Puri is a city in Odisha, India which has a special cultural significance spreading spirituality over the eastern part of India. Lying near to Bay of Bengal and taking its share of charm, Puri is a fantastic tourist place that shines together in summers, smells earthly in monsoon, looks beautifully rustic in winters has a direct connection with its travelers. There are many tourist spots in Puri Odisha which give spiritual and joyful experiences equally.
The city is widely known by the name Jagannath Dhama due to the presence of the pristine Jagannath Temple from the 12th century. Many other historical places in Puri indicate the audacity of Puri to exhibit spiritual consideration and natural landscapes bound together.
The Spiritual Essence of Puri –
Jagannath Temple Puri is one of the Char Dham sites in India which is most visited during the Ratha Yatra. Moreover, it is only when the pilgrims get to see and touch the chariot on which the Lord is carried that they feel their visit to Puri is complete. Jagannath Temple is one of the best places to visit in Puri. Jagannath Temple is known to follow the rituals of offerings to the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra along with Sudarshan.
Gundicha Temple:
Known by many names like Garden House of Jagannath or God’s Summer Garden Retreat, Gundicha Temple is the Vrindavan for the Vaishnavas during Lord Jagannath’s stay here. It serves as the temporary home for Lord Jagannath during the Ratha Yatra. It is surrounded by a lush beautiful garden with walls on the side and is located just 3 km from the main Jagannath Temple.
Loknath Temple:
It is located 1.5 km from Jagannath Temple and is one of the famous places of Puri. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and the reference of this temple exists in the old tales. It is said when Lord Ram stayed a while in Puri, he wished and meet Lord Shiva there. The strong belief in getting rid of all problems one is facing and attaining salvation is what has been crowd attracting factor of this temple. One can see a huge crown during Maha Shivratri.
Beaches in Puri –
Puri Beach:
Arguably one of the top tourist attractions in Puri is popular for the natural beauty and the best among the artificial beauty as sculpture artist Sudarshan Patnaik belongs here. Puri Beach is one of the well-known versatile beaches on the backdrop of the sacred, spiritual Puri city. Situated on the seaside of the Bay of Bengal, Puri Beach is very stunning, especially after sunset at Puri Beach. The long stretch of beach offers softer than the feather sand to take a long walk barefoot.
Golden Beach:
Golden Beach, also known as Puri Beach features fine golden sand. It also consists of a marine drive where one can see a road that runs parallel to the beach and is a popular place for walking. Golden Beach is more commercialized than Goa or Pondi beaches as it has a developed system for tourist attractions.
Balighai Beach:
This beach situated 8 km from the holy city of Puri, offers magnificent views of the sunset and sunrise casting a spell on tourists. An interesting thing about this beach is that the white sand actually glitters during full moon nights and is hence called ‘Balighai’. The majority of the area is embedded with beautiful casuarina trees. It is one of the most recommended beaches in Puri because still, it has still been undiscovered.
Natural Wonders Around Puri –
Chilika Lake (Satapada):
Chilika Lake is Asia’s biggest internal saltwater pond studded with many small islands including Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island. This pear-shaped lake, separated from the Bay of Bengal; also imbibes one of the most supportive ecosystems in the name of Chilika Lake Sanctuary in the region. Chilika Lake is one of the must-visit places in Puri because one can witness several migratory bird species, especially during winter. It is also famous for its boat rides near to Bay of Bengal. Chilika Lake dolphin spotting is also the most sought activity.
Konark Sun Temple (nearby attraction):
Konark Sun Temple is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a surprising temple full of cultural, spiritual, and archaeological wonder. It proves the greatness of ancient India which prospered with many intellects even in that era. The famous temple of Odisha along with the Jagannath Temple was used by the European sellers in the Bay of Bengal as major landmarks. Konark Temple was built in the 13th century and has historical significance in the field of archaeology as one of the wonders.
Raghurajpur Artist Village:
Raghurajpur is a heritage craft village in Puri. It is known for its master Pattachitra painters, an art form that dates back to 5 BC in the region, and Gotipua dance troupes, the precursor of the Indian Classical dance form of Odissi. It is known as the birthplace of the Odissi exponents Padma Vibhushan Guru and Kelucharan Mohapatra and Gotipua dancer Padma Shri Guru Maguni Charan Das and Shilp Guru Dr. Jagannath Mahapatra.
Historical and Cultural Spots in Puri –
Puri Light House:
Puri Light House is on the new marine drive road, which is at one end of the beach. The revolving lighthouse opens only for one hour for visitors from 4 pm to 5 pm. By paying a marginal fee one can climb to the top of the lighthouse through staircases. The view of Puri city as well as the sunset from here is very soothing in addition to the fresh air.
