amareswara Shrine, Archeological excavation site called Kuruma. Make sure you have all the necessary information about timings and entry fees before visiting the museums and parks.

Points To Note While Planning The Trip (Car/Bike)

• The most important thing is to service your car or bike before you embark on the road trip from Puri to Konark. Make sure all the basic features are functioning properly. Check the condition of the engine. Check if the safety functions are working properly. Although there are fuel stations (gas stations) on your route, it is advisable to carry fuel with you. In the next section, you can read about the diesel and petrol pumps/station enroute.
• It is a safe and well-constructed highway. However, make sure you know the gas stations (petrol pumps) on route.
• Eat at clean eateries and pack dry snacks and water for the journey.
• Learn some local phrases and words to communicate at the gas stations and restaurants.
• Carry a first aid kit for minor medical emergencies. Carry anti-vomiting medicines for motion-sickness. Check the weather before starting the journey. Apply a good quality sunscreen to avoid excessive exposure to the sun.
• Make sure that you carry your car insurance policy or Two wheeler insurance policy

Diesel/Petrol Pumps

The fuel stations en route Puri to Konark:

Grand Motors Service Station at Hospital Square

Paradise Filling Station at Batamangala Puri Station Road

Pujapanda Petrol Station at Odisha Puri Station Road

Khuntia Petrol Pump

Basudev Filling Station

Maa Shakti Filling Station

Alarnath Filling Station

Kedarnath Indian Oil Petrol Pump

Shri Darubrahma Filling Station

HP Petrol Pump

HPCL Petrol Pump on Old Pipli Konark Road

Overnight Halts If Any

You can take an overnight halt at Konark. There are hotels with good reviews. You can choose your specifications online or on call. It is advisable to use online portals to browse places and ensure that you are not met with any unpleasant surprises. Plan the overnight trip carefully and keep your belongings safe. Puri and Konark offer a lot of comfortable and safe places that are perfect for an overnight stay. Most of the hotels offer free breakfast. Ensure that you have chosen and informed about the correct food preference to get the best value. The overnight halt will refresh you for the remaining journey.

Distance/Altitude Change graph

The route of your road trip from Puri to Konark and back will cover a distance of around 35-40 kilometres.

This round trip involves no major changes in altitude. You will take around an hour to complete the trip.

Stay And Eat At Other Eating Places

You will get to eat the cuisine of Odisha and Bengal. You can sample the tasty Pakhala, Khichdi, Dalma, Santula, Kanika, Chaatu Rai, Kadali Manja Rai, Besara, Amba Khatta, Dahi Baigana, Ou Khatta, Machha Besara, Machha Chadchadi, Ghugni, Muri Mutton, Rasgulla, and Chakuli Pitha. The road trip from Puri to Konark will present you with many gastronomical delights. There are many other tasty options of street food as well as a scrumptious Oriya Thaali. It is safe to eat moderately spicy food to avoid any stomach upsets or heartburn during your road trip. Avoid drinking any alcoholic beverage during your road journey from Puri to Konark. You can stop over at several good and hygienic restaurants that serve vegetarian food. You can take an overnight halt at Konark. There are hotels with good reviews. You can choose your specifications online or on call. It is advisable to use online portals to browse places and ensure that you are not met with any unpleasant surprises. Plan the overnight trip carefully and keep your belongings safe. Puri and Konark offer a lot of comfortable and safe places that are perfect for an overnight stay. Most of the hotels offer free breakfast. Ensure that you have chosen and informed about the correct food preference to get the best value. The overnight halt will refresh you for the remaining journey.

Mobile Connectivity

Mobile connectivity is decent. Make sure your cell phone is charged well. Also, carry a fully charged portable mobile charger with you to avoid any disturbance in connectivity due to low battery.

ATMs

There are more than a dozen ATMs of various banks like Canara Bank, Allahabad Bank, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Odisha Gramya Bank, Punjab National Bank and UCO Bank.

Mechanics

There are many car servicing and repair shops en route Puri to Konark. There are diesel/petrol pumps listed above. Petrol stations can be found at Puri and Konark. At the petrol pumps, you can get your car or bike checked and serviced.

Medical Facilities

At Puri you will find E24 Hospital and District Headquarter Hospital. At Konark you will find Konark Hospital and a few health facilities by the government. It is advisable to carry essential medicines and a first aid kit on your journey.

Electricity

Throughout the state of Odisha there is good supply of electricity. However, the rural areas may receive electricity intermittently during summer or winter. Overall, most of the restaurants and hotels will have a power back up system in case of electricity shortage.

Tool Kits

A good tool kit for a your road trip should have screwdrivers, wrench, socket set, adjustable pliers, wire dykes, pocket knife, hammer, baling wire and zip ties, silicon sealant, duct tape, and tire plugs.

Planning a Road trip from Kolkata to Puri? Here’s a complete trip guide for you.