India - Puri - A religious city 04.11.2013

Puri

Asia : South Asia : India : Eastern India : Odisha : Puri

Contents  [hide]  Understand [+]Get in Get around [+]See Do Eat Sleep Stay safe Get out Puri is a renowned city and headquarters of Puri District in the Indian state of Odisha(formerly Orissa) (Latitude: 19° 48' 0 N, Longitude: 85° 50' 60 E), also known as The Abode of Lord Jagannath. The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri at Night [edit]Understand Jagannath Puri or Purusottama Puri(approximately 1 and a half hours or 60 km from Bhubaneswar by bus {about Rs. 25 to Rs. 150), 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 Chakratirtha Road (C.T. Road) - try Hotel Lotus - for the best of star hotels like hotel holiday resort, mayfair beach resort or you can ask rickshaws for 'Sea Beach Road or Swargadwara'. Some good hotels are Hotel Puri and Hotel New Sea Hawk (in Swargadwar) The Sun temple at Konark is also near by. 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). [edit]Get in [edit]By train Puri is well connected by Railways. Trains are from Kolkata (Howrah jn), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. It is also a major railhead on the East Coast Railway, bifurcated from Khurda Road Jn. The Railway Station of Puri is in The heart of the town and near to all hotels. If you arrive by train go to the Odishan State Tourist counter at the station for advice, they are usually very helpful and speak English. The MCO Booth is also quite helpful. Locals speak Oriya. Due to the presence of people from various parts of India there would not be a language problem. Hindi is also widely used. Some locals even speak Bengali. [edit]By Taxi taxiGUIDE (Puri Car Rental), (support@taxiguide.in), [1]. Inquiry: 7am to 11pm. Puri Car Rentalservices on taxiGUIDE.in - a Chauffeur Driven Car Rental service in 75 Cities in India. Fares start from Rs.2300 for full day local & Rs.14.5/km for Outstation.  edit [edit]Get around You can use cycle or auto rickshaws but agree a price before you set off. There are places on C.T Road where you can hire an Enfield motorbike, good if you want to drive along the coast to Konark(Sun Temple). A cycle rickshaw is in the range of 5-20 rupees. [edit][add listing]See Shree Jagannath Puri Temple. One of the four dhams ie four most sacred pilgrimage places of Hindus. Constructed in 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. The most important festival of Odisha,Ratha Yatra or the Chariot Festival (earlier known as Car Festival to the Europeans), is held with religious grandeur at Puri, the seashore town in Odisha. Golden Beach of Puri. Shankaracharya's GOBARDHAN Pitha A Hindu Math Swargadwar The Gateway to Heaven. Site of cremation of almost all famous Oriya people. 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 do maintain etiquette. Sunara Gaurang Temple Bedi Hanuman Temple Chakra Tirtha Temple Mausima Temple Shree Gundicha Temple Destination of Rath Yatra. Damodar Gaudiya MAtha, C.T.Road, Puri -2 , Odisha (Near Chakranarayan Temple), ☎ 06752229697,[2].  edit [edit]Famous Places Near Puri Sun Temple of Konark. Chandrabhaga Sea Beach. Chilika Lake. Satapada Dolphin Sanctuary. Alarnath Temple Pipili Famous for Applique Work. Raghurajpur Famous for Patta Chitra. Puri Konark Marine Drive This road was recently renovated and hence is in superb condition. Is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers fall into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road. Some beaches are said to have quicksands. Along the way there is a temple Ramchandi which is a popular picnic spot amongst the locals as non-veg is allowed in the 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. [edit][add listing]Do The Golden Beach of Puri during sunset 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 theChakra Tirtha Rd end of the beach because there is a canal that carries raw sewerage into the ocean.