Markandeswar Temple:
Temple is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on Lord Shiva. The temple is situated on Markandeswar Street by the side of the Markandeswar tank, to the north of Jagannath Temple. Bathing ghats are provided for the tourists on the southern side of the tank. Rituals like Pinda Dana, and Mundan Kriya are observed on the steps of the tank. The temple dates back to the 12th century.
Narendra Tank:
At a distance of 1 km from Jagannath Temple and 2.5 km from the station, Narendra Tank is a holy tank situated at Mauza Dandimala Sahi in Puri. This is one of the largest tanks in Odisha and must be included in things to do in Puri. The tank was built in the 15th century by Narendra Dev, who shouldered the responsibility of the kingdom with Purushottama. The tank is considered holy and has a lot of small and big temples surrounding it.
Shopping and Local Experiences in Puri –
Grand Road (Bada Danda):
Grand Road is the main road in front of Jagannath Temple’s lion gate. On Grand Road, tourists can find shops selling rudraksha (holy seeds), sandalwood beads, images of Lord Jagannath, brass idols, paintings on coconuts, wooden replicas of chariots, and other devotional items. Also, there are shopping complexes like Grand Center, Sahoo Super Bazaar, Nayak Plaza, Suriya Complex, Jagannath Ballava Market Complex, and Laxmi Market Complex.
Seafood and Local Cuisine:
Puri is popular for fresh seafood and local cuisines. The seafood in Puri can be available at local markets, beachside shacks, local restaurants, and street food stalls. In local dishes, one can eat anything from kanika, badi chura, chenna jhili, santula, and khaja which are sweet or spicy food dishes. The major attraction in Puri, however, is seafood dishes like crab masala, chungdi malai, machha besara puri, promfret grilled, and chingudi jhola.
Pattachitra Workshops at Raghurajpur Village:
Pattachitra painters come from Raghurajpur, a village that occupies a unique place in the cultural map of India. The outer walls of most of the houses are wonderfully decorated with mural paintings of mythological scenes from Ramayana and the Mahabharat. Apart from primary art Pattachitra, village communities produce a variety of handicraft items such as palm leaf engravings, stone carvings, and tusser paintings. Every villager here is a fine artist, one can easily say.
Festival and Events in Puri –
Ratha Yatra (Car Festival):
Ratha Yatra, a chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, is undoubtedly the biggest and most popular festival held in Odisha. Every year, in the month of June or July, this festival is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha, Ashadh month as per the traditional Oriya calendar. The Ratha Yatra takes one day to travel to Gundicha Temple, deities of lords remain in the temple for seven days, and one day to return home. Three lords are carried in three decorated chariots.
Chandan Yatra and Snana Purnima:
Being a 42-day long festival in Odisha, Chandan Yatra is celebrated at Jagannath Temple, which takes place by worshipping deities with sandal paste mixed with water. Thousands of pilgrims across the world flock to the land to be part of the great religious festival of Odisha. It takes place in two parts Bahara Chandan and Bhitara Chandan. This festival provides a significant cultural context in reference to spiritual practices. The Snana Purnima is the ceremonial bathing of deities on the full moon day of Jyestha month.
Puri Beach Festival:
This festival is celebrated in the month of November, organized at the shores of Puri beaches, and takes place for five days. It started on 29th October 1993 and is one of the most sought-after festivals. During this festival, various forms of art, culture, cuisines, crafts, and sports are executed. Several exhibitions, fashion shows, sports activities, and more take place during this festival. This festival is also marked by an exhibition of handicrafts, handloom, and sand art.
Travel Tips to Visit Puri –
Puri travel guide gives you the best insights of the Puri, Odisha. The best time to visit Puri is between October to March when the climate is pleasant and Puri hosts several cultural festivals during this period. It is also because one can watch the migratory birds and dolphin activities at Chilika Lake Satapada. One can travel to Puri by road, train, and air.
Frequently Asked Questions –
1.What are the best times to visit Puri?
The best time to visit Puri is between June and March when the weather is pleasant. The monsoon season (June to September) is also a good time to visit if you like nature.
2. What are some other places to visit in Puri?
Some other places to visit in Puri are Gundicha Temple, Sakshi Gopal, Kakatpur, Alarnath Temple, and more.
3. What is the Jagannath Temple?
Jagannath Temple is a famous temple in Puri that was built in the 12th century. It is one of the most impressive monuments in Odisha.
4. Which are the top places to visit in Puri?
The top places to visit in Puri are Chilika Lake, Jagannath Temple, and Puri Beach.
5. What are some activities to do in Puri?
Activities to do in Puri are visiting temples, attending aarti ceremonies, swimming, shopping, and exploring the handicraft town Pipli.
Conclusion –
Puri is a significant place offering a lot of spiritual, cultural, and devotional atmosphere while you visit. Tourists can spot world-famous places like Chilika Lake and Jagannath Temple to get the blessings of God. With such diverse offerings, from spirituality to nature and culture, one must not miss to visit the place at once.
