14 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Puri

At a distance of 2.5 km from Puri Junction, Jagannath Temple is a sacred temple situated in the heart of Puri town in Orissa. It is the most revered pilgrimage site for Hindus as it is included in the pious Char Dham Yatra with Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram. This world famous temple is one of prime places to visit in Puri.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu and is one of the major Hindu Temples in India. The present temple was built by Anantavarman Chodaganga (1077 - 1150 CE) of Eastern Ganga dynasty, replacing an earlier structure which probably dated to the 10th century CE. Later, King Ananga Bhima Deva II (1170-1198) did much to continue the work of Chodaganga Deva, building the walls around the temple and many of the other shrines on the temple grounds.

The temple structure is full of excellent carvings and is a fine specimen of Kalinga style of architecture. Spread over an area of 4, 00,000 square feet with 20 feet high fortified wall, .....

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At a distance of 2 km from Jagannath Temple and 2.5 km from Puri Junction, Puri Beach is a pristine sea beach located along the coast of Bay of Bengal in Puri, Odisha. It is considered as one of the cleanest beaches in India and also one of the best Puri Tourist Places.

Known for its fine white sands and crystal clear waters, Puri Beach is quite famous for its peaceful and calm surroundings. The beach has continued to be a sacred venue and is visited by an endless number of pilgrims for a purification dip who come to Puri to pay their homage to Lord Jagannath. The long white sandy beach draws large numbers of foreigners and Indians. Visitors can take a stroll, browse pearls and seashell souvenirs sold by local vendors.

The beach is also famous for the sand sculptures made by internationally known sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik. The subjects are generally inspired by sculptures covering the temple walls, characters and episodes from the mythology and also the contemporary events. .....

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At a distance of 1.5 km from Puri Junction and 3 km from Sri Jagannath Temple, Gundicha Temple is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Puri. Gundicha Temple is a common place of the festivities during the annual Ratha Yatra and is also one of the most famous places to visit in Puri.

The Gundicha Ghar was built by the Gundicha Maharani, the queen of King Indradyumna the founder of the 1st Jagannath Temple. The temple is located right next to the Jagannath Temple and is popularly referred to as His aunt's house because when the Rath Yatra festival takes place, Lord Jagannath is shifted to the Gundicha Temple for seven days. It is also known as Garden House of Lord Jagannath as it is located in the middle of a beautiful garden.

Gundicha Temple has some interesting legends related to it. According to one legend, Gundicha, the queen of the King Indradyumna, was a great devotee of Lord Jagannatha. Because of her deep devotion, Lord Jagannath promises her to come to her house .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Jagannath Temple and 2.5 km from Puri Junction, Narendra Tank or Narendra Pokhari is a holy tank situated at Mauza Dandimala Sahi in Puri. This is one of the largest tanks in Orissa and also one of the must visit places in Puri.

The tank was built in 15th century AD by Narendra Dev, who shouldered the responsibility of the kingdom with Purushottama. The tank is spread over a vast area, which features an island in the middle, housing a small temple called Chandana Mandapa which is connected to the southern bank with a bridge. This tank is considered holy and has a lot of small and big temples surrounding it. The water level of the tank is 10 feet below the present road level. The tank covers 16 ghats which provide an opportunity for the pilgrims to have a holy bath. The main ghat has a flight of steps made up of Khondalite.

Also known as Chandana Pushkarini, this is the holy tank in which the famed Chandana Yatra of Lord Jagannath celebrated annually. .....

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At a distance of 8 km for Puri, Balghai Beach is a pristine beach along the cost of Bay of Bengal on Puri - Konark Marine Drive Road in Odisha. Situated at the mouth of Nuanai River, Balghai Beach is one of the most notable beaches in Odisha and is relatively undiscovered.

This white sandy beach is ringed by casuarina trees, Alaska and Eucalyptus trees. The beach is completely standalone out of the crowd that attracts lots of tourists who are craving for some relaxing quite time. The magnificent view of Sunrise and Sunset from the beach amidst dazzling golden hues is an unforgettable experience for everyone who comes here from far off places.

