Puri
| Puri | |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Jagannath Puri, Shrikshetra, Holy City of Jagannath |
| State | Odisha |
| Country | India |
| District | Puri |
| Official Language | Odia |
| Famous For | Jagannath Temple, Rath Yatra, Puri Beach |
| Status | One of the Four Sacred Dhams of Hinduism |
Puri, also known as Jagannath Puri or Shrikshetra, is a sacred coastal city located in Odisha, India, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the four sacred dhams of Hinduism — along with Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram — and is home to the magnificent Jagannath Temple, one of the most revered Hindu shrines in the world. Puri is also world-famous for the annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) of Lord Jagannath — one of the largest and most spectacular religious gatherings on earth, attracting millions of devotees from across India and the world every year.
History
Puri has an ancient and sacred history spanning thousands of years. The city is mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures and has been a major centre of Vaishnavite devotion since ancient times. The Jagannath Temple was originally built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 12th century and has since been one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in India.
The city has been visited by countless saints, philosophers and devotees throughout history, including Adi Shankaracharya — who established one of his four sacred mathas (monasteries) here — and the great Vaishnava saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who spent the last 24 years of his life in Puri in devotion to Lord Jagannath.
During the medieval period, Puri was an important centre of Odia culture and art. The city came under British control in the early 19th century and was integrated into independent India in 1947.
Jagannath Temple
The Jagannath Temple is the most sacred and iconic landmark of Puri. Dedicated to Lord Jagannath — a form of Lord Vishnu or Krishna — the temple is one of the largest temple complexes in India, covering an area of over 10 acres. The main tower (deula) rises to a height of approximately 65 metres and is visible from a great distance.
The temple is famous for its unique tradition of the Mahaprasad — the sacred food offered to Lord Jagannath and distributed to all devotees regardless of caste, creed or religion — making it one of the earliest and most powerful expressions of social equality in Indian religious tradition.
The temple also houses the famous Navagraha Deula and the sacred Rohini Kunda and is surrounded by numerous smaller shrines and mandapas within its vast complex.
Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) of Lord Jagannath is one of the most famous and ancient religious festivals in the world. Held annually in June or July on the second day of the bright half of the month of Ashadha, the festival involves the procession of three massive wooden chariots — for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra — drawn by thousands of devotees along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, a distance of approximately 3 kilometres.
The Rath Yatra attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists from across India and the world. The English word juggernaut — meaning an unstoppable force — is derived from the name Jagannath, a reference to the massive and irresistible momentum of the Rath Yatra chariots.
Geography
Puri is located on the eastern coast of Odisha, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 60 kilometres south of Bhubaneswar. The city is situated at the southern end of a narrow strip of land between the sea and the Chilika Lake. The famous Puri Beach stretches along the eastern edge of the city.
Tourism
Puri is one of the most visited pilgrimage and tourist destinations in eastern India:
- Jagannath Temple — The most sacred shrine in Puri and one of the four dhams of Hinduism
- Puri Beach — A long and scenic beach along the Bay of Bengal, one of the most popular beaches in eastern India
- Gundicha Temple — The garden house of Lord Jagannath, the destination of the Rath Yatra procession
- Lokanath Temple — An ancient Shiva temple in Puri
- Chilika Lake — Asia's largest coastal lagoon, located near Puri, famous for the Irrawaddy dolphin and migratory birds
- Konark Sun Temple — A UNESCO World Heritage Site located approximately 35 kilometres from Puri
- Raghurajpur Craft Village — A heritage crafts village near Puri, known for Pattachitra paintings and traditional Odia crafts
Culture
Puri is a deeply spiritual city with a vibrant cultural life rooted in the Jagannath tradition. The city follows the Panchasakha tradition of Odia Vaishnavism and is home to several important mathas (monasteries) and akharas (wrestling schools) associated with the Jagannath Temple.
The city hosts numerous festivals throughout the year including the Snana Yatra (bathing festival), Chandan Yatra and the Kartika Purnima festival. Puri is also a centre for traditional Odia cuisine, with the Mahaprasad of the Jagannath Temple being one of the most sacred and distinctive food traditions in India.
Transport
Puri has good transport connectivity:
- Puri Railway Station — Connected to major cities across India via the Indian Railways East Coast Railway network
- Roads — Well connected by national and state highways to Bhubaneswar, Konark and Cuttack
- Nearest Airport — Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (approximately 60 km)