The pious and pure city of Puri forms an important holiday destination of the golden triangle of the Eastern India besides Bhunbaneshwar and Konark.

The sacred city of Puri is at a distance of 60-km from Bhubaneswar . It comprises of one of the four holy dhamas of Hindus, the other three being Puri, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath. For the followers of Hinduism the pilgrimage of the temples across India is not complete without making the journey to Puri. The pulsating city is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Earlier the port city it is said to have sent shiploads of devotees, carrying the messages of Lord Buddha for Java, Sumatra and the Phillipines. This fact answers the co-existence of the various maths and monasteries in the city. The visit to many of these will bring peace to your mind and soul.

The visit to the Lord Jagannatha Temple, which is a landmark structure of the city, will be a memorable one. The temple is dedicated to Jagannath i.e. 'Lord of the Universe'. The temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in India. The city itself is one of the four holiest places of India and a melting pot of all religious faiths. The temple is the finest specimen of Kalinga temple architecture. Innumerable pilgrims throng the city when the rath yatra (chariot festival) takes place in the month of June or July.

In the exquisitely carved temple resides Lord Jagannath with his siblings namely, his sister Subhadra and brother Balabhadra. Unlike images in other Hindu temples, these three gods are in the shape of rough, wooden pillars with shield-like heads, stumpy arms and no legs. The priests as well as the scholars have tried to justify the structures of the dieties at the temple. The traditional sheen of the town makes it shine amonghst the other temple towns of the Eastern Golden triangle of India. The temple structure was first built in 10th century and then again in the 12th century by the 'Ganga' King 'Choda Ganga Deva'.

The European sailors used the temple covering of the white plaster previous centuries as a navigation point. Owing to this fact the temple was termed as the "White Pagoda". This was in contrast to the "Black Pagoda" of Konark, the other holiday destination of the Golden triangle.

The pious city of Puri is one of the most religious cities of India. Besides the architectural beauty the natural beauty can also be spotted in abundance. Nature has gifted it with fine beaches, which are wide, and ideal for beach sports. But owing to the rough sea, water sports are not favored. A charming combination of golden sun, surf and sand, the beach at Puri is referred to as the world’s most picturesque seacoast, ideal for surf riding. Local fishing, bathing and other routine activities make the beaches of Puri flocked with localities as well as tourists to the town.

Access:

By Air

Puri can be reached by air as its nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar, 56 km away. From Bhubaneswar, one can easily opt for either train or bus services that can be found easily.

By Rail

Puri railway station is a major railway station having links with several of the important cities in India. The railway station is easily accessible from the main town area.

By Road

Puri is very well connected by a network of roads and road transport to all major towns of Orissa and surrounding areas.

touristplacesinindia can arrange for you all types of land transport for your comfortable journey in Puri and throughout the Indian state of Orissa.