Olive Ridley Turtles visit the beach during December and January to lay eggs and many migratory birds can be seen during winter months. Here boat riding, water skiing and parasailing facilities are available for tourists. Visitors can also visit the Balihirana Deer Sanctuary where one can spot the endangered Balihirana antelope and Indian .....

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At a distance of 2 km from Puri Junction, Sudarshan Craft Museum is located at station road in Puri. It is one of the best places to visit in Puri for art lovers.

The Sudarshan Craft Museum was started in the year 1977 by Shri Sudarhsan Sahoo. The museum exhibits great collection of artistic works done by Sudarshan Sahoo like carvings in wood, stone and fiber glass, handicraft items and also fine paintings. Within the premises of museum, one can witness a Buddhist temple built in a Japanese style, a library and a workshop.

This museum is a must visit place for art lovers as it gives a very enriching and knowledgeable experience to visitors. The items kept on display are rare works of art and are the gems of tradition and culture of the nation. The museum has metal figurines, stone carvings too for sale. The museum provides a platform for budding artists to showcase their talent to the world.

Timings: 8 AM - 12 PM & 2 PM - 8 PM, Closed on Saturdays & Sundays

Entry .....

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At a distance of 22 km from Puri, Alarnatha Temple is an ancient temple located in Brahmagiri near Puri. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this is one of the famous temples of Lord Vishnu in Odisha and also one of the must visit places in Puri.

The present temple of Lord Alarnatha is said to be two hundred years older than the Jagannatha Temple in Puri. The temple is not a big tourist destination but a famous religious place for all Krishna devotees. Legend says that Lord Brahma came and worshipped Lord Vishnu here on top of a hill. According to history, the rulers of Alwar in Rajasthan had established the temple here. The temple was later known as Alwarnath or Alarnath.

The temple is associated with the visit of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Orissa. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay in Puri used to see Lord Jagannath daily. During Anavasara period when Lord and his siblings were taken to the secret chamber for 15 days, he was unable to see his dear Lord. So as per the legend lord directed .....

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At a distance of 2 km from Sri Jagannath Temple and 4.5 km from Puri Junction, Lokanath Temple is an ancient temple located in the town of Puri. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the most important Shiva shrines of Odisha and also one of the popular places to visit in Puri.

The presiding deity of this 11th century temple is Lord Lokanath in the form of lingam. According to history, the lingam in this temple was established by Lord Rama. While Lord Rama on his way to Sri Lanka for searching Sita reached Puri and sat with a vow to see Shiva here. At that time, there was a village named Sabarapalli nearby presented him a Lau or Lauka (Pumpkin) looking like a Shiva linga. Lord Rama installed that as a replica of Siva linga at that place and prayed Shiva to fulfill his desire. Thus the temple is called Laukanatha and later named as Lokanath Temple.

The unique feature of the temple is the Shiva linga is always submerged with water which substantiates the legend that Goddess Ganga .....

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At a distance of 1 km from Sri Jagannath Temple and 3 km from Puri Junction, Markandeshwara Temple is one of the famous Hindu temples in Puri town of Odisha. The temple is situated on Markandeshwar Street adjacent to Markandeshwar tank to the north of the Jagannath Temple. This is one of the Pancha Tirthas of Puri and also one of the fifty two sacred Shiva places in India.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be from Ganga dynasty dating back to 12th century. According to the mythology, sage Markandeya was saved by Lord Shiva from a great danger. Sage Markandeya erected a Shiva temple out of dedication. Also known as Markandeya Shiva Temple and Markandeshwara Mahadeva Temple, the temple is connected with the rituals of Chandan Yatra, Balabhadra Janma, Ashram Bije, Sital Sasthi, Kaliyadalan etc. of the Jagannath Temple.

Markandeya tank is an open structure and it enclosed within a stone wall made of laterite blocks. The tank is presently used for rituals .....

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At a distance of 1.5 km from Puri Junction and 3 km from Jagannath Temple, Bedi Hanuman Temple is a small sea side temple situated to the west of Chakra Narayan Temple in Puri. Known as Daria Mahavir Temple, it is one of the famous temples in Puri.

The temple is dedicated Lord Hanuman. On local language, 'Daria' Means Sea and Mahavir is another name of Lord Hanuman. The temple has an interesting story behind the name 'Bedi Hanuman'. It is believed that Daria Mahavir protects Puri against the fury of the sea. But when the Jagannath Temple was built, Varuna, the God of the Sea, able to came to the Jagannath temple to pay his respects.

In the meantime sea water entered the city, causing considerable damage to the temple. The devotees prayed to Lord Jagannath who asked Hanuman to explain how the sea entered the city in his presence. Lord Hanuman told that he was not present at that time and was left for Ayodhya without informing him. On hearing about Lord Hanuman's unscheduled .....

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At a distance of 44 km from Puri, Chilika Lake is Asia's biggest inland salt water lagoon situated near Satapada in Odisha. Located at the mouth of the Daya River, Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and also the second largest salt water lagoon in the world after the New Caledonian barrier reef in New Caledonia.

The lake is studded with small islands including the most charming Honeymoon Island and the Breakfast Island. Spreads across 1,100 sq. km, the pear shaped lake extends from Bhusandpur in Puri district in the North to Rambha-Malud in Ganjam district in the South, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a 60 km long narrow strip of marshy islands and sand-flats. The lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands. In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The lake also acts as one of the .....

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At a distance of 17 km from Puri and 25 km from Konark, Beleswar Beach is a serene beach situated at Beleswar in Puri district of Orissa. Also known as Baleshwar Beach, this place is one of the striking beaches in Odisha and also one of the popular places to visit in Puri.

The beach is located at the mouth of Nuanai River and the sight of the river draining into Bay of Bengal is spectacular. The beach and the forest cover that stretches all along the beach provides a good place to relax. Sunbathing, swimming and water sports are popular ways to spend time on the beach. Watching the sunrise and sunset is a popular tourist activity.

The Baleshwar Beach is renowned for its Shaivite shrine and also holds religious significance for the followers of Lord Shiva. The Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated with great fervor at the temple and is visited by thousands of devotees during the festival.

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At a distance of 11 km from Puri Bus Station, Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village in Puri district of Odisha. Raghurajpur is known for its world famous Pattachitra paintings and is one of the must visit places in Puri.

Raghurajpur was recognized as Odisha's first heritage craft village in 2000. The village is famous for its master Pattachitra painters and Gotipua dance troupes. The village is inhabited by artisans producing sheer poetry on pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaf or paper. This style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha. This is also the birthplace of legendary Odissi dancer Kelucharan Mohapatra.

The main village of Raghurajpur, located in the vicinity of coconut groves, palm, mango and jack fruit, is mostly decorated with mural paintings, and offers beautiful natural surroundings. Besides, the region also creates the crafts like Tussar paintings, palm leaf engravings, stone and wood carvings, wooden, cow dung and papier .....

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At a distance of 38 km from Puri, Pipili or Pipli is a town and a NAC under jurisdiction of Puri district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is famous for appliqué work locally known as Chandua which is considered as the traditional art form of Orissa.

The village of Pipli was set up for accommodating the craftsmen of Orissa. Initially, the craftsmen only made banners, umbrellas and canopies for the festive occasions, but with the popularity of the art, the artisans started making many items of utility. Pipli is a town of artisans famous for their colorful fabrics. The applique work of Pipili is probably most well-known handicraft in Puri and surrounding areas.

The craft involves embroidering and stitching of small pieces of colored cloth with flowers, animals, village scene and traditional designs on to a larger base cloth. The cloth used for patch as well as base is cotton with different color combinations. The usual appliqué patchwork items are Garden Umbrellas, Wallets, .....

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