A priest of the Jagannath temple in Odisha's Puri is building a luxury resort.At a press conference in Kolkata, he said he is building a 300-room luxury resort focused on spirituality in the holy city.The beachfront project will be purely vegetarian and alcohol-free and aims to provide a "sattvik" experience to pilgrims and travellers seeking spiritual peace along with modern amenities, the priest said on Sunday. 

An official from the team of priests of the Jagannath temple said the current valuation of the project is Rs 200 crore. "Puri is not just a destination. It is a holy abode where divinity meets the ocean. The resort will offer a blend of spiritual serenity and luxurious hospitality," Sevayat Daitapati Bhavani Das said. He said the construction cost of the 'Jagannatham' project is estimated to be Rs 110 crore excluding land. The project under Meridian Mist Hotels & Resorts is being built on a seven-acre beachfront along the Puri-Konark sea route, around 8 km from the Jagannath temple in Puri.

Tourism will get a boost along with devotion

"The land is mine and there is no conflict of interest with the Jagannath temple," the priest said. Das said the resort, which is expected to open in 14-16 months before the 2026 Rath Yatra, is expected to redefine spiritual tourism in Puri, attracting both pilgrims and high-end travellers. Das and his family own 100 per cent of the resort but are open to diluting their stake depending on the response to the project's membership programme.

You will get these luxury facilities

The membership is priced at Rs 3.5 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh, which gives members access to three nights of stay every month for five years, making it an affordable alternative to luxury resorts in Puri. The resort aims to add 5,000 members in its initial phase. The resort will have studios and deluxe cottages, a spa, an amphitheatre, a jogging track, a tennis court and dedicated fitness spaces.