Puri, the ancient home of Lord Jagannatha, is one of the most popular places to go on a pilgrimage in the country. As one of the sacred “Char Dham” pilgrimage sites, Puri has many old temples that are important from a religious, historical, and architectural point of view. Even in the 21st century, this religious town’s economy is mostly based on and around the Jagannatha Temple, which was built in the 12th century. Along with the temples, the area has some beautiful beaches that are great for getting away from the busy life for an evening. Here’s our listicle of 10 of the many best places to go on vacation in Puri below.
1. Sri Jagannath Temple
The temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in India. It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, who is a form of Lord Vishnu. It is the most important Hindu pilgrimage site because it is part of the holy Char Dham Yatra, the three others being Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameshwaram. The temple is an excellent example of the Kalinga style of architecture because it has beautiful carvings all over it. The Jagannath Temple has a total of four different gates to enter. They are called Singhadwara (The Lion Gate), Ashwadwara (The Horse Gate), Hathidwara (The Elephant Gate), and Vyaghradwara (The Tiger Gate). This temple is also known for having the most enormous kitchen in the world, where every day, thousands of devotees are fed the divine Prasadam. There are also many miracles associated with this shrine that can’t be explained by science. Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Balabhadra are worshipped in this beautiful Vaishnava temple.
2. Khandagiri Caves
The Khandagiri Caves are about 7 km from Bhubaneswar. The most important part is the part about the Kalinga War, which shows women and teenagers fighting against Ashoka’s army to save their home country. Tourists can explore the caves and talk to the locals to find out how they were made and how long they have been there. From the top of Khandagiri, you can see amazing views of Bhubaneswar. There are 15 more caves on Khandagiri. Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are best seen between 9 AM and 10 AM, and it takes about 4 hours to see both of them.
3. Puri Beach
On the east side of the Bay of Bengal is Puri Beach. Puri beach is the best beach in Puri. It has a lot of food stands with the best seafood. Being one of the things to do in Puri, you can’t miss the sunrise and sunset from here. The beach gets a lot of visitors all year long because it is close to the Jagannath Temple and other well-known Puri temples. This beach gets a lot of sunlight and is also a popular place for newlyweds to walk along the windy shore and watch the beautiful sunrises and sunsets together.
4. Chilika Lake
The greatest body of saline water in all of Asia is the famous Chilika Lake of Puri. It is dispersed among three different districts. Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island are two of the many beautiful islands on the Lake. Chilika Lake sanctuary is well-known for having a lot of aquatic wildlife. It is also home to Irrawaddy dolphins, which are different from other dolphins because their color and dorsal fin are unique. Chilika Lake is a popular tourist destination because it has such a massive variety of plants and animals, including many rare and endangered species of all kinds. Besides watching birds, this lake is known for many other things, such as boating, fishing, and many more.
5. Raghurajpur Artist Village
Raghurajpur Artist Village is a great place to go if you like to collect souvenirs and buy things made by local people. Even though crafts like palm leaf engravings, stone and wood carvings, Tussar paintings, and wooden masks are made in the village, Pattachitra is what makes it famous. The village is also the only place where the traditional Patas are made for Lord Jagannath’s throne.
6. Atharnala Bridge
Atharanala Bridge is one of the best places to have a picnic in Odisha. It has 18 arches that range in height from 7 to 16 feet. Before going back to the city, you can look at the different kinds of flowers, hike to the bridge, and have dinner. It has a beautiful view of the Jagannath Temple and is a great spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy nature. This bridge is made of Laterite and lime mortar and was built with ashlar masonry.
7. Markandeshwara Temple
Markandeshwara Temple is a well-known Hindu temple in the town of Puri in the state of Odisha. The temple is on Markandeshwar Street, north of the Jagannath Temple. It is next to the Markandeshwar tank. This is one of Puri’s five Tirthas, and it is also one of India’s 52 holy Shiva places. Markandeya tank is an open structure that is surrounded by a laterite-block wall. Detailed carvings of Goddess Parvati, Lord Muruga, and Sri Ganesh stand in front of the sanctum. If you really want to find peace and comfort, you should go to this shrine.
8. Pipli
Pipili or Pipli is a town 38 km from Puri that is known for its appliqué work, which is called Chandua in the area and is thought to be the traditional art form of Orissa. The colorful embroidery you’ll find here is simply remarkable. The whole economy is based on crafts, which include all kinds of things. There are many food stands in the town, so you can also eat while you shop.
9. Gundicha Temple
The annual Ratha Yatra takes place at Gundicha Temple, which is also one of the most popular places to visit in Puri. There are some exciting stories about Gundicha Temple. One story says that Gundicha, who was the queen of King Indradyumna, loved Lord Jagannatha very much. During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi leave Jagannath Mandira for nine days: one day to get to Gundicha temple, seven days here, and one day to go back home. Gundicha Yatra is the name for this pilgrimage.
10. Narendra Tank
This tank was built in the 15th century AD, and it has many shrines around it. It is one of Odisha’s largest tanks. In the middle of the tank, on a small island, is the Chandana Mandapa temple. People think this tank is holy, and there are a lot of small and large temples all around it. During the Chandana Yatra festival, the famous tank is also where gods are floated on clean water, and many rituals are done.
This was our list of the best places to go in Puri. This place has everything to offer tourists, from temples to beaches. So, when are you heading there and enjoying a fantastic vacation?
