Puri

Puri

The most sacred pilgrim center for Hindus in India, Puri also known as the Jagannath (the Lord of Universe) and is credited with the famous Jagannath temple and is along the coast of Bay of Bengal in the state of Orissa in India. The Hindu mythology contained in the Skanda Purana describes Puri as the resting place of Lord Vishnu. 

Puri is a large depository of art and architecture of India, especially that of Orissa. The historical and cultural edifices have silvery antiquity dating back to 3rd century B.C. to 17th century A.D. Konark, Bhuvaneshwar and Puri complete the golden triangle of Orissa, the three places with majestic history, heritage and many renowned worshipping shrines and of which Puri attracts the maximum number of visitors. 

Major attractions nearby Puri include the Chilka Lake, renowned as the biggest inland salt-water lagoon, Puri beach, Gundicha Ghar and the Chilika Wildlife Sanctuary. Many tourists make it a point to visit other attractions like Temple of Child Krishna at Indradyumna Tank, Markandeswar tank, the Museum and Sudarshan Workshop and Atharnala Bridge. 

The famous Sun temple of Konark is in the close proximity of less than an hour journey. A major celebration in Puri is Rath Yathra (Car/ Chariot festival), conducted in every year. This Car festival, held during June – July period, is associated with the Jagannath temple and during this season many thousands of Hindu Pilgrims throng to Puri to witness the majestic festival. Another festival, which attracts many, is the Puri Beach Festival posting in November of every year. 

Puri is an emerging industrial area with the major industries like rice milling, handicrafts and fish curing. Puri is a religious place and a most wanted holiday attraction. Puri engulfs all cultural heritages of ancient India and traditional Hindu beliefs. With historical temples and sacred rituals, Puri draws all the enthusiast tourists to its lap for a lifetime experience.

History

Puri has a fascinating history that involves mythology and facts in perfect harmony. In the pre historic times, Puri was colonized by the Sabaras, a tribe belonging to the Pre Aryans. Puri has been an important link between the Eastern and Southern India in ancient times. 

According to the works of Huien Tsang Puri was earlier known as Charitra. However, nothing concrete can be said about the fact. Historians are also of the opinion that the name of the city to be Purusottam Kshetra after the famous Purusottum temple, today known as Jagannath Temple, that was built here during the reigns of Choganga Deva. 

Puri gained the status of a religious center during the 12th century after the establishment of the Purusottam temple in 1135. The famous saint Sri Ramanuja is known to have stayed here during 1107 to 1117. The rule of the Ganga dynasty here was one of the most powerful among all. 

Mughals too declared their rule on the city during the 15th century. During their reign the state of Orissa was divided into three revenue collecting circar, wherein Puri was part of the Kataka Circar. 

The history of Puri also suggest invasion by the Afghans who destroyed and reduced the temple to the ruins. The temple was thus restored by the Marathas who ruled here before the city went to the controls of British. During the British rule, the temple was managed by the King of Orissa. 

Tourist attraction in puri

Rath Yatra

Also known as Car Festival, this spectacular Chariot Festival is celebrated in the month of Asadha, on the second day of the lunar fortnight that falls during June-July. Popularly known as Rath Yatra, this festival is celebrated in the honor of Lord Jagannath who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

The celebrated Ratha Yatra Festival is said to have started in the time of Svarochisha Manu of the second manvantara and is predicted to continue until the end of the second half of Lord Brahma's lifetime. Even in the Valmiki Ramayana, it is mentioned that when Lord Rama was getting ready to leave this world, he told Vibhishan, Ravana's younger brother, to worship Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Iksvaku dynasty in His absence.

The Skanda Purana also fixes the date of the Ratha Yatra as the second day of the bright fortnight if the month of Ashadha, a day called Pushyami Nakshatra by astrological calculations. The Padma Purana describes that in Purushottama-Kshetra, or Jagannatha Puri, the supremely blissful Personality of Godhead pretends to be made of wood. In this way, although the Lord takes on what appears to be a material form, it is completely spiritual by the causeless mercy of the Lord for the conditioned souls who cannot perceive the transcendental domain of His.

On the day of the festival, the wooden idols of Krishna, Balrama and Subhadra are taken out in procession in three chariots to their summer temple for a week. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels. The actual construction of the carts begins two months before the festival day, on the third day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha (April-May). 

