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Location : Orissa

Languages : Oriya, English

Climate : Tropical

Temperature : In winters, it is as low as 17 degree Celsius; in summers, as high as 32 degree Celsius.

Attractions : Jagannatha Temple, Rath Yatra

Best Time to Visit : Through out the year; for Rath Yatra, June/July

Infused with sacrosanct divinity, Puri is amongst the most celebrated centers that are epitomes of Hindu religion. Once shrouded under the covers of thick forests and inhabited by Aryan and Dravidian tribal, the city is one of the finest tourist places of India. A unique combination of rusticity and modernity, the place boasts of being a charming beach resort.

Religious Importance : Referred to as "Sri Purusottama Dham", Puri is considered to be Lord Vishnu's abode. The sanctity of the place is so profound that any significant pilgrimage is considered incomplete without making a visit to this revered city. Its Jagannatha Temple is visited by lakhs of devotees every year. The place was visited by the venerated saints like Sri Ramanuja, Vishnu Swami, and Nimbarka Acharya during different periods of history. Puri is among the four Dhams of India, in addition to Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Badrinath. There are countless monuments, maataahs, temples that are scattered all over.

Attractions :

Jagannatha Temple : This center of immense sacred importance to Hindu devotees will attract you by its mystic ambience. The structure carries a height of about 65 metes and was constructed by Chodaganga in 12th century. Referred to as "Black Pagoda" by Europeans, the temple is a fine example of the architectural finesse of Kalinga style. Sprawled over 10 acres, the temple is covered with intricate carvings and magnificence. The architecture of the temple comprises of a porch, pillared hall meant for dancing, and a shrine. The premises are an example of communal harmony as it welcomes devotees from all religious communities.

Another distinctive feature here is the presence of a huge kitchen; in fact, it is the largest one in world. So vast are the kitchen premises that on an auspicious occasion, food for about lakhs of devotees can be prepared. It is served by more than 36 communities of Puri. The temple is topped by a blue wheel made of eight metals. The access to the temple is via four entrance gates, located in each of the four cardinal directions. Facing the altar of the deity Jagannatha, a "Garuda Stambha" is present and is worshipped by the devotees. A number of mandapas and gates adorn the temple structure.

Gundicha Temple : Situated near Grad Road, this temple of Puri is present in the northeastern direction of Jagannatha Temple. When the famous Rath Yatra is organized, the image of Lord Jagannatha is shifted to the sacred premises of this temple. Named after the wife of its constructor, the shrine does not allow non Hindus to enter inside.

Narsimha Temple : The sanctified presence of twin sculptures of the deity Narsimha makes this temple a special one. One of the idol, "Santa Narsimha", is kept in front and is supposed to bring down anger and anxiety of the beholder. That one placed behind is called "Raga Narsimha" and manifests angry mood of the deity. It is said that a Muslim invader once attacked the premises to ransack the idols. But as soon as his eyes set on Santa Narsimha, his anger melted away.

Haridasa Thakura Residence : This holy place was once the residence of Haridasa Thakura, a saint who daily used to chant three lakh different names of the Almighty. If legends are to be believed, a toothpick planted in its premises tree into a large shady tree; the toothpick was meant for providing shade to Haridasa. The place is considered sacred by Gaudiya Vaisnavas as it was here the saint left his immortal remains.

Gambhira : Located in the vicinity of Sidhha Bakula, Gambhira is located near Lion gate. Near its entrance, a temple devoted to deities like Lalita, Radhakanta and many more is present. Inhabited by Kasi Misra, the residing place of Sri Chaitnya can be looked from a small window. An ever burning lamp is the specialty of the place. You can also have the glimpse of sacred sandals and other belongings of Chaitnya who spent 12 years in this room.

House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya : Located near the main entrance of Jagannatha Temple, this house is home to images of Radha Krishna. The interiors are decorated with devotional paintings over walls. A pair of sandals is supposed to be belonging to Sarvabhauma. A secret tunnel is present which is bifurcated in two directions; while one leads to Jagannatha shrine, the other is a way to sea.

Jagannatha Vallabha Gardens : Yet another attraction of Puri that is closely associated with Lord Jagannatha is the pleasure place named Jagannatha Vallabha. It is where Lord used to get entertained by dancing girls. Adorned with three altars, the site is located near Jagannatha Temple. The entry is prohibited for non Hindus but roaming about in the gardens is allowed. The three altars carry images of different deities. One altar carries idols of Jagannatha, Subhadra; the second one has image of Chaitanya and Ramananda. The last one is decorated with divine images of Radha-Krishna.

Narendra Sarovar : Characterized by a massive tank, the place is meant for worshipping of deities like Jagannatha, Lakshmi, Shiva, and many more. The shrine is placed deep with in the water tank.

Alalantha : Frequently visited by Lord Chaitanya, Alalantha or Brahmagiri is known for the presence of a holy shrine dedicated to Jagannatha. A stone carrying the impression of Chaitnya's body is also placed here. The stone can be viewed by Hindu devotees but that is not so for people from other communities who cannot gain entry in the interior.

Atharanala Bridge : Acting as a gateway to Puri, this bridge is beautified by eighteen arches. It is said that upon the arrival of a number of devotees from Bengal, Chaitanya sent 2 garlands along with the idol of Govinda to be presented to Advaita Acharya and Lord Nityananda.

Indrayumna Sarovar : This water source falls enroute to Gundicha Temple and the water meant to clean this temple is brought from this tank only. It is said that Chaitnya used to engage in water sports here along with his associates.

Tota Gopinath Shrine : Another sacred place for Gaudiya Vaisnavas, this temple houses images of Lord Balrama and his consorts namely, Varuni and Revati. On another altar, you can see images of the deities Radha, Lalita etc. The main deity Tota Gopinath is seen in sitting pose.

Other Attractions :

Apart from the main attractions that adorn the city of Puri, there are several other places that may interest you.

Raghurajpur : Located at about 14 kilometers from the destination, this village is an important center of handicrafts and Patta paintings. This particular tradition has been carried by the artisans from a very long time. The themes drawn by these paintings are usually inspired from mythology and epic stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. If you have keen interest in collecting antiquities, as a symbol of your visit to Puri, theses are easily available here and that too at reasonable prices. You can do enough bargaining here.

Saksi Gopala Shrine : A devotion to Lord Krishna, this temple was visited by Srila Prabhupada as well as Chaitnya. When Parbhupadaa entered the premises, he was consorted by a number of western followers. But today, the entry for non Hindus is prohibited.

Festivities :

Festivals are an inherent part of culture and tradition of Puri. Let's have a look at some of these:

Rath Yatra : Also called Car Festival, Rath Yatra carries a profound importance for the devotees. The images of the three deities, namely Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baldeva, and Goddess Subhdara are carried out in a grand procession. In order to carry these colossal images, a number of priests are required. The images are placed on massive chariots and are pulled away by lakhs of devotees. Pulling at yatra is considered extremely pious by Hindu devotees who arrive at the destination from all over India. In order to have the glimpse of this larger than life event, you can arrive here in the month of June/July. The final destination of the yatra is Gundicha Temple. The ceremony begins from Jagannatha Temple; it is distance of three kilometers. The sacred images are placed in the temple premises for a period of nine days before being transferred back to its original place.

Snana Yatra : Yet another sacred journey that is famous throughout the city of Puri is Snana yatra. On this auspicious occasion, the revered images of the deities are bathed on Jyeshtha Poormina. The procession meant for transferring the holy images to bathing venue is termed "Pahandi". A total of 108 buckets of water are splashed over them. On returning back to their original place, these idols are kept in seclusion as they are supposed to have caught cold by excessive bathing.

Anavasara Festival : It may appear strange but devotees believe that Anavsara Festival is the period for which Lord Jagannatha suffers from fever. In order to let the deity recover from his ailment, he is offered fruit juices. It is during this festival that the annual painting of the Lord's body takes place. The renovation work takes place for two weeks after which Lord is supposed to have regained his youth.

Accommodation :

There are a number of hotels that are located at beach side. If you are looking forward to some reasonable accommodations, you can search for it in area around Charka Tirtha area. Puri Hotel is a nice option for the tourists. There are a few hotels that are located in the southwestern part of the city. A few accommodations that provide nice facilities are Hotel Subhadra, Bharatsesvashram Sanga, Vagla Dharmshala, and Sri Chaitanya Saraswata. Around Charka Tirtha, the prominent names are Hotel Dreamland, Hotel Gandhara, Hotel Repose, Santana Lodge, Z Hotel etc. Sterling Resort, Mayfair Beach Resort, Hotel Raj, Holiday Icon, and Vijoya International can also be chosen.

Dining :

Most of the inhabitants of Puri thrive on sea food. But a few restaurants that serve vegetarian food are also present here. At Birla Guest House, you are served with strictly vegetarian meals, but a pre-booking is required on your part so that the authorities can arrange for it.

Regular Tours :

Luxury Coach by OTDC takes the passengers to places like Dhauli, Konark, and temples located at Udaygiri, Khandagiri, and Bhubaneswar. The tours initiate early in the morning and end at about 7 in the evening. You can get your tour arranged via travel agents. Regular tours are also arranged to take the visitors to Chilka Lake. These are organized on alternative days. The lake attracts a large number of bird watchers and other tourists.

Shopping :

Shopping at Puri can be a nice experience for you. There is a plethora of images and paintings of the deities that can be taken away as souvenirs. The awesome applique works, wall hangings, mirror items are quiet popular among the buyers. Most of these shops are located in the area surrounding Pipli. The leaf paintings or Patta Chitra are available at Raghurajpur.

Caution :

Now a few words about the caution to be taken while visiting this city… Sea currnts are sometimes so strong here that they can drift you along. So, it is better if you avoid swimming here.

Cities Nearby :

Pipli (40 kilometers), Baleswar (15 kilometers), Konark (33 kilometers), Satpada (50 kilometers), Ramchandi (25 kilometers).

Puri is the core of religion; its myriad temples are epitome of the profound faith that has been the part of the city since centuries. A tour to the city will let you have a peek into its rich culture.