We – my wife and I – were on a short holiday in Odisha
from March 20 to 25, 2017, visiting temples, heritage sites and other tourist
attractions at Puri, Konarak and Bhubaneswar. It was a pleasant trip. We stayed at Golden Sands, a Sterling resort
in Puri, shuttling among the three places.
THE GOLDEN SANDS
(By Subbaram Danda)
The resort sprawls over a vast area in a picturesque
setting. There is a perceptible air of romance about
it. The Bay of Bengal roars behind
it. Its guests can gain entry into the
beach from the resort itself. On one
side of the resort Bhargavi river flows serenely on its journey to the sea. The point of confluence is scenic. The apartments stand in clusters surrounded by
a wide variety of trees and flower plants.
The lawns add a touch of greenery to the atmosphere. The interior roads are palm-fringed. A swimming pool stands out with its unique
design merging with the environment but at the same time flaunting its
contemporary elegance. The entire area looks tastefully landscaped.
Interestingly, our five-day stay at the resort was
free, being holders of Sterling holiday units, purchased long ago. We had to pay only utility charges. We were also entitled to certain concessions
at the restaurant. The resort was
undergoing renovation and some of its portions had been cordoned off. However, we were not inconvenienced much.
Here are some photos taken at the resort:
|
At the Reception area |
|
In the Reception foyer |
|
In front of our apartment
|
|
A view of the resort
|
|
At another spot in the resort |
|
River Bhargavi (background) flows alongside the resort |
|
At the beach behind the resort
|
|
The beach as seen from the resort
|
|
Bhargavi river before joining the sea
|
|
The confluence of the river with the sea
|
|
In the garden of the resort
|
|
Flower plants everywhere
|
|
Flowers in full bloom |
|
A venue for outdoor activities |
|
The resort's restaurant serves several South Indian varieties too |
Look for my next write-up. It will be on Puri.
March 31, 2017