More than 600 trees, or 400 cubic meters of wood, are needed for the construction, taken from the local forests, along the banks of the Mahanadi River. Using the same simple tools and procedures as they have for the past hundreds of years, once the basic elements are made, such as the wheels, the actual construction begins only a few weeks before the festival.

The ropes of the huge chariots are pulled by millions of devotees. In the ancient times, devotees would occasionally throw themselves in front of the chariot of Sri Jagananath, for it was believed that to be crushed to death under its sixteen wheels was to go straight to heaven. 

Since Sri Jagannath is a form of Vishnu and Sri Krishna, many of the rituals observed in Puri temple are associated with events in the life of Sri Krishna. Thus, this annual Car Festival represents Sri Krishna's Journey from Gokul to Mathura.

Jagannath Temple

Belonging to the 11th century and enjoying the honor of being one of the 'char dhams', the pilgrimage that every Hindu intend to visit; Jagannath Temple is the honor of Puri and Orissa. The holy sight of Lord Jagannath, accompanied by Subhadra and Balabhadra raises loads of joy among the devotees. The two gods and the goddess of the temple are ornamented in accordance with the occasion and seasonal change. The structural design of the temple can be found to be in pyramid shape. 

You would be excited to know that the Jagannath Temple of Puri has a latent legend associated with it. It is believed that in the Krita Yuga, the actual image of the lord had the power of granting 'moksha' to anyone who witnessed it. Yamaraja didn't find this justice. So, he decided to keep the image in some distant and unknown corner of the earth. However, as Dvapar Yuga arrived, the idol that is worshipped today in Jagannath Puri was constructed by Lord Vishnu with the help of wooden logs. And it doesn't make difference in the Lord’s power in spite of having the hands lacking. 

Jagannath Temple in Orissa consists of four entrance gates. They are named as Singhadwara, Ashwadwara, Hathidwara and Vyaghradwara and these names refer to lion, horse, elephant and tiger. Each day, the Lord at the Jagannath Temple is offered 'bhoga' six times and it is dispensed among the worshippers close to Ratnavedi

Gundicha Temple

Gundicha temple got its fame due to the seven days during the Jagannath Rath Yathra. The Idols are kept for one week in this small sanctum known as Gundicha Mandir alias Aunt’s House. This sanctum is built in the middle of a beautiful garden and hence is known as Garden House also. The garden around the temple is attractive and the many devotees reach here during the seven days worshipping (pooja) of idols. This temple is renowned as sacred shrines with devotees believe that visiting this temple during rath yathra period offers them with all good wishes in life

Raghurajpur

Raghurajpur 12Km from Puri on Bhubaneswar road in 203 National highway, near Chandanpur. One has to take a right turn from Chandanpur Bazar by noticing the Orissa Tourism signage to Raghurajpur. famous for pattachitra, Raghurajpur- The artisans village, is a living Museum itself. Every house hold has a painter and can show you lavishly painted, the age old tradition paintings on canvas, skil (tassar) and other varieties like papier mache, masks, stone idols, sculptures, wooden idils and toys and many more. The recently drawn mural paintings on the house walls is a step forward to make impression about survival of the past glory. One can contact any house in this village for the painting. The village ambience is also heart touching. This is a Heritage Craft Village of Orissa. 


Sakhigopal

At a distance of 17 Km from Puri on the national Highway 2003 ahead of chandanpur. Sakhigopal oterwise known as satyabadi is famous for the Shirine of Lord Krishna. Although the temple was built during the 19th century, the legend is very strong. it is said that the krishna image was brought here by King Prataprudra Deva after his victory over Kanchi (South india). The life size image is standing with flute and Radha is also standing on the left side. The images are very beautiful and impressive. The Temple is just like a miniature temple of Lord Jagannath. Sakhigopal is also important as it was one of the educational centres during the 19th and 20th century . The Bakulabana (open air school of early part of 20th century A.D.) is still lying just behind the Sakhigopal Temple. 

Here, also one can visit adjoining areas, those inquistive visitors interested in Temples and rural culture. The area like Biswanath Hill for Biswanath Siva on the top of the Hill, near Delanga which is 10 Km away from Sakhigopal. Their is another village known as Barala (6 Km) famous for Balunkeswar Siva Temple, which