Puri

One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus, Puri also known as Jagannath Puri, is located in the state of Odisha. Famous for the Jagannath temple, Puri is believed to be the final resting place of Lord Vishnu. Unsurprisingly then, it is a very important place of worship for the Hindus.

Completing the golden triangle of Odisha along with Konark and Bhubaneswar, Puri is a large depository of art and architecture of India with the highlight of the town being the Shree Jagannath Puri Temple.

One of the four dharms (most sacred pilgrimages) of Hindus, the Jagannath Puri temple was constructed in the 11th century and is the starting point for the famous Rath Yatra from which the English language derived the word ‘juggernaut’. During the Rath Yatra, in July, entry to the town and the temple is restricted to Hindus. Make sure you lean against the Shani temple, watch its summit and taste the food served. It is possible to get into the sanctum and touch the deities in the main temple for a minimum fee.

Puri is also the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions (others are at Sringeri, Dwarka, and Jyotirmath) established by Adi Shankar Acharya. It has been an important link between the Eastern and Southern Indians since ancient times.

The clean golden beach of Puri is another tourist attraction being ideal for surfing. On the nights of the full moon, the waves can get quite high but be careful while swimming off the Chakra Tirtha road end since the canal that carries raw sewage into the ocean is nearby here.

Best Places to Stay In Puri

With the Rath Yatra taking place in the month of July, it can be quite difficult to find accommodation. In any case, it is best to book rooms in advance here. The hotels offer packages that cater to all types of visitors from honeymooners to students. The hotels near the temple tend to overcharge. Remember to check in to a room with an air conditioner during the summer. Puri has its share of beach-side hotels that offer a great view of the Golden Beach and don’t necessarily burn a hole in your pocket.

Best Places To Eat In Puri

There are several good restaurants serving thali around Grant Road and CT Road. The Jagannath Temple premises has many sweet shops/ restaurants. Make sure you try the local specialty, the bhaang sherbet.

Best Places to Eat In Puri

There are several good restaurants serving thali around Grant Road and CT Road. The Jagannath Temple premises has many sweet shops/ restaurants. Make sure you try the local specialty, the bhaang sherbet.

Best Time to Visit Puri

The average minimum and maximum temperature of Puri is as given below. The best time to visit Puri is also specified.
January, February, March, October, November, and December.

Place To Visit In Puri

Beleswar Beach

About 15 km east of Puri, Beleswar, also known as Baleshwar, is popular for its beach and Shaivite shrine. Watching the sunrise and sunset is a popular tourist activity.

The Beleswar Beach is a major attraction for newlywed couples who come to the beach as it is less crowded and to pray at the Shiva temple.

The town of Beleswar is known for its religious sanctity and its natural splendour. The Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated with great fervour at the temple and is visited by thousands of devotees during the festival.

Sunbathing, swimming and water sports are popular ways to spend time on the beach. The beach is relatively free of hawkers.

The beach is located at the mouth of Nuanai River and the sight of the river draining into Bay of Bengal is spectacular. Being less than four km off the Puri Konark Marine Drive Road, the beach is easily accessible.

The beach and the forest cover that stretches all along the beach provide a good place to relax as you watch the sea lash at the shore and calmly recede.

Jagannath Temple

Even before one enters Puri, this 65-meter-high temple makes its presence felt. The 12th-century temple built by Chodaganga, to commemorate the shifting of his capital from South to Central Orissa, stands in a compound on the Nilgiri Hill (MOUNTAIN) and is surrounded by a 20-foot high wall, within which lie several smaller shrines. In front of the main gate stands a 16-sided monolithic pillar (11 meters high), called Aruna Stambha which formally stood in front of the Sun Temple and was brought to Puri during the 18th century A.D. A traditional porch, shrine, hall of offerings, and a pillared hall of dance, form the rest of this temple. The remarkable thing about this temple, since its early beginnings, is that there has been no discrimination, ever, between the various Hindu castes. To one end of the road, that leads to the temple is Gundicha Mandir, Lord Jagannath's summer temple, within a walled garden at the far end of Grand Road, where the deity is enshrined for a week, on a simple throne. Like the Lingaraja in Bhubaneswar, Puri’s Jagannath is not open for non - Hindus, who must contend themselves, from viewing it from a vantage point, outside its precincts.

Balighai Beach

One of the most notable beaches in Odisha, Balighai’s pristine beach is relatively undiscovered. Situated at the mouth of the Nuanai River, the spectacle of the calm river flowing into the Bay of Bengal is a sight to behold.

Balighai is about eight km northeast of Puri, famous for the Lord Jagannath temple. Located off the Puri-Konark Marine Drive Road, the white sandy beach is ringed by casuarina trees.

The beach is a major attraction as it is an excellent place to enjoy time with family and friends. The beach sand glitters on full moon nights giving it a magical feel. Olive Ridley Turtles visit the beach during December and January to lay eggs and many migratory birds can be seen during the winter months.

Boat rides are available which allow you to enjoy a sunbath or fight the waves and refresh your mind with a dip in the sea. There are other water sports available like water skiing and parasailing. There are different points on the beach from where you can see breathtaking views of the sunrise and the sunset.

You can visit the Balihirana Deer Sanctuary where you can spot the endangered Balihirana antelope and Indian Black Bucks. The Sea Turtle Research Centre, a short distance from the beach, is also worth a visit. You can also visit shrines near the beach like the Barahi, Lakshminarayan, and Amareshra.

Things to Do In Puri

How To Reach Puri

Puri is located close to Bhubaneswar which has great air, road, and rail connectivity. Puri itself is accessible by road and rail from most major parts of India. Here is how to reach Puri -
 

• By Air
  Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, which is nearly 56 km from the heart of Puri city. The airport is connected to Delhi and Mumbai. International travellers need to get connections through Delhi or Kolkata.
• By Train
  Puri is a major railway junction. Regular direct train services are available from many cities in India, including Bhubaneswar, New Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata.
• By Road
  Puri is connected with the neighboring cities through well-constructed roads. Buses are considered to be the main option to travel to Puri as the bus stand is near the Gundicha Temple. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack can be reached in 15mins by bus.