Puri is the hub of tourism in Odisha, situated along the Bay of Bengal and only 61 kilometres (approximately) from Bhubaneswar. Given that it is the spiritual hub of Odisha, this attraction is the ideal location to satisfy your desire for salvation. Furthermore, Puri is particularly alluring since it serves as India’s main Vaishnavite centre. Due to the immense popularity of Puri, this temple town in Odisha has overtaken Rishikesh in terms of spiritual tourism. Puri hotel deals and discounts are attractions for the several tourists from different cities.
The Puri attractions will leave you speechless since they feature a Golden Beach (Puri Beach) and have been awarded a Blue Flag! And not to be overlooked is the annual Rath Yatra Festival held at Jagannath Temple.
1.Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri
Puri is commonly associated with Shree Jagannath Temple, one of the four Hindu pilgrimage sites in India that constitutes the Char Dham. The Lord of the Universe, who is thought to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is the subject of this majestic temple. Here, the sacred triad—his sister Goddess Subhadra and brother Lord Balabhadra—are also revered.
Although the shrine was initially constructed in the twelfth century, numerous additions were made to it until the sixteenth century. At the moment, Kuruma Bheda, the inner wall, and Meghnad Pachira, the outside wall, encircle it. It is situated on an elevated platform. Along the cardinal directions, there are four gates; the main one, known as Singhadwara, is located near east.
Due to its magnificence, the annual Puri Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, held in the months of June and July, draws millions of devotees from all over the world.
When making a hotel reservation in Puri You can check the Puri Hotel availability.
Hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
2. The Puri Beach
Puri Beach is another must-see destination for visitors to the city, along with the holy temple. Situated near the Bay of Bengal, the beach is frequently frequented by worshippers who come here to bathe after offering prayers at the Shree Jagannath Temple. In addition to its religious significance, the location is popular with tourists due to its pristine sandy beach and powerful waves.
Many people visit this location because of the captivating vistas at sunrise or sunset. Additionally, there are a few stalls.
3. Puri’s Loknath Temple
One of the most visited religious sites in Puri, Loknath Temple, is located less than 5 miles from Jagannath Temple. The lingam at this Lord Shiva shrine, which dates back to the eleventh century, is kept submerged for the majority of the year in a naturally occurring underground fountain. On Pankoddhar Ekadashi, three days before the important Shivaratri Festival, the water is cleared, revealing the lingam; hundreds of devotees attend the temple during this time.
Time: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
4. Puri’s Raghurajpur Artist Village
The most well-known art form practised by the more than 120 artisans residing in Raghurajpur, a village steeped in traditional crafts, is Pattachitra. Combining the words patta, which means fabric, with chitra, which means painting, results in the term “Pattachitra,” which refers to painting on cloth. With a focus on the sacred trio of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister Goddess Subhadra, these paintings combine religious and legendary themes.
In addition to pieces of cloth, such as the well-known tassar fabric, dried palm leaves, coconuts, and betel nuts are also frequently painted. Here in the town, you can even purchase wooden and stone toys and papier-mâché masks as mementos for loved ones.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
5. Puri’s Jambeswara Temple
According to legend, Puri was formerly a centre of Shiva devotion, and Jambeswara Temple is one of the city’s most well-known Shiva shrines. Yameswar Temple is another name for the shrine since the deity is worshipped here as Yameswara. It is thought that this important but lesser-known temple was built in the tenth or eleventh century.
Even though all Hindu holidays are observed here with great enthusiasm, Shivaratri is the one that draws the most number of followers to this historic Puri temple.
Where: Puri’s Harachandi Sahi Road
Time: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
6. Puri’s Narendra Sarovar
At around 3.24 hectares, Narendra Sarovar is thought to be the biggest of all the holy tanks in Puri. This reservoir, sometimes referred to as Narendra Pokhari and Narendra Tank, features an island with a temple honouring the holy trinity of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra.
Additionally, Chandan Yatra, a well-known summer festival, is held there. The event gets its name from the fact that the holy triad is worshipped there while sandals, or chandan, are worn. On Akshaya Tritiya, the start of the 42-day celebration, work on building the chariot, or rath, for the famed Puri Rath Yatra or Car Festival, also gets underway. Location: Puri’s Athar Nala Road
Hours: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
7. Puri’s Markandeshwar Temple
Markandeshwar Temple, also known as Markandesvara Temple, Markandeya Shiva Temple, and Markandeshwar Mahadeva Temple, is another well-known Shiva temple in Puri. The name of this shrine comes from tradition that says it was constructed by the sage Markandeya, who was rescued by Lord Shiva during a meditation. Numerous Hindu rites and festivals, such as the Chandra Yatra, Kaliyadalan, Balabhadra Janma, and Sital Sasthi, are linked to this well-known shrine. The Markandeya tank, one of Puri’s Pancha Tirtha, and stone inscriptions discovered at the temple indicate that the temple was a significant holy centre in the 12th century, during the Eastern Ganga kingdom.
Location: In Puri, close to Bindu Sagar
Time: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
8. Puri’s Gundicha Temple
Situated in a stunning landscape, the well-known Gundicha Temple is around 3 km away from the Jagannath Temple. This shrine, also called the Garden House of Jagannath, is thought to have been the holy triad’s summer garden retreat.
This temple, which was constructed in the traditional Kalinga architectural style out of light-grey sandstone, is divided into four main sections: the sanctum-containing tower structure called Vimana, the assembly hall known as Jagamohana, the venue for all festivals, and the offerings hall known as Bhogamandapa. The deities enter it from the west gate and exit it through the end of Bada Danda, which is the major path of the Puri Rath Yatra.
Place: Puri’s Bada Danda
Time: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
9. Puri’s Pancha Tirtha
The five sacred bathing kunds (tanks) in Puri—Indradyumna, Markandeya, Swetaganga, Rohini, and Mahodadhi—are referred to as Pancha Tirtha. It is said that bathing in these ponds is crucial for pilgrims to finish their spiritual journey in Puri. You can select the best Puri Hotel according to your need. This pilgrimage is said to have begun at Markandeya Tank, which is close to Markandeshwar Temple and is thought to be the location where Lord Vishnu formerly lived as a neem tree. While Indradyumna is near Gundicha Temple, Rohini Kund is located on the grounds of Jagannath Temple. The location of Swetaganga Tank is to the south of Lord Jagannath’s residence, Niladri. Mahodadhi is the sacred place for bathing.
Conclusion
Finally, in addition to the locations already described, this area offers an array of spiritual retreats, beautiful beaches, and breathtaking natural beauty. For every type of individual, Puri is a complete package in and of itself. You should go to the location from October and March, which is most likely winter when the weather is cool and comfortable. So, schedule your travel for the months of June and July if you wish to take part in the magnificent Ratha Yatra, which is Jagannath Puri’s largest celebration. Both the monsoon and summer are not ideal times to visit Jagannath Puri because of the intense rain and thunderstorms that occur during them. Additionally, the summer months are humid and hot in Puri.
