Puri is one of India’s most important pilgrim centres located on the coastal region of Orissa. It boasts of a rich cultural heritage and a long spiritual tradition of Hindu religion. It is famous for its Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach Festival and Rath Yatra.
The Jagannath Temple is named 'Lord of Universe' after Lord Vishnu and was built in the 12th Century by King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Built in the Kalinga style of architecture, it has three presiding deities namely Krishna, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The deities made of margosa wood have huge eyes that are all-seeing and have outstretched arms that protect and bless the entire humanity. This temple was called the White Pagoda by European sailors who used it as a landmark during their voyages.
The temple is surrounded by a 6m wall and guarded by a pair of stone lions. It has a huge spire that is 65m tall and has one of the largest temple kitchen complexes in the world, where every day as many as 500 cooks prepare 56 different offerings called Mahaprasad for Lord Jagannath. The offerings are made five times a day and are sold at the gates of the temple.
The beaches of Puri are unspoiled and are always crowded with pilgrims. It has stretches of white sandy beaches, where the traveller can enjoy beautiful sights at sunrise and sunset or take part in activities such as swimming, surfing, catamaran rides and fishing.
The Rath Yatra or the chariot festival is held in June/July every year when the three deities are taken out in huge wooden chariots pulled by thousands of devotees to Gundicha Temple, located 2 kms away from Puri and considered to be the birthplace of Lord Jagannath. This spectacular festival attracts huge crowds of devotees from all over India.
The Jagannath Temple is named 'Lord of Universe' after Lord Vishnu and was built in the 12th Century by King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Built in the Kalinga style of architecture, it has three presiding deities namely Krishna, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The deities made of margosa wood have huge eyes that are all-seeing and have outstretched arms that protect and bless the entire humanity. This temple was called the White Pagoda by European sailors who used it as a landmark during their voyages.
The temple is surrounded by a 6m wall and guarded by a pair of stone lions. It has a huge spire that is 65m tall and has one of the largest temple kitchen complexes in the world, where every day as many as 500 cooks prepare 56 different offerings called Mahaprasad for Lord Jagannath. The offerings are made five times a day and are sold at the gates of the temple.
The beaches of Puri are unspoiled and are always crowded with pilgrims. It has stretches of white sandy beaches, where the traveller can enjoy beautiful sights at sunrise and sunset or take part in activities such as swimming, surfing, catamaran rides and fishing.
The Rath Yatra or the chariot festival is held in June/July every year when the three deities are taken out in huge wooden chariots pulled by thousands of devotees to Gundicha Temple, located 2 kms away from Puri and considered to be the birthplace of Lord Jagannath. This spectacular festival attracts huge crowds of devotees from all over India.
