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60 km from Bhubaneshwar, abode of Lord Jagannatha literally Lord of the world, Puri is one of the four holy places in India. Located on the shores of Bay of Bengal, it has one of the finest beach in the world. This pilgrimage town is also the abode of artisans and craftsman, who produce a wide range of unique handicrafts. The city was in the past a flourishing port identified with ancient Dantpur. Puri is always thronged with pilgrims and tourists but it is nothing compared to the motely and seething humanity which sojourn here during Rath Yatra or the Car Festival.
How to get there
Air
The Nearest Airport is Bhubaneswar (65 km).
Rail
Puri is connected to Berhampore (Orissa), Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Madras, Tirupati, Trivandrum, Varanasi etc.
Road
Bhubaneshwar-62 km, Calcutta-541 km, Chilika-167 km, Konark-31 km, Sambalpur-362 km, Vishakhapatnam-486 km.
In and around
Shri Jagannath Temple
The main temple, a majestic structure of 65m, stands on an elleveated plat form in the heart of the city. It is a monument from the 12th centaury AD with all the richness and plasticity of the Kalinga style of architecture. Apart from the main temple, one should see within its precincts the smaller temples of goddess Vimala, Laxmi and Vishnu. The annual festival of chariots, known as the Rath Yatra, an annual ritual spreading over the entire summer and monsoon months, makes Puri attractive and enjoyable for tourists during this season.
The temple kitchen is said to be the biggest in the world feeding thousands of devotees daily with its holy food called the Mahaprasada.
The Puri Beach
It is famous for its golden sands, soothing sun-bath and the colorful sunrise and sunset. Here you can enjoy seeing the local fishermen plying their catamarans and sail boats. This beautiful beach is quite long and wide extending for miles
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