Situated along the shimmering blues of the Bay of Bengal, the state of Orissa offers visitors a plethora of attractions including an array of magnificent temples, sandy beaches, exotic wildlife, and a rich cultural heritage. The state the whole of south India is best known for its ancient and medieval temples. While many of the ancient temples have disappeared over the centuries, the famous temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri stands proudly displaying glimpses of its rich and colorful past and present. The temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in India so much so that the name Puri has over the years become synonymous with the Jagannath temple.
Puri is an ancient city enshrining Krishna (Jagannath) in the wooden form along with Balabhadra (Lord Krishna's brother) and Subhadra (Sister). The temple of Lord Jagannath is always thronged by visitors and is one of the most visited religious sites in the country, being frequented by both devotees and tourists. An interesting legend associated with the temple states that an image of Lord Jagannath was found under a fig tree which impressed King Indradyumna so much that he built a structure at the site and erected the image inside. The wooden images being worshipped are renewed by the devotees during special occasions.
[ Suggested Tour: Jagannath Puri Tour ]
The Temple
The vast temple complex is spread over an area of 4,00,000 square feet bordered by a 20-foot-high thick wall. The entire complex houses around 120 temples and shrines with its towering shikhar rising to an impressive height of 192 feet. Architecturally, the temple is divided into four different parts serving different purposes. The outermost chamber is known as the Bhog Mandir a little ahead of which is the Nata Mandir, a pillared hall meant for dance and music shows, next to which is the Jagamohana, where devotees gather in large numbers for worship while last is the inner sanctum or the deal, enshrining the deities.
From the History Books
The present structure of the temple was built by Kalinga ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga during the 12th century while the work was carried forward by King Ananga Bhima Deva. The image of Lord Jagannath, it is believed, was found buried in the Chilika Lake to protect it from invaders. Puri is also famed as one of the four holy Peethas established by Shankaracharya, the other three being Sringeri in south India, Dwarka in Saurashtra, and Badrinath in the Himalayas. Various religious leaders such as Ramananda of the 14th century and Ramanuja of the 15th century did much to popularise the worship of Lord Jagannath.
Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival
While the worship services and festivities continue to be carried out at the place right throughout the day, there are as many as 24 major festivals celebrated each year, the most important of these being the Rath Yatra or chariot festival held each year during the month of June-July. The procession involves three gigantic chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra, being taken across the streets of the city. The giant chariots are 35 feet long rising to a height of 45 feet with 16 wheels, each measuring 7 feet in diameter. Thousands of devotees from all over the planet throng the streets of Puri to witness the festivities with over 4000 people needed to pull the huge raths to the deity's summer abode, where the idols are worshipped for an entire week before the whole process begins again and the deities are brought back to their home at Puri. The chariots used for the purpose are reconstructed every year.
Advice for Visitors: When visiting the city to witness the Rath Yatra, it is advisable to reach the place well before the crowds start to pour in. Once the crowd starts to gather, head to the beach or other nearby areas or get to the roof of a nearby building, which may cost you some money, but the bird's eye view of the procession it affords is well worth it.
Other Attractions in Puri
Gundicha Temple
Built around the 16th - 17th century, the ancient Gundicha temple is situated towards the northeast of the Jagannath temple. The site is famed as Lord Jagannath's summer home and is used to house the lord's statue during the seven days of the Rath Yatra after which it is brought back to the Jagannath temple. The architecture of the temple is unlike other temples in Orissa having a dome with Vishnu's wheel at the top.
Swargadwar
Swargadwar or the gates of heaven is a place near the seashore in Puri. A dip here in the holy waters is believed to open the gates of heaven and lead a person towards salvation. It is also the place where the Vaishnava Prophet, Mahaprabhu passed away by merging one with the sea.
Other Attractions
Other attractions in Puri include Jagannath Ballav Math, Chaturdham Veda Bhawan, Bedi Mahavira, Ardhasini, Chakra Tirtha, Dashavatara Math, etc. while nearby excursions from Puri are Pipili, Raghurajpur and Chilika Lake.
Stay At
Puri being a famous tourist and pilgrimage spot boasts of quality accommodation facilities. Some of the best accommodation options at Puri include Hotel Shree Hari (located 50 meters from Puri beach, 10 min from railway station and Jagannath temple), Surya Beach Inn (near the Puri beach, 15 min from railway station and Jagannath temple), Marina Beach Resort (on the Puri beach, 10 min from railway station and Jagannath temple), Hotel Holiday Resort (on the Puri beach, 0.5 Km from railway station) and Toshali Sands Resort.
Distance from Major Cities
- Delhi: 1306 Km
- Bhubaneswar: 61 Km
- Calcutta: 397 Km
- Hyderabad: 817 Km
- Mumbai: 1367 Km
- Vishakhapatnam: 354 Km
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