Odisha Tourism’s Marine Drive Eco Retreat: Know details

December 13, 2019 Tourism

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Tourism’s relentless campaign to boost the global appeal of its key destinations recently got a boost with the Marine Drive Eco Retreat.

“We realised that Puri Konark Marine Drive, despite boasting a beautiful synthesis of heritage, nature, artistic finesse and food, was largely a day tourism destination. Its potential as a premium beach holiday destination was underexplored. While we had fortified our vision with the principle of sustainability, our quest to develop the destination as an experience-rich beach tourism hub of global standards was undaunted”, said Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi.

The Marine Drive Eco Retreat has been envisioned as eastern India’s first ‘Glamping’ festival – a unique experience of Glamourous Camping – set up at the pristine Ramachandi Beach near the grand Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Scheduled from 14 December 2019 to 31 January 2020, the Eco Retreat promises to be a unique experience of Glamourous Camping in 50 luxury cottages, delectable cuisine, beach spa, adventure & water sports activities, nature trails and wholesome day itineraries, cultural evenings, and a lot more.

Earlier this year in May, Odisha’s coast was battered by an extremely severe Cyclone Fani (Category 4) which wreaked havoc and caused immense damage to flora and fauna and infrastructure of the state. However, the State worked remarkably well to get back on its feet just weeks after the tragedy.

The Marine Drive Eco Retreat has been developed as an environmentally sustainable model incorporating best practices in material utilisation, zero liquid and sewerage discharge and holistic waste management.

Facilities at Marine Drive Eco Retreat

The Eco Retreat has a full-fledged corporate conferencing facility accommodating 150 participants.

“Odisha’s MICE tourism quotient will surely get a golden touch with the Corporate Package that we are offering through the Eco Retreat. It is an ideal corporate offsite destination with every ingredient required to make it a wholesome memorable experience. I’m sure the Eco Retreat will soon be recognised as the most favoured MICE product in the country”, said Tourism secretary Vishal Dev.

Apart from the exclusive facilities, the Eco Retreat comprises a food festival, a beach market, and an events venue for mega evenings – all of which, besides thrilling water sports, will be accessible to day visitors at affordable entry prices.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the Eco Retreat on the afternoon of 14 December 2019.

What to expect at the Marine Drive Eco Retreat:

GLAMPING

Stay in the middle of nature’s bounty in a luxury cottage with the ambiance and hospitality of a five-star hotel. The concept of GLAMPING i.e. Glamorous Camping has caught on with not only the current generation but also people of different age groups.

At the Marine Drive Eco Retreat you can experience a unique luxurious accommodation offering rich thematic ambiance, a dedicated dining area and multiple options of staying at the Luxury Cottages replete with facilities like air-conditioner, television, sofa sets, as per your requirement.

ADVENTURE SPORTS

Odisha is already known as the ‘Sports Capital of India’ and with a 480 km coastline to boast of, it has started focusing on adventure sports as well. And who doesn’t love an adrenaline rush especially when it’s by the water.

With activities like jet-ski, Speed boating, parasailing, ATV, archery, rifle shooting, bicycles, beach volleyball, Zorbing, water roller among others on the charts, the Eco Retreat promises to be a thrilling experience.

WELLNESS

While the Ramachandi sandbar itself makes for a therapeutic walk, the exclusive spa by the sea for guests offers the ultimate detox. The itinerary includes early morning nature trails in the Balukhand Sanctuary which are the best way to resettle you to your instinctive and natural best. One can chase the calm with the competitive zest of beach volleyball.

CULTURE MIXTAPE

While niche talents and folk artistes from across Odisha and India will exhibit their talents every evening, the weekends promise to resonate with the best of rock, Indie pop, folk genres, Celebrity DJs and the Bollywood’s known voices take the stage and make you groove.

The who’s who set to take the stage are Euphoria, followed by the Indian Ocean, Harshdeep Kaur, Mame Khan, Benny Dayal, Papon, Divya Kumar, Salim Suleiman, and Krishna Beuraa.