India >> East Zone >> Orissa >> Puri
About Puri Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is situated in the eastern part of Orissa and is one of the four holy dhams of Hinduism. Puri is also called "Sri Purusottama Dham" or "Martya Vaikuntha", the abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. It is located at a distance of 60 kms from the state capital Bhubaneshwar.
| Area: | 10,159 sq kms
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| Best Time to Visit: | October to March (June and July to witness the Rath Yatra)
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| Climate: | Proximity to the sea gives Puri an excellent coastal type climate
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| Main Languages: | Oriya, Bengali, Hindi and English
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| Population: | 1,25,199
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| Temperature: | Summer - Max: 38, Min: 27.1
Winter - Max: 28.2 Min: 15.2
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Other Attractions In & Around
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Bada Danda
This is the Grand Road and is as wide as a modern freeway. It extends from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, and is the scene of the great Festival of the Chariots or Ratha Yatra.. Ideal for shopping : The grand road, as it is called, is ideal for a leisurely stroll and shopping for souvenirs. Typical Puri handicrafts include miniature stone-sculptures, woodcarvings, seashell items, patta paintings and colourful applique work.
The southern end of the beach has the Swargadwara, Gateway to heaven where one can pick seashell items miniature stone sculptures and woodcarvings. TOP
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Balighai
Just 8 kms away from the crowds of Puri, on the mouth of River Nuanai, Balighai has excellent beach and the Sea Turtle Research center. Its serene environs are an ideal getaway from the tensions of the city life.
The juxtaposition of gentle casuarina-lined river with crashing, desolate ocean coast is a strange and extremely beautiful one. One may also catch a glimpse of the shy Baliharina a kind of deer who inhabit the area.
It is a popular picnic spot.. Exciting moments : The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable. Location : 8 kms away from Puri. TOP
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Chilka Lake
Situated southwest of Puri, Chilka is the largest fresh water lake in Asia (65 kms long, 8-20 kms wide, about 2 m deep). One can enjoy boating on the shimmering blue waters and in leisure one can enjoy fishing.
It has been affectionately called as the honeymooner paradise and breakfast island. The simmering blue water makes it an excellent site to have a break from the monotonous daily routine.. Attractions : Nalbana Island
Due to its varied flora and fauna, it forms the core of Chilika sanctuary.
Birds Island
It is a haven for the resident and migratory birds. One can watch the birds in their natural habitat here.
Kalijal Island
Kalijai Island is home to the Goddess Kalijai, venerated by the local fisher folk.
It hosts a huge fair on Makar Sankranti annually in the month of January. Location : Southwest of Puri, Orissa Much to offer : You can boat and fish here. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year, and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter, makes Chilika island an ideal vacation for people who love nature. Talking about lakes, there is also Ansupa, a small but picturesque lake attracting migratory birds in winter. Saranda Mountain and the surrounding bamboo and mango groves cast interesting reflections on its waters. Natural Bliss : The shallow waters enclose an immense area of marshes, lowlands, and islands.
The surrounding hills and sandy stretches abound in cheetals, blackbucks, monkeys, fishing cats, mongoose and porcupines and a dolphin population cavorting joyfully near the channel meeting the sea. Snakes and turtles, lizards and cobras inhabit the surrounding beach area and wooded undergrowth. TOP
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Raghurajpur
Famous for its Patta Chitra paintings, this artists village 14 kms from Puri, makes an interesting excursion. No village is more involved in preserving India priceless skills than Orissa's Raghurajpur with its thatched, brick, houses on high plinths with sit-out platforms and artists busy at work.
This is where at the end of this 'stony' jaunt comes some relief in the form of some breathtaking paintings.. The art of painting : The paintings are done on specially prepared cotton cloth, which is coated with a mixture of gum and chalk and polished, before applying natural colours. Little girls sit in front of house with a mural of the great Trinity of Puri, and a flowering creeper in the religious folk-art style. Craftsmen carve effigies out of wood and paint them in vivid, primary, colours. Bright altars for the homes of devotees are nailed together with a jeweller's care, and then painted.
Originally these pattas were affixed to the sheltering screen behind which Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra (the Puri Trinity) rested for fifteen days. The paper on which Patta Chitras are painted is specially prepared using a paste made of tamarind seeds and powdered chalk. This makes it parchment-tough. Using delicate brushes, the fine outlines of the painting are drawn. These, are then, filled in with colours to create pictures from the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Though the arts of Raghurajpur were originally inspired by religious themes, the artists have responded to changing demands and have begun to handle secular subjects with the same painstaking finesse. Everyone here seems to be either an established artist, an aspiring artist, or a probationary one. And art overflows everywhere. TOP
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Sakshigopal
The shrine of Lord Sakshigopal is only 20 kms away from Puri. The sacred feet of Shri Radha can however be only seen on 'Anala nawami' day.. Location : 20 kms away from Puri. Legend : According to legend once Gopal Krishna came down to this place from Vrindavan as a witness to clear out a dispute between two Brahmins. When he saw this beautiful place he fell in love with it and stayed on.
Sakshi Gopal (literal meaning, the witness lord) is in Puri where one gets to see a life-size image of the child Krishna.
It is believed that the visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to Sakshigopal. TOP
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Shri Jagannath Temple
The Temple of Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) built during the 12th century A.D. by Chodaganga Deva dominates the landscape for kilometers around. Being the tallest temple (65 metres) in Orissa, it is one of the most magnificent pieces of monuments of India.
Puri is the forerunner of the Jagannath cult in Orissa, which saw the flowering of several temples dedicated to Jagannath all over the state.
Puri the ancient shrine, enshrining Krishna - Jagannath in the form of a wooden image, also enshrines wooden images of Balabhadra (Balarama) and Subhadra brother and sister of Krishna respectively. The Aruna Stamba is in front of the main gate of Jagannath Temple. Carrying on the top of the stamba is the figure of Aruna the charioteer of Sun God.. Location : Jagannath Puri is situated on the sea coast of Bay Of Bengal in Orissa. It is 60 kms. away from Bhubaneshwar.
The majestic ancient temple of Lord Jagannath is situated in the middle of the Jagannath Puri. Rath Yatra : Rath Yatra, which is also known as the Chariot Festival, is one of the most prominent festivals of Orissa, which is celebrated in the holy city of Puri. ‘Rath Yatra’ has derived its name from the words ‘Rath’, meaning ‘Chariot’, and ‘Yatra’, meaning ‘Procession’. This festival is celebrated with gusto in almost every part of the country. However, it was initiated in Jagannath Temple and it still attracts devotees from different parts of India. Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is a very colorful festivity, in which people participate enthusiastically.
In the yatra, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, enshrined in the Sri Mandira, are brought out and placed on their respective chariots. These chariots are then pulled by the devotees and the idols are taken to Gundicha Temple. The deities stay at this temple for seven days and then, return to Sri Mandira, in a similar procession. Before the procession starts, Gajapati (the ceremonial King of Puri) comes and cleans the chariots with a golden broom and then, sprinkles holy water on them.
Originally, the local king used to sweep the road on which procession was to take place with a golden broom, proclaiming to be the Lord’s first servant. Rath yatra has been gaining popularity and drawing more and more devotees year after year. It is believed that it is very auspicious if one manages to catch even a glimpse of Lord Jagannath on the chariot. People also hold a belief that the one who manages to touch the chariot, or even the ropes with which it is pulled, is bestowed with the results of several pious deeds for ages. The temple : Contemporaneous with the Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar, the Puri temple is the result of the same mature Orissan style of architecture, but is greater in height.
The temple is an extraordinary world in itself, consisting of thousands of different categories of priests, their assistants, attendants and pilgrim guides. The Raja of Puri heads this huge army of over 6000 priests etc., and 14000 other employees waiting on Lord Jaggannath. He alone has the privilege of sweeping before the, Chariots and to carry Lord Jaggannath's umbrella. In the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha ) there are a strange archaic type of wooden images of Sri Jaggannath, his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra. Subhadra’s image is in between her two brothers and smaller in size.
The temple kitchen is said to be the biggest in the world feeding thousands of devotees daily with, its holy food called the Mahaprasad. A belief : The English word " Juggernaut " is obviously derived from this Car Festival. In ancient days some devotees would throw themselves beneath the wheels of the Chariot in the belief that such an act of piety involving Lord's blessings would send them straight to heaven.
The temple is truly an institution unique in the world. History : The history of the present temple goes back to about 12th century A.D. when the founder King of the Ganga Dynasty, King Chodaganga Deva began it’s construction. King Anangabhima Deva finished the construction. Records indicate that the temple existed in one form or the other since ancient times sometimes patronized by the Kings ruling Orissa at the time and sometimes having been neglected. It was from the times of the Ganga Kings that the temple received patronage. The King acknowledged Lord Jagannath as the actual ruler of the kingdom and he was his deputy.
Over the years, the royal worship continued until the invading Afghans defeated the Orissa Kings and plundered the temple in the 16th Century. The temple priests saved the deities from the invaders and preserved them.
Often the Muslim Moghuls invaded the temple, worship stopped and again it was restored. However, the advent of the Imperial British East India Company and its successor British rule by the crown again brought the temple Management under stress. However, to the credit of the British it must be said that they respected the right to worship of the Hindus at Jagannath and indirectly allowed patronage. They recognized Jagananth Puri's King of Orissa (Gajapati Maharaj) as the Superintendent of the Temple and granted some revenue rights and privileges to the temple to run its affairs.
Even before one enters Puri, this 65-metre high temple makes its presence felt. On the Nilgiri Hill stands the temple built by Chodaganga, to commemorate the shifting of his capital from South to Central Orissa. A 20-foot high wall surrounds it. A traditional porch, shrine, hall of offerings and a pillared hall of dance, form the rest of this temple. The remarkable feature about this temple, since its early beginnings, is that there has been no discrimination, ever, between castes.
There is no caste distinction and all are welcome before the Lord Jaggannath but non-hindus are not allowed inside the shrine. They can have a fair view of the inside of the temple from the nearby roof of the Raghunandan library, opposite the main gate of the shrine. TOP
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The Beach
The fine white sands of Puri beach and the roar of the breakers rolling in from the Bay of Bengal have fascinated visitors throughout the years. The local fishermen, with their catamarans and wide-brimmed cane hats, are also expert masseurs. With excellent hotels and guesthouses, the Puri beach is an ideal holiday spot.
Tourists welcome the local fishermen, with their catamarans and wide brimmed cane hats for they not only provide you with a ride on their boats but also act as lifeguards if you wish. It would be best not to be too adventurous since the undertow can be a bit treacherous.. Bonus : An additional bonus is its proximity to the spectacular Jagannath temple, one of the holiest temples in the country. The beach is also the venue for the famous dance and music festival held every year at the beach. Memorable moments : Puri offers tourists the rare opportunity of witnessing the colourful sunrise and sunset on the same beach where they can bathe and relax around for hours on its golden sands. Also a marine drive is there to konark and bramhagiri.
Puri is a holy place and for centuries now, the beach has been the venue of countless pilgrims taking the traditional holy dip. Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath and is considered one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Every year " Puri beach festival " has been arranging to attract tourists. However, for decades now, both Indian and foreign beach lovers have made it their special haunt.
The spectacle of dazzling sunsets and the catamarans dipping on the pearly waters are terrific memories to take back home.
Bonus TOP
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