Puri

Puri is also known as the “Abode of Lord Jagannath” and occupies a special place in the itinerary of a tourist who is on his tour of east India. This town is not only known for its splendid temple and architectural marvels but also has a rich culture and heritage that gets reflected through its ancient monuments and temples. Some of the major things to watch in Puri are Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach, Gundicha Temple, Swargadwar Beach and Chilka Lake. This town is in-fact a synthesis of unmatched natural beauty and magnificent historical charm that casts an indelible impression on the mind of the tourists. Before you plan for a vacation, know more about Puri including its history, best season, climate and clothing.

History
Puri was earlier known as “Charitra”. The temple of Purusottama Jagannath was constructed by Chodaganga Deva and several images of the Hindu deities were installed here. Under the rule of the Mughals, Puri was a part of Kataka circar (part of a province). After the Marathas occupied Orissa in the year 1751, they introduced several changes in the revenue divisions of the province. The British annexed Orissa in the year 1803 and set forth huge changes in revenue divisions and political sections. The province was divided into two divisions in June 1804, the Northern and Southern Divisions.

Puri is also popular for its several Mathas (monasteries of a variety of Hindu sects). It is also home to the relics of many Hindu Saints since it is considered a sacred place to die in or to be cremated. The present day town of Puri is one of the most preferred and revered tourist destinations of the east.

Best Season, Climate and Clothing
Puri experiences a typical tropical climate and can best be visited during the winter season from the months of October to April. Light woolens would be fine for the winters since the nights by the sea could be a little chilly. For the summers, light cottons are recommended.

Temple Attractions
The temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, is one of the major Hindu pilgrimage destinations of India. With its roaring 65 mt high spire, the temple is visible even from the countryside. Decorated with four gates on each side, the temple also has a 16 sided monolithic pillar measuring 11 meters in height, Arunastambh; architectural zenith with exquisite carvings which was brought here from Konark in the 18th century. The temple also has the largest kitchen in the world serving around 10,000 devotees every day.At the end of Grand Road, about 3 km northeast of Jagannath temple, is the Gundicha Mandir. At the time of Rath Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath goes to Gundicha temple and stays there for a week. The city is dotted with numerous other shrines like Narasimha temple and Tota Gopinath temple.

Beach Attractions
The Puri Beach is one of the most sought after beaches in India and is an indispensable part of the city. The abode of Lord Jagannath attracts millions of tourists round the year who come here to take a holy bath, which they believe is a golden path to Moksha or Eternal salvation. Trimmed with gorgeous sand arts, the golden sand of this pristine beach allures every tourists to their brim.

The Shopping Pockets
A treasure chest for those interested in traditional crafts, Puri offers a diverse range of articles with peerless craftsmanship and exquisite carvings. Enjoy the broad array of bead and bamboo works, Pattachitras (miniature religious paintings on silk and cotton fabric), wooden combs, pitchers, glasses, lamps, masks and metal crafts displayed at the Ananda Bazaar in the temple complex, where the craft and food sheds are concentrated.

The Orrisa Handicrafts Emporium, situated at Grand Road, promote a superb collection of Ikat handlooms. Locally known as Cuttaki, Ikat is an intricate process of tie and dye, which involves knotting of yarn, before it is dipped in separate colours and woven to produce exquisite designed cloth. The emporium also features double-Ikat from Sambalpur and gold-embroidered ones from Sonepur.

Fairs and Festivals
Puri offers a number of colourful fairs and festivals such as Chandan Yatra, Snana Yatra (Bath festival), Anavasara festival and Nava- Kalevara etc., but it is the Chariot Festival, an annual sojourn of the three deities riding their lofty chariots, that hits the bull's eye. During the Chandan Yatra in April, the deities are taken to a boat ride in the Narendra sarovara after they are bathed in sandalwood scented water. During the Snana Yatra, the main deities are brought to the Snana-Mandapa in a procession calles Pahandi, where around mid-day 108 pots of water are poured on them. During the Anavasara festival, it is said that Lord Jagannath suffers from fever and hence an infusion of medicines is offered in the form of soups and fruit juices. Nava-Kalevara is when Lord Jagannath , gets a new body. This takes place whenever a double Ashar occurs in a year which usually happens in every 8, 11 or 19 years.

Access

Reaching Puri through Rail - Puri is a terminus on the East Coast Railway having direct express and super fast train links with New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Okha, Ahmedabad, Tirupati etc. Some important trains are Kolkata (Howrah) Puri Howrah Express, Jagannath Express; New Delhi; Purushottam Express. Khurda Road Station, 44 km, from Puri is convenient rail head for train to Chennai and Western India.

The station is about one km North of the town. Cycle rickshaws and auto rickshaws compete aggressively to get you to a hotel.

Reaching Puri through Road - The bus stand near the Gundicha Temple provides connections to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, service every 10-15 minutes. Minibuses to Konark leave every 20-30 minutes and also from Jatiababa Chhak. There are direct buses for Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.

For Getting around puri - cycle rickshaws are available all over town. Auto rickshaws are also available but every few in numbers. Bicycle, moped or a motorcycle can be hired easily from several outlets on the Chakratirtha (CT) Road for trips to the coast and to Konark. Most travel agents in the city provide this service.