Jagannath Puri, also known as “Puri,” is one of the four destinations of the Char Dham pilgrimage in India. Located on the eastern coastline of India in Odisha, Jagannath Puri is renowned for its spiritual significance, which is centered around the Jagannath Temple. Besides, people admire its vibrant culture and pristine beaches, making it a perfect destination for spiritual and adventure seekers.
Every year, lakhs of devotees embark on Jagannath Puri Yatra to visit the Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath—the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Here is your detailed guide to planning Puri tours with an ideal itinerary or the best Jagannath Puri tour packages.
Every year, millions of devotees visit Jagannath Puri to pay homage to one of the sacred Char Dham pilgrimage destinations in India—Jagannath Temple. The foremost reason for Puri tours is to wash away their sins and get salvation. This iconic temple is located in Puri, Odisha, and was built in the 12th century AD. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in India. The temple sees millions of pilgrims flocking to Puri to visit the Jagannath Temple from all over the world.
Jagannath Temple is a testament to India’s rich religious heritage and architectural beauty. The temple is known for its vibrant culture, grand rituals, and the world-famous Rath Yatra. Everyone visiting the temple to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath marvels at the temple’s architecture.
The construction of the temple was initiated by the Kalinga ruler—Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev. Later the temple was finally constructed in its today’s current form by King Ananga Bhima Deva. The temple houses three deities— Lord Jagannath and his siblings—elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The three wooden idols of the deities are seated on a throne. Lord Jagannath and Balbhadra are positioned to the right and left respectively with sister Subhadra’s idol in the middle.
Jagannath Temple is an architectural marvel. People witness the masterpiece of Kalinga architecture in Puri. However, the temple's idols overshadow the brilliance of the temple’s architecture. It is famous for its intricate carvings, spires, and distinct ambiance. Most importantly, unlike other temples in India, Jagannath Temple has wood idols of the deities. These idols are periodically changed in a grand ceremony named Nabakalebara.
The Jagannath Temple has great significance in the Hindu religion, especially for Vaishnavas. By visiting the temple, devotees witness Lord Vishnu’s infinite grace. They believe the idol is not just an idol but an embodiment of divinity. Hence, millions of pilgrims go on Jagannath Puri Yatra to seek the Almighty’s blessings. It is special for Vaishnavas, especially during the Rath Yatra occasion. It is the festival of a journey of all three deities in a chariot from Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
The entire complex is enclosed with walls and the main entrance of the temple is Singhadwara (The Lion’s Gate). The temple has three other entrance gates as well named—Hathidwara (The Elephant’s Gate), Vyaghdwara (The Tiger’s Gate), and Ashwadwara (The Horse’s Gate). This temple is not only a religious place but also a cultural center, where rituals, events, and festivals are organized.
Jagannath Temple holds a significant place for devotees. Every year millions of people from different parts of the world visit this sacred shrine in India. Apart from the mystical architecture, this temple has some mysteries that defy scientific logic. People believe it is nothing else but the blessings of Lord Jagannath. During your Jagannath Puri tour, you must pay attention to the architectural feats of the temple to understand the mysteries:
Jagannath Puri is one of the world-famous spiritual tours in India. The place is famous for its rituals, ceremonies, events, and festivals. The most famous festival of Jagannath Puri is the Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival). Let’s see the rituals and festivals of the Jagannath Puri Temple:
You can plan a “1-night, 2-day” or “2-night, 3-day” tour itinerary for Puri. Consider your time and budget while planning your pilgrimage tour. Our travel guide for Jagannath Puri includes the common tour itinerary that starts from Bhubaneshwar. It is the central point for reaching Puri because one can board a flight or train and reach Bhubaneshwar easily. Reach Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar or Bhubaneshwar Railway Station and hire a taxi or get on a bus to reach Puri. By the evening, you will be in Puri. Find an accommodation and get ready to embark on a religious tour to Jagannath Puri the next day.
Day One
Day Two
Whether you plan your trip for two days or three days, here are the top attractions that no one should ever miss visiting during their Jagannath Puri Yatra.
The iconic Jagannath Temple is one of the Char Dham shrines in India. Located in the heart of the city, Jagannath Temple is the main attraction of Puri. It is a spiritual destination for devotees, especially Vaishnavas, who worship Lord Vishnu in any form. The temple is a masterpiece of Kalinga architecture that is pleasing to the eye. But the beauty of the deities sitting inside overshadows the beauty of the temple. Not only the temple’s structure is unique but here the deities are also different from other temples’ idols. The deities in the temples are made of wood and are replaced during a ritual called Nabakalebra, which takes place every 12 or 19 years.
Another popular tourist destination in Puri is the Puri Beach. Tourists love this beach for its pristine golden sands, calming atmosphere, stunning views of the Bay of Bengal, and most importantly the beach’s proximity to the iconic Jagannath Temple. After paying obeisance to the deities at the temple, spend some leisure time at the beach to seek a scenic coastal experience.
Another famous and must-visit attraction in Jagannath Puri is Gundicha Temple. Lord Shri Jagannath resides here for seven days during the nine-day-long Ratha Yatra festival. It is believed that this is the three deities' aunt’s house where they enjoy the delicacies prepared by their aunt. This temple is surrounded by lush gardens that offer a peaceful environment to visitors.
It is the largest brackish-water Lagoon in Asia and one of the top tourist destinations in Puri, Odisha. Situated just a few kilometers from Puri, Chilika Lake is renowned as a honeymooner's paradise. This place is worth visiting during your Jagannath Puri Yatra. Several islands are present in the lagoon. Some of the famous ones are Krushnaprasad, Nalaban, Kalijai, Somolo, Honeymoon, Breakfast, and Birds Island. Visiting this simmering blue water will make your trip even more exhilarating and memorable.
You cannot miss visiting Konark during your Jagannath Puri Yatra. This is one of the most visited and popular tourist attractions in Puri, Odisha. The Sun Temple in Konark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Surya. It is popular for its unique carvings and sculptures. It is the representation of God Surya’s Chariot. When you enter, you see a massive stone wheel carved into the temple. The beauty of the temple is centered around the wheel.
Situated on the bank of river Prachi, Kakatpur is a famous temple of Goddess Mangala. The temple is built in the typical architecture of the Kalinga style. It is one of the oldest temples in the region dating back to the 15th century AD. But the deity in the temple belongs to the 9th century AD. You will see Maa Mangala in this temple, which is seated on a double lotus pedestal.
It is said that this temple has a very close relation with Lord Jagannath Temple Puri. When the deities’ wooden idols are changed every 12 years during the Nabakalevara, it is Maa Mangala who guides priests to locate the sacred trees that will be used to make idols of the Gods in the temple. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to this temple, especially to celebrate Jhamu Festival (Jhamu Yatra).
A quaint little village in Odisha, that is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty is Raghurajpur. This small village should be on your Jagannath Puri Yatra bucket list. It is a craft village famous for its arts, silk painters, palm scroll painters, and sculptors. Raghurajpur is a home of legendary artists and ancient art forms. The two most famous art forms of Raghurajpur are Pattachitra (Palm Leaf engravings) and Tala Patra. When in Puri, you should never miss traveling to Raghurajpur to explore the unique cultural resources, sustainable practices, and warm hospitality.
Biswanath Hill, also known as Biswanath Mundia is famous for the Shiva Temple, which is located on the upper part of the hill. Biswanath Mundia Hill is close to Puri and Bhubaneswar and is a famous attraction in Puri, Odisha. It takes approx. 200 steps to reach the temple. You should never miss to visit this temple during Mahashivratri and Mahabisuva Sankranti, these are the two most important festivals celebrated here.
Puri is one of the most famous and sacred pilgrimage tours in India. It is located in the Indian state of Odisha along the Bay of Bengal. Every year millions of people visit the ancient Jagannath Temple which is one of the sacred sites of Char Dham Yatra. If you are also planning your family trip to Jagannath Puri Temple then our travel guide will help you to plan the best itinerary or select the best Jagannath Puri tour package.
Jagannath Puri is a year-round travel destination. People visit throughout the year. But the best time to visit Jagannath Puri is October to February when the weather remains pleasant. However, this is the peak time so you will see more crowds. Finding accommodation at a reasonable price could be difficult.
If you want to attend the festival of Ratha Yatra in Puri, Odisha then plan your trip during June and July. Due to the monsoon, the weather stays hot and humid but heavy rains offer lush green surroundings.
Puri in Odisha is one of the popular pilgrimage destinations in India. Reaching the city is not a hassle for anyone. The city is well-connected with other major and minor cities through air, road, and railway. So, you can opt for any of the stated transport to reach Puri.
By Air
If you plan to reach Puri via flight then board a flight to Bhubaneshwar. There are regular flights from major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune to Bhubaneshwar. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneshwar. It is approximately 60 km away from Puri. You will easily get taxis, cabs, and buses from Bhubaneswar to reach Puri.
By Train
You get direct trains from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Haridwar, etc. This is one of the most convenient ways to travel to Puri with your family. The train tickets for the sleeper classes are also very reasonable depending on the distance. If you don’t get direct trains from your source city to Puri then you can reach Bhubaneshwar Railway Station.
By Road
Regular buses and private taxis are available from Puri’s nearby cities. You can even come by car.
When you are in Puri, you must try Odia cuisines, especially these delicacies:
Jagannath Puri is one of four destinations of Char Dham Pilgrimage. So, many renowned tour operators in India offer custom-tailored tour packages for Jagannath Puri Yatra. While selecting the one, you must consider.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Our Jagannath Puri travel guide will help you maximize your trip to Puri. You will enjoy and create memories that you will cherish forever. If you are looking for an affordable tour package for Jagannath Puri, you can count on Pilgrimpackages.com.