Puri,
located on the eastern coast of India is a holy place for the Hindus. The
temples of Puri, along with its Rath yatras and the white stretches of
beaches has become a sacred location for holy trips. The place of Puri
gained its importance as it is one among the four most visited pilgrimage
sites in the country. The other places of worship are the Dwarka, Badrinath
and Rameshwaram. The Jagannath temple situated here attracts a lot of
tourist to the city of Puri.
Once a part of the Kalinga Empire, it was won over by Emperor Ashoka of the
Mauryas. The city lies at a distance of 60 km from the capital of
Bhubaneswar in Orissa and was earlier a port city by the Bay of Bengal. A
visit to the Jagannath temple, playing on the beaches by the sea side and
enjoying the beautiful location around is a must do for the tourists in
Puri. Also, in addition offering prayers for the blessings of the Lord are
the principal activities that tourists can do in Puri.
Climate
Puri has a typical tropical climate and is best visited during the winters
between October to April after the monsoon.
Major Attractions
» Jagannath Temple - The temple of Jagannath is
regarded as one of the four dhams of the Hindus. The dham of east India, it
is dedicated to Lord Jagannath or Lord of the universe. Built during the
12th century, it is one of the tallest temples in India which dominates the
skyline of Puri. The temple was constructed in the Kalinga style of
architecture.
» Gundicha Mandir - It is the place from where the
famous Rath yatra begins. According to the sayings of the legends , it was
the home of Lord Krishna's aunty. During the yatra that begin from the
temple premises, the statues of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken
in and around the city on the wooden raths made specially for the occasion.
The place is considered holy since the Lord was believed to have stayed in
the place for nine days.
» Atharnala Bridge - The bridge stands proof of the
skills of the people of ancient India. Constructed during the 13th century,
the bridge is placed at the entrance to the town of Puri. Pilgrims are
sometimes seen offering prayers to the bridge in respect of it being the
gateway to the holy city.
»
Chilka Lake - The Chilka lake is renowned as the largest fresh water
lake in the whole of Asia region. The lake can be seen covered in the blue
colours with the small fishes jumping around the shallow waters. It has been
referred to as the honeymooners paradise or also by an another name which is
breakfast island. This is so because tourists can come early and sit
throughout the day enjoying the delicious foods and lovely surrounding.
» Raghurajpur - The place is famous for the
paintings commonly called the patta chitra done on specially prepared cotton
clothes. This is a special art known to the people of Orissa. The processes
that are applied during the making of a treasured patta is very delicate and
interesting.
» Caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri - The 60 caves
situated near Puri served as the site of the Jain Monastery which was carved
in the shape of chambers in the face of the hill. The twin hills contain
varieties of rock-cut caves dating back to the 2nd century BC, some of which
have beautiful carvings. The views of the sun rise is excellent from the top
of the hill where the caves are situated.
North
India States
