Bhubaneswar, March 9: The Ramachandi beach has made a place for itself on the world tourism map, thanks to the India Surf Festival.

The Odisha coastline has the potential to facilitate surfing and many visitors are keen to explore what possibilities the wind and water on the seafront hold. The state tourism department is thus taking the initiative to cash in on the potential by trying to popularise water sports in the region.

“We already have a survey ready with us and can help the tourism department explore its possibilities. The tourism industry can benefit a lot from it as it will attract many tourists, who want to have a surfing ground in remote areas, away from the urban din and babble,” says Sanjay Samantray, founder of Surfing Yogis, which has conducted the surf festival here.

Samantray has prepared a detailed mapping of the Odisha beaches with each one’s potential regarding their infrastructure and measures to upgrade them.

“We have all the details with aerial photographs to substantiate our claims, but the state government should be ready to implement the thought into action,” he says.

Yugabrata Kar of the Barefoot Foundation, Puri, says: “Beach activities must get a boost with other kinds of sports such as beach volleyball, parasailing and sand art as these can be initiated with a little extra cost. Potential of surfing on beaches with appropriate wind and wave can be scientifically explored and implemented.”

Kar, however, urged private players and entrepreneurs to pitch in, so that more beach-related activity can be introduced along the state’s 480-km coastline. “We must also think about developing infrastructure, so that the people coming to experience nature while surfing or other water sports are fully satisfied,” he said.

In 2012, the tourism department introduced hot air balloon during the Konark International Sand Art Festival, but it never became feasible due to lack of patronage.

This year, nearly 1,000 people took part in the three-day festival from February 14 to 16. In 2012, when the Surfing Yogis first tried to train local enthusiasts and youth with the techniques, there were 30 participants. But for the local visitors, the 2012 event was not only learning the balancing act on the surfboard. The ambience, art, music, films and dances wooed the tourists’ moods during the event. Instructors from the Surfing Yogis under the aegis of the Rangers Adventure Foundation taught the basics of the surfboard and balance. But recently, facilities such as boat ride and water sports activities have enhanced the crowd-pulling capabilities of the serene beach-based tourist spot at Ramachandi.

On the other hand, local deity Goddess Ramachandi is considered to be one of the famous Shakta peethas (tantric altar) in Puri district.

Local traditions say that in the 16th century, Goddess Ramachandi was being worshiped in a small shrine on the premises of the world-famous Sun Temple in Konark. However, the invaders, led by the Hindu-turned-Muslim from eastern India, Kalapahada, destroyed it. After the original structure was destroyed, the Goddess was shifted to the present site near the beach.

Bhubaneswar-based tour consultant Debashish Mohapatra says the beach tourism is lying neglected in the region. “We have a great potential to promote green tourism through beach related activities and sports. But, there should be support from the state government and entrepreneurs as well.”

Tourism director M.R. Patnaik says: “Adventure water sports are already in our mind, and we have started a unit near Gopalpur this month. After studying the beach potential at various sites along the coastline, we may take up surfing and other activities in several other places.”