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.
» How
to reach Puri
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..
