State tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda (centre) and tourism secretary Arvind Padhee (right) release a special rath yatra brochure. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee Namita Panda

Bhubaneswar, June 24: The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) will offer special services for tourist during rath yatra.

Apart from special package tours, the OTDC services will include free accommodation in Puri during the chariot festival. The OTDC has also launched special T-shirts on the occasion of rath yatra. The white T-shirt launched by the tourism department has a logo of the ‘patitapabana bana’ or the holy flag of the Jagannath temple.

“A glimpse of the flag is as good as getting the darshan of Lord Jagannath. Thus the logo has been kept on the right side so that it stays close to the heart,” said tourism secretary Arabinda Padhee.

Though each T-shirt will cost it Rs 165, the OTDC has decided to distribute them, said an official. Around 2,000 T-shirts have been ordered. However, if required more such T-shirts will be ordered. The department has also arranged for accommodation of 3,000 tourists on first come, first served basis.

“We have arranged for the stay of visitors near Gaudabadi Sahi. A vacant land of 4.6 acres owned by the culture department near Loknath temple has been utilised for the purpose. That apart, we have also launched a booklet with details of destinations around Puri and a comprehensive guide map. The booklet also lists the dos and don’ts for tourists who will visit Puri during the festival,” said Ashok Panda, minister of state for tourism.

Like every year, daily tour packages for the festival have also been announced.

Buses carrying tourists will leave Cuttack and Bhubaneswar at 5am and 6am, respectively, on June 29. The tourists will be dropped back at their point of origin by 7pm. Similarly, the trip from Sambalpur will start at 9pm on June 28 and return the next day from Puri.

While the package from the twin cities will cost Rs 3,650 and Rs 2,650 for elders and kids (below 12 years), from Sambalpur the price will be Rs 4,490 and Rs 4,110. These packages will be inclusive of food.

Between June 30 and July 7, the OTDC will also run air-conditioned buses from Bhubaneswar from 7am to 6.30pm. Tourism director and OTDC managing director Manoranjan Patnaik said: “Panthanivas in Puri and Konark will offer traditional Odia dishes from June 30 to July 7.”