Kolkata: A priest of Puri Srimandir Sunday said he is setting up a 300-room luxury resort, at an investment of Rs200 crore, with a strong spiritual focus in the holy town, an official from his team said.
The beachside project would be a pure vegetarian and non-liquor retreat, aiming to offer a “satvik” experience to pilgrims and travellers seeking spiritual serenity with modern comforts, the priest said in a press conference in Kolkata.
“Puri is not just a destination. It is a sacred abode where divinity meets the ocean. The resort will offer a blend of spiritual tranquillity and luxury hospitality,” Sevayat Daitapati Bhabani Das said.
The construction cost of the ‘Jagannatham’ project is estimated at Rs110 crore, excluding land, he said. The project, under Meridian Mist Hotel & Resort, is being built on a seven-acre beachfront plot along the Puri-Konark marine drive, about 8 km from the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
“I own the land and there is no conflict of interest with Jagannath Temple,” he said.
Set to open in 14-16 months, before Rath Yatra of 2026, the resort is expected to redefine spiritual tourism in Puri, attracting both pilgrims and high-end travellers, Das said.
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Das and his family own 100 per cent of the resort but are open to diluting equity based on the response to the project’s membership programme. The membership is priced at Rs3.5 lakh, Rs5 lakh, and Rs7 lakh, and it offers members a three-night stay per month for five years.
PTI