Puri – Orrisa

Puri, one of the Char Dhams along Badrinath, Dwarka and Ramareshwaram, is also well known as the ‘Temple Town of Orissa.’ It is just 60 km from the capital city of Orissa, Bhubaneswar. The Jagannath Temple in the city is one of the most sacred temples of Hindus, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, or the creator of the Universe.

The world over, Puri is famous for its Rath Yatra that takes place every year in the month of July. Pilgrims from all over the country travel to Puri for the Yatra. It is also called the Festival of Chariot of Jagannath. Three gigantic Chariots are ornately decorated and carry Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha Mandir. It is believed that the Gods visit their aunt in Gundicha Mandir for five days, after which they return back to the temple in the same chariots.

Along with Bhubaneswar and Konark, Puri forms the golden triangle of Orissa. Konark famous for its Sun Temple is only a one hour drive from here. Other nearby attractions includes the Chilka Lake, Puri Beach and Gundicha Ghar.

In fact, Puri Beach is the most famous destination in line after the Jagannath Temple where all visitors can enjoy some quite restful moments on the shores of the beach. The best time to visit the beach is during November, when an annual Puri Beach festival is celebrated here. It’s a five day festival and hosts a number of cultural programs that depict the history of Orissa.

Being an important religious and cultural center in Orissa, Puri is well connected with all major towns of the state and the country. It’s a major railway junction, and direct trains can be boarded here from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and other cities. The nearest airport is 56 km from here at Bhubaneswar, from where you can readily get taxis.