Odisha Channel Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Tourism’s relentless campaign to boost the global appeal of its key destinations has got a boost with the Marine Drive Eco Retreat. The beach retreat was inaugurated y Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday.
“Delighted to launch the Marine Drive Eco Retreat, a unique festival encompassing Odisha’s scenic coastline, art & culture and eminent artists of the day as a highlight. An extraordinary, breathtaking experience awaits every traveller for next 48 days in Konark,” Patnaik tweeted after formally opening the event.
The Marine Drive Eco Retreat has been envisioned as eastern India’s first ‘Glamping’ festival – a unique experience of glamorous 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 and water sports activities, nature trails and wholesome day itineraries, cultural evenings, and a lot more.
“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 State Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi.
Earlier this year in May, Odisha’s coast was battered by Cyclone Fani 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
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 State 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.
What to expect at the Marine Drive Eco Retreat:
GLAMPING
Stay in the middle of nature’s bounty in a luxury cottage with the ambience 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 ambience, 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. The State 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 Indian Ocean, Harshdeep Kaur, Mame Khan, Benny Dayal, Papon, Divya Kumar, Salim Suleiman and Krishna Beuraa.
See the full artist line-up below. Shows start at 7 pm.
- 14 Dec 2019 EUPHORIA
- 21 Dec 2019 INDIAN OCEAN
- 25 Dec 2019 HARSHDEEP KAUR
- 30 Dec 2019 MAME KHAN
- 04 Jan 2020 BENNY DAYAL
- 11 Jan 2020 PAPON
- 18 Jan 2020 DIVYA KUMAR
- 23 Jan 2020 SALIM SULEIMAN
- 31 Jan 2020 KRISHNA BEURAA
Tickets starting at INR 50 per head will be available at the entry points to the Eco Retreat.
• Eco Retreat Website: https://ecoretreat.odishatourism.gov.in/
• E-mail for bookings: ecoretreat@panthanivas.com
• For more information: Contact info@odishatourism.gov.in or call 9869462338
