Address: Konark – Puri Marine Drive Road, P.O. Khalkatapatna, Chandra Bagha Beach, Konark, 752111
Located on the shore of the Ramchandi Beach, Lotus Eco resort is the best 3-star hotel in Konark. The hotel is ideal for leisure tourists since its location on the Konark-Puri Marine Drive Road provides a great view. It is far enough from city life to be absolutely calm and serene and yet close enough to popular tourist spots that one doesn’t have to go out of the way to go sightseeing. The resort itself is filled with trees and has a nice feel to it.
How to Reach: The distance from Puri Railway Station is 28km and from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, it is 90 km. The resort is also well connected by road with major cities. You can find it using Google Maps.
Ambiance: As soon as we entered the premise, we saw a vegetable patch and butterflies along with a lotus pond near the reception area of the resort. The entire resort is surrounded by lush greenery and the constructions have a rustic appeal to them. The cottages, in fact, look like log cabins on the ocean side. The villas are spread out with luxurious appeal.
Rooms: The hotel had options for thatched-roof cottages, deluxe cottages as well as villas. We chose to stay in the cottage which had a wooden look on the outside but was well furnished and quite modern from the inside. All the rooms were air-conditioned with a nice rusty look adding to the ambiance. The basic amenities like flat-screen TV, kettle were all available. Nothing special there. Though it is a luxury hotel, it had the appearances of a rural setting. It was quite an experience to see the beachside in the starry night with the wind blowing as we stood in the netted balcony. The bed was not too big but for just the two of us, it was alright. For people traveling with their family or with a kid, it might not be appropriate though. There was not much walking space in the cottage either. Yet to balance that out, they had the balcony. Remember to carry your own toiletries (toothbrush and paste) and slippers.
Food and Amenities:
There were two eateries on the property. The Waterfront Grill Multicuisine restaurant which served authentic Odiya cuisines along with options for Continental and Chinese dishes. Then there was Bay Spirits Seaside Café and bar which we frequently visited more for its view than the snacks and drinks. The thing we loved at the resort was their diverse vegetarian menu and special regards to the chef for delicious meals. But they also had great options for people who want to try out seafood. Our focus remained Odiya dishes since we wanted to devour specialties of the region, but we also ordered Noodles out of habit and they were delicious as well. Noodles are usually a safe choice to order in restaurants if you are unsure about the choices.
Service:
The basic services like housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning, and room service were all efficient. The hotel even had an in-house Ayurvedic Spa. The spa offers Panchakarma Ayurveda therapies. The hotel also has a fitness center, a children’s park, water sports activities. Barbecues can also be arranged. The guests have private beach access as well. Free parking, car-hire service, tour desk, and 24-hour reception add on to the list of services. Basically, you won’t be missing out on anything. The staff was nice and polite. Room service was quick and efficient. Even the restaurant staff was courteous.
Highlights: There was a dining area by the beach which was the perfect place for us to have dinner with the waves on the beach making serene sounds and the stars creating perfect ambiance with dim light. It would be even better for couples hoping to spend some romantic moments alone. Another thing worth mentioning is the picturesque view of sunrise and sunset from the resort which adds to the overall mesmerizing views.
What to do nearby: Since the hotel is located by the side of the Bay of Bengal, one can go sightseeing. The Konark Wildlife Sanctuary (Balukhand) is also located at a mere 3 km distance from the hotel. The hotel can also arrange water sports for you on demand. We went scuba diving and the experience was inexplicably incredible. Maa Ramachandi Temple is situated 2 km away and so is the beach where the India Surf festival happens. The major tourist attractions in Bhubaneswar which are the Konark Sun Temple and Konark Museum are also at a distance of 8-9 km. All this makes the hotel location suitable for all travelers since major attractions are all located nearby. One can also go for leisurely walks in the premise of the resort itself since the beach is nearby. The best time to take a walk would be evening when the sun is about to set since it creates a magnificent view which is picture-perfect.
Overall verdict: Our stay at Lotus Eco resort was quite uneventful and comfortable which is all one can ask for when on a relaxing holiday. The charges were adequate according to the place and service they provided. Special mention for the good food though. Another great thing was the lack of crowd. Even when we were on the beach or having our dinner in the open, there weren’t many people around to disturb us.
Tips before booking:
1. Book early to get discounted price.
2. You might have to do an early check-in if you require airport transfers or a car for sightseeing around the city. Talk to the hotel management about it and they will arrange it.
3. Places to see nearby include: Kork Beach (2 Kms), Konark Sun Temple (3 Kms), Arkeshwar Temple (4 Kms), Mangulishwar Shiva Temple (3 Kms) and Kork State Museum (4 Kms).
4. Even Jagannath Puri Temple is at a distance of 15-20 km.
5. The parking lot is at a bit of distance from the resort so you will have to walk for ten minutes.
When are you packing your bags? Drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com
