Puri, also known as Jagannath Puri (The Abode of Lord Jagannath) or Purusottama Puri, is a renowned city and headquarters of Puri District in the Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa).
Jagannath Puri or Purusottama Puri (approximately 1 and a half hours or 60 km from Bhubaneswar by bus (about ₹ 130), about 2 hours by train) is a pilgrimage town with the famous temple of Lord Jagannath (means Lord of the Universe) and is a major tourist destination with all its beautiful and pleasant sights. There are many hotels, most overseas tourists stay near to the beach. The Sun temple at Konark is also nearby. If you go to Puri by road from Bhubaneswar you will go past Pipli with its beautiful applique handicrafts, worth a look. The Puri sea beach is a major attraction with its fantastic sea face view and golden sand, the water is a bit rough (which is good if you like to surf).
Locals speak Odia. Due to the presence of people from various parts of India, there would not be a language problem for people who speak any major Indian language. Hindi is also widely used. Some locals even speak Bengali.
- Bedi Hanuman. Temple.
- Chakra Tirtha. Temple.
- Swarga Dwar or The Gateway to Heaven. Site of cremation of almost all famous Oriya people.
- Golden Beach of Puri.
- Mausima Temple.
- Shankaracharya's Gobardhan Pitha. A Hindu Math.
- Shree Gundicha. Temple Destination of Rath Yatra.
- Shree Jagannath Puri. Temple. One of the four dhams i.e. the four most sacred pilgrimage places of Hindus. Constructed in the 11th century and is the starting point of the world-famous Rath Yatra, held in July. Entry is limited to Hindus. Do lean against the Shani temple and watch the summit of the temple and do savour the temple food or bhog. The temple complex is huge and has some very interesting stories associated, priests or pandas are generally the ones who conduct the non Oriya people around and generally mention all these stories although they can demand exorbitant amounts; bring it down to something reasonable. It is possible to go into the sanctum sanctorum and touch the deities in the main temple for a fee.
- Shree Lokanath. Temple Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is said to be the place where Lord Shiva hid himself from Shani, under a pond. The Shiva Linga here is partially submerged and the pond is teeming with fish. Priests here tend to be very strict so maintain etiquette.
- Sunara Gaurang Temple.
- Alarnath. Temple.
- Balihar Chandi Temple. Is secluded with a beautiful and very calm beach nearby view from the temple of which is obscured by a forest.
- Chandrabhaga. Sea Beach.
- Chilika Lake.
- Pipili. Famous for Applique Work
- Puri Konark Marine Drive. This road was recently renovated and hence is in superb condition. It is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers flow into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road. Some beaches are said to have quicksand. Along the way there is a temple Ramchandi, which is a popular picnic spot amongst the locals, as non-vegetarian food is allowed in the temple.
- Raghurajpur. Famous for Patta Chitra (term for traditional, cloth-based scroll painting) as well as the location of several interesting temples.
- Satapada. Dolphin Sanctuary
- Sun Temple of Konark.
Alarnath. Temple.
Balihar Chandi Temple. Is secluded with a beautiful and very calm beach nearby view from the temple of which is obscured by a forest.
Chandrabhaga. Sea Beach.
Chilika Lake.
Pipili. Famous for Applique Work
Puri Konark Marine Drive. This road was recently renovated and hence is in superb condition. It is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers flow into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road. Some beaches are said to have quicksand. Along the way there is a temple Ramchandi, which is a popular picnic spot amongst the locals, as non-vegetarian food is allowed in the temple.
Raghurajpur. Famous for Patta Chitra (term for traditional, cloth-based scroll painting) as well as the location of several interesting temples.
Satapada. Dolphin Sanctuary
Sun Temple of Konark.
Bedi Hanuman. Temple.
Chakra Tirtha. Temple.
Swarga Dwar or The Gateway to Heaven. Site of cremation of almost all famous Oriya people.
Golden Beach of Puri.
Mausima Temple.
Shankaracharya's Gobardhan Pitha. A Hindu Math.
Shree Gundicha. Temple Destination of Rath Yatra.
Shree Jagannath Puri. Temple. One of the four dhams i.e. the four most sacred pilgrimage places of Hindus. Constructed in the 11th century and is the starting point of the world-famous Rath Yatra, held in July. Entry is limited to Hindus. Do lean against the Shani temple and watch the summit of the temple and do savour the temple food or bhog. The temple complex is huge and has some very interesting stories associated, priests or pandas are generally the ones who conduct the non Oriya people around and generally mention all these stories although they can demand exorbitant amounts; bring it down to something reasonable. It is possible to go into the sanctum sanctorum and touch the deities in the main temple for a fee.
Shree Lokanath. Temple Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is said to be the place where Lord Shiva hid himself from Shani, under a pond. The Shiva Linga here is partially submerged and the pond is teeming with fish. Priests here tend to be very strict so maintain etiquette.
Sunara Gaurang Temple.
Enjoy the splendour of the Golden Beach of Puri. It is ideal for surfing and cool for a dip. The beach is covered in golden sand. The waves can also be high and rough during purnima (full moon). Also, "Please Do not litter the beach" to keep its magnificent view intact. You have to be careful about swimming off the Chakra Tirtha Rd end of the beach because there is a canal that carries raw sewage into the ocean.
- Chung Wah, VIP Road (Near Netaji Subhash Chowk. Good Chinese food.
- Kakatua.
- Krishna Resorts.
- Shyama.
- Wild Grass, VIP Road (Near Netaji Subhas Chowk. Theme restaurant serving local delicacies.
Chung Wah, VIP Road (Near Netaji Subhash Chowk. Good Chinese food.
Kakatua.
Krishna Resorts.
Shyama.
Wild Grass, VIP Road (Near Netaji Subhas Chowk. Theme restaurant serving local delicacies.
In cheap hotels or Guest Houses on Swargadwar or New Puri, try to take care of your own belongings. DO NOT try to go to the beach after 8PM. If you get seriously ill in Puri it is better to go on to Bhubaneswar to the Kalinga Hospital as the hospitals in Puri are very, very basic and not too clean. The hotel should be able to get a local doctor for you if you need one.
There are mouthwatering foodstalls on the beach selling fish, mutton, chicken kebabs, chops and cutlets. DO NOT try these, unless you want to experience the medical system of Puri. Even weather-beaten, battle-hardened, super-immune Indian stomachs can not tolerate these tasty but unhygienic attacks on your digestive system. Eat out of hotels, perfectly fine. But do NOT try the seashore roadside food stalls.
Stay safe from pandas of any temple. They will extract money from your pocket ruthlessly in the name of God. They are very influential and nothing can be done with the help of law. Avoid entering the innermost sanctum of any living temple (even if you are Hindu/Indian). They will ask you to offer puja or pay respect to innumerous Gods here and there of same temple very politely/affectionately but will demand money in the name of each God separately. No use arguing with them. If you are a bit religious/curious then carry enough change so that you can donate ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10 to get rid of them without any commotion.
Stay away from monkeys. Don't lure them with food and other stuff.
Puri, being a major tourist spot, is well connected with rest of the country by train. In case of flight connectivity one has to go to Bhubaneswar to get onto one. From the main bus stand in Puri you can get buses to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack which are less than 60-70 km away. Bhubaneswar, which is a major hub, further increases connectivity.
- The temple of Konark is nearby and definitely a must visit.
- Satapada on Chilika Lake is nearby and is a great place for sighting dolphins.