Centuries ago, some of India’s daring maritime explorers set the sail from Kalinga (now Odisha) in October or November. This journey, called Boitas (large boar and ships), took these monks (merrinner traders) to a distant land like Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. This is known as Bali Jatra, a visit that has been immortalized at the Bota Bandana Festival, which is observed in Cuttack, Odisha for a week or more. Now the first luxury hotel in Puri pays tribute to a good dining restaurant and aims to have a new food experience for modern Pak explorers.
The Jatra at the Taj Puri Resort and Spa is certainly one of the most interesting restaurant brands, the Taj group has unveiled this decade since Loya. This is a bold step to dedicate the hotel’s only special restaurant to an attractive mixture of Odia and South East Asian cuisine. And this is a step that can set a new standard in the food scene of eastern India.
Puri has always been a center for spiritual journey. Odisha’s most famous beach destination is now riding a new wave of tourism earned from Golden Beach of the region in 2020. The Taj Puri, located in a cool corner away from Marine Drive Road, provides views of the beach from every room of the Puri Hotel and from the public sector. Jatra is no exception. The restaurant is close to the sea and offers an indoor seating space set by the pool and an atmospheric al-Fresco deck seating area. We would advise you to go to Al-Fresco for dinner, especially if it is the date of the night.
Photo: Taj Puri Resort and Spa
The restaurant has microscopic design elements that form relationships with Bali Jatra. Every year people gather on Kartika Purnima on the banks of rivers like Mahanadi and float small toy boats to remember the journey of their ancestors. Jatra has a large map, the shostopper of the restaurant that shows the ancient sea routes of Sadabas and a stunning roof with artifacts that remind you of cerboats. Blue splashes add to the sea stretch. Jatra’s experience does not stop with the interiors.
While Bali Jatra is behind for many centuries, the origin for Jatra goes back to Kolkata. Author Rupali Mohanty’s Odia culture and deep understanding of food supplemented the list of performance by Chef Sabyasachi Gorai, a partnership contained in his Alma Mater Ihm Kolkata’s bustling kitchen.
Photo: Taj Puri Resort and Spa
After this, the sailors of Kalinga (now Odisha) took materials such as rice, jaggery, turmeric, ginger and black pepper to the ports of Burma, Ceylon, Siam, Sumatra and Java, where these items were highly valuable. In turn, they brought back precious cloves and nutmeg from the islands of spices, camphor and cinnamon from Ceylon, Palm Chinese and foreign tropical fruits from Malaya. Although it may seem like the exchange of objects, which they actually took with them was culture. This made an attractive contradiction of cultures and tastes. It is the interaction that Sabyasachi Gorai and Ropali Mohanty aim to capture demonstrations in Jaitra. It is Odisha food, but in a new context with South Asian influences and techniques.
The Jatra version of Manda Pitha incorporates the plant meat. Manda’s father is one of the most famous cuisine of Odisha; This boiled pakoda is similar to modak in Maharashtra and is prepared with rice flour. While the traditional version usually consists of coconut, moong, jaggery, black pepper and chenna, we enjoyed the Jatra twist completely. Our favorite Muri was a Jatra spin on Elu Chop, a popular street food in Odisha, served with puffed rice. This comes with Elu Chop Sambal.
Fish wrapped in banana leaf.Photo: Taj Puri Resort and Spa
Some of the men standing outside included Tofu Muligatavani Stu with Truled Mushrooms and Noodle Paratha with Noodle Paratha and Mumk Mutton Stu with sticky rice. The main attraction of our food was a fish wrapped in banana leaf and was purified. It is a cooking technique that is widely used in India and Southeast Asia. No major food in Odisha is complete without a sweet end, while peanut butter tart can look beautiful on your Instagram feed, it was unmatched Chenna Poda Cheesecake that hits the right notes.
Peanut butter spicy.Photo: Taj Puri Resort and Spa
Jaitra finds a delicate balance with the authentic Odia maintaining tastes by incorporating modern techniques and effects from Southeast Asia. Most of all this is the texture that stands out. While the ancient explorers of Odisha had to brave the uncertainties of the sea, it is very easy for Pakistani explorers of the 2020s looking for a new burst of taste and texture along the beach.
Jaatra Taj Puri is in the resort and spa and is open to lunch and dinner
