Puri is the spiritual capital of Odisha, known as a religious city filled with noted Temples, Shrines, Mathas, Ashrams, Natural Wonders, Beaches, Architectural splendor and many more things those attracts world over tourists. It is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Sri Jagannatha Dhama after the 12th-century Jagannath Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Puri is loftily included in the list of four Dhams of Hinduism, according to which any pilgrimage tour won't be completed without the visit of Puri temple at last. It is considered to be an important spiritual destination for attaining salvation. Puri is known by several names since the ancient times, and was locally known as "Sri Kshetra" and the Jagannath temple is known as "Badadeula". Apart from Sri Jagannath Temple the city also has many tourist places to divert the visitors such as , Shree Gundicha Temple, Swargadwar Beach, Golden Beach, Chilika Lake, Sakshi Gopal Temple etc.
Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu, this 11th century AD temple is full of excellent carvings and so is a fine specimen of the Kalinga architecture. The temple is spread over 4,00,000 square feet with a 20 feet high wall around. Unlike those found in other Hindu temples, idols of the main deities are carved from wood.
Located at a distance of 1 km from the Sri Jagannath Temple and 3 km from Puri Junction, Markandeshwara Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples in the town of Puri. A visit to this 12th-century temple is one of the most interesting things to do in Puri, Odisha, as it will give you a good insight into the religious structure of the city.
Gundicha TempleGundicha Temple is one of the most renowned and sacred Hindu temples in Puri. It is a commonplace of the festivities during the annual Ratha Yatra. The temple is located right next to the Jagannath Temple and is popularly referred to as “His Aunt’s house”.
Lokanath Temple is an ancient temple located in the Puri town. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the most important Shiva shrines of Odisha. The unique feature of this temple is that the Shiva linga is always submerged with water. It can only be seen on Pankodhar Ekadasi, before Shivaratri, when the water is comparatively clearer.
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. Said to be 200 years older than the famous Jagannath Mandir, don’t forget seeing the lake behind it.
Besides some of the popular temples of the country, Puri has enough spots for those seeking an entertaining experience here. Playing at the Puri Beach can be one of the ultimate fun and frolic things to do in Puri. This pristine beach is located along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Puri, Odisha. Considered as one of the cleanest beaches in India and the most visited beaches along the eastern coast of India, your visit to this beach would be one of the best things to do in Puri Odisha. The renowned artist Sudarshan Patnaik’s sand sculptures are considered to be the highlight of this beach.
Situated at the mouth of the Nuanai River, Balighai Beach is one of the most notable beaches in Odisha that remains relatively undiscovered. This white sand beach is lined by the Alaska and Eucalyptus trees. You can enjoy a magnificent view of sunrise and sunset amidst the dazzling golden hues.
This is one of the most prominent points of interest around the city of Puri. The beach is enveloped within a forest cover, adding an exotic element to it. Travellers make it a point to visit this beach for unlimited fun and entertainment. Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated with great fervour at the temple nearby and is visited by thousands of devotees during the festival.
Chilika Lake is Asia’s biggest inland saltwater lagoon. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India which attracts migratory birds from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia to Ladakh and Himalayas. The lake spread over 1,100 square km and is home to Irrawaddy dolphins.
It goes without saying that consider your trip to Puri incomplete if you skip the visit to Raghurajpur Craft Village, as one of the best things to do at Puri at night is considered to be shopping. Buy the world-famous Pattachitra paintings at prices which are a steal. The paintings are on treated cloth or dried palm leaves or paper. Evenings since late-night remain fun-filled and completely exciting.