Location: Located 60
Km from Bhubaneswar, Orrisa.
Tourist Attractions: Jagannath Temple, Gundicha Ghar,
Puri Beach, Temple of Child Krishna at Indradyumna Tank, Atharnala Bridge,
Raghurajpur Sakhi Gopal, Konark, Chilika Lake.
Best Buys: Handicraft Items, Appliques, Shell Products,
Handloom Sarees.
Best Hangouts: Enjoy a day at Chilika Lake, watching the
aquatic beauty and the dolphins.
Best Activities: Walk by the seashore, sipping on hot
tea or tender coconut for a heavenly experience
Nearest Tourist Destinations: Bhubaneswar, Konark
When to Visit: October to April (Pleasant climatic
conditions) & June-July for the Rath-Yatra.
Festivals: Rath Yatra(Jun-July), Beach Festival(Late
March), Nava Kalebara
About Puri
Puri, also known as "Sri Purusottama Dham" is a sacrosanct centre
for Hindus all over the globe for the Jagannath temple and is also known for
the good stretch of the beautiful white sand beaches on Bay of Bengal.
Thousands of pilgrims visit Puri for the Lord Jagannath temple and the
annual Rath yatra festival. The beatifying effect of the temples, wide
beaches that offer scenic view of sunrise and sunset, traditional fishing
farms where the clasical old methods of fishing are
used
by the local fishermen and fabulous resorts and hotels makes it a
distinctive tourist destination. Overall the calm and cool nature of the
locals here makes Puri a peaceful getaway.
Major Tourist Attractions in Puri
The Jagannath Temple
The majestic temple of Jagannath is a major attraction for the tourists
visiting Puri. The Jagannath Temple is one of the four most important Hindu
pilgrimage sites or the Char Dham, alongwith Dwarka, Badrinath and
Rameshwaram. This 65-meter high structure was built in 12th century and
stands in the Nilgiri Hills. The Nata Mandir and the Bhoga Mandir were built
in the 14th and 15th century. The meals in temple are made out of the
donated raw materials only. Non-Hindus cannot enter the Jagannatha temple.
This is strictly enforced.
Gundicha Ghar
The Gundicha temple is another important site to visit in Puri. This temple
is said to be the home of Lord Krishna's aunt 'Gundicha'. A myth goes that
the Lord stays here for 9 days during the Rath yatra in Puri. During the
Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are ceremoniously taken
in lavishly designed wooden chariot (Rath) from the Jagannath temple to
Gundicha Ghar. At the house, the aunt welcomes them by offering them the
padoapitha (rice cakes).
Temple of Child Krishna at Indradyumna Tank
The Indradyumna Tank, famous for being related to Lord Krishna, has a small
shrine dedicated to King Indradyumna of Orissa. There is a temple of Child
Krishna nearby too. It is one of the five sacred lakes of Puri and is
situated on the north western part of the Gundicha temple.
Chilika Lake
Asia's largest freshwater lake (spread in 1100 sq km area) is situated 50
kilometers from Puri. Dotted with many emerald green islands with colorful
names such as 'honeymoon islands' and 'Breakfast island', Chilika is home to
a rich variety of aquatic fauna. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the
year and abundance of migratory birds in winter make it an ideal place for
vacations.
Konark
Situated
35 km from Puri, Konark is home to the Sun Temple, also called the Black
Pagoda. Konark is a must visit for its historical and architectural
importance. The Konark beach is said to be one of the finest and most
romantic beaches on the eastern coast.
Getting there
Air: Puri can be reached by air as its nearest airport is in
Bhubaneswar, 56 km away. Regular buses and trains service is available from
Bhubaneswar to Puri.
Rail: Puri railway station is a major railway station and is well
connected with almost all the major cities of India.
Road: Puri is connected with Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Berhampur,
Taptapani, Sambalpur and Kolkata by road.
Accommodation
One can pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Puri. Besides,
star categorized hotels around, Puri offer excellent view of the
landmarks through their suites. Most of the places to stay in Puri are
located in the pilgrim centers or near the railway station.
