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Bhubaneswar, June 14: The tourism department is launching special, independent tour packages for tourists who will be visiting the state for the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra.
According to officials, the department has plans to increase seating capacity at the palace of Puri King (Shri Nara) and in the Jagannath Ballav Math. “This year there will be 120 seats at Shri Nara and 150 at Jagannath Ballav Math. A seat can be booked for Rs2,000,” Orissa Tourism Development Corporation director Nitin Jawale said.
The package also includes food. “The package includes breakfast, lunch besides snacks in the evening,” Nitin said.
The Rath Yatra of Puri Jagannath is witnessed by scores of people. The cars (rathas) of the three main deities are pulled from the Jagannath temple and culminate at Gundicha temple.
The tourism department has also made special travel arrangements for the festival. Special AC buses will ply to Puri from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur. “Buses will start from Cuttack at 5 am, from Bhubaneswar at 6 am and from Sambalpur at 9 pm July 5,” OTDC marketing head Alok Mishra said.
Just as every year, arrangements to view the festival will also be made on the rooftop of Hotel Grand Central, which OTDC operates. “Visitors can book their seats here too. For visitors from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack the rate per seat is Rs3,999 and for those coming from Sambalpur it will be Rs4,999 or Rs4200,” Mishra said.
Visitors can avail these packages during Bahuda and Sunna Bhesa, too, according to Mishra.
