The most popular sea-beach among the Bengalis, Puri, is renowned for its vast stretches of golden sand and the Jagannath Temple. A trip to Puri is all the more attractive because of the pleasant dips in the sea, taking a casual walk along the beautiful beach, a trip to the Jagganath Temple to seek his blessings, boundless shopping, eating out and a tour to Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Chilka Lake. Puri is one of the four dhams in India. The Jagganath Temple, built in 1198, resembles the Kalinga style of architechture, houses the main deities of Lord Jagganath, along with his younger brother-sister due of Balaram and Subhadra. The temple, surrounded by 20-24 feet high wall, has four entrances-Singha (Lion), Hasti (Elephant), Aswa (Horse) and the Bagha or Khanja (Tiger). In the front of the main entrance, the Lion Gate, is the beautiful chlorite pillar, which originally stood in the front of the Sun Temple at Konarak. Four pillars also flank the temple courtyard. The "Natmandir" (main temple) comprises of the "Bhogamandir" in the east, the jagamohan (assembly hall) in the west, and 16 pillars lying in between. After crossing the jagmohan, you would come to the "garbha griha" (sanctorum) on top of which is the 192 feet high "Sikhara" (conical tower). Small temples are scattered throughout the temple complex. It is better to hire a "panda" from the hotel itself. You can offer bhog to Lord Jagannath by depositing money at the temple office. The intricate relief-work of the temple will surely mesmerise you. Earlier, to counter the harmful effects of saline winds blowing from the sea, the temple was covered in a thick sheath of plaster. Now the plaster-cover has been removed to expose the marvellous sculptures which previously lay underneath. A trip to the unclean temple-kitchen-cum-prasad as distribution-centre called "anantabazaar" is not however, worth the effort.

Barring the Jagannath Temple, other areas of Puri can be visited by hiring an auto or a cycle rickshaw, which might require a little bargaining.

Other local attractions include the dwelling place of yavana Haridas called Siddha bakul, the residence of Kashi Mishra where Sri Chaitannya Dev is believed to have lived, Yasheswar Shiva and Svetganga, the temple and lake of Markandeyaswar, Indradummya sarovar, the golden gouranga and Gundichabari (golden house) which is believed to be residence of Lord Jagannath's maternal aunt and is where the images of Gods reside for seven days during Rath Yatra. Gundicha Devi was the wife of King Indradumnya belonging to the Surya dynasty. According to the local legend,the latter constructed the Jagannath Temple.

A day's each conducted tours can be organised from Puri to visit Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Nandankanan, Chilka and Satpara. The last being at a distance of only 50 km from the Puri, is famous for its dolphin sanctuary.

How to go

There are direct trains from kolkata, Delhi and Chennai to Puri. You can also reach there in a two hour journey by bus or a car from Bhubaneshwar, 56 km away.

Where to stay

Hotels, from the cheapest to top-end 5 star places, abound in Puri, lying on the road between Swargadvar and Chakratirtha. Besides, a number of holiday homes are also there. Some of the popular hotels are Puri Hotel (Ph: 22114, Ph: 22744), Victoria Club Hotel (Ph: 22005, 22583), Sagarika Hotel ( Ph: 24063), Sea View Hotel (Ph: 23417), Hotel Park (Ph: 22040), Hotel Pulin Puri (Ph: 20700, 22360), Hotel New Sea Hawk (Ph: 31400, 31500) etc. OTDc's Pantha Nivas (Ph: 22740) lies on Chakratirtha Road and the Dharmasala of Bharat Sevahram Sangha lies near Swargadawar.

STD Code of Puri : 06752.

Best Season

Puri can be visited throughout the year. It is better to avoid the extreme summer months and monsoon.

For added pleasure

Donot forget to visit the village of Raghunathpur, 14 km from , Puri, famous for its "patachitra". The artists tirelessly paint in miniscule details the different deities on "patas" following an age old tradition. Paintings are also carried out on dried palm leaves and clothes etc. You can buy them directly from the artists.

Remember

Be sure to check the fare and mention the destination clearly before boarding an auto rickshaw or a cycle-rickshaw.

Touts will start harassing you the moment you get down at Puri station. Ignore them to hire a vehicle yourself for taking you to the hotel of your choice.

If you have arranged for an advance booking, enquire about hotel-transport for picking you up from the station.

Check-out time of most of the hotels in Puri is 7 or 8 a.m.

Puri is overcrowded during October-March, the mosat favourable season of visit. However, because of the accomodation might not pose a problem. But you are unlikely to get your choice. It is therefore, wiser to settle for advance-bookings.