puri

Jagannath Temple

Puri One of the four celebrated religious centers of India, Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction. According to tradition Puri was once a thickly wooded hill inhabited by the Sabaras (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribes of the Austric linguistic family). The sunny beach at Puri is one of the finest in the world. Watching the sunrise in a symphony of colours is a wonderful experience. It is one of the most popular sea-side resorts where visitors from any part of the globe can comfortably relax. Places of tourist interest in Puri : The Temple of Lord Jagannathbuilt during the 12th century A.D. by Chodaganga Deva dominates the landscape for kilometers around. Being the tallest temple (65 metres) in Orissa, it is one of the most magnificent pieces of monuments of India. In front of the main gate stands a 16 sided monolithic pillar (11 metres high), called Aruna Stambha which formally stood in front of the Sun Temple and was brought to Puri during the 18th century A.D. Some of the other important temples are Gundicha, Lokanath, Sunaragauranga, Daria Mahabir and Tota Gopinatt. There are also a number of holy tanks like Narendra, Markandeya, Sweta Ganga and Indradyumna. There are many Monasteries locally known as Mathas also of touristic interest.

Approach : By air to Bhubaneswar (Puri is 62 km from Bhubaneswar), road and rail. Stay : Stay arrangements can be done with the local hotels & Dharmashala and in Guest House  Puri. The list of hotels with their phone numbers is given below: Hotel Name  Telephone (06752) Hotel Swimming 06752-254434,254243 Hotel Sonar Kella 06752-230617 Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort 224041, 224254, 224313 Hotel New Victoria Club 06752-222005, 222583 Shree Purusottam Vatika A/C 06752-226227 Hotel Nayak Plaza (Grand Road) 06752-232585 Nilachal Bhakta Niwas 06752-222053 Puri Hotel 06752-222114, 222744 BAPS Swaminarayan Atithi Niwas                             06752-227999 Dharmashala Name Telephone (06752) Bagala Dharmashala(Govt.) 06752-223235, Ramachandra Goenka Dharmashala 06752-223678 Duduwala Dharmashala  06752-223380 Tularam Sujanamal Bagedia Dharmashala 06752-223224 Bharat Sevasram Sangha 06752-223227 Nilanchal Goudiya Math 06752-231474 Places around Puri Balighai  Brahmagiri  Satyabadi  Baliharachandi  Raghurajpur  Satapara  * Distance from Puri * Balighai (8 km)* The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable. Brahmagiri (25 km)* Brahmagiri is known for the living shrine of Alarnath. Streams of pilgrims visit Alarnath during Anabasara of Lord Jagannath. Nearby is the shrine of Baliharachandi on the solitary sand dunes. Satyabadi (20 km)* Satyabadi or Sakshigopal is known for the shrine of Lord Sakshigopal. It is believed that the visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to Sakshigopal. The temple is only 2 km away from the main road leading to Puri and is convenient to visit. Baliharachandi (27 km)* 27 km to the south-west of Puri is the temple ofBaliharachandi. Situated on a sandy hill near the sea and adjacent to the mouth of the river Bhargavi, Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Baliharachandi. The scenic beauty of this place is ideal for group picnic. Raghurajpur (16 km)*   One of the most famous artists village in Orissa, the village of Raghurajpur boasts not only of the exquisite pattachitra's and talapattachitra's, but also of being the native place of Guru kelucharan Mohapatra, the famed Odissi dancer. Even today, under the tutelage of renowned Guru's, young boys can be seen practicing the Gotipua dance here. A visit to Orissa would definitely be incomplete without a visit to this little village. Satapara (52 km)*   Satapara, a retreat in nature on Chilika Lake, has been thrown open to visitors. Its location near the confluence of the Lake with the Bay of Bengal, and proximity to Puri (52 km), makes it an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred place for a vacation with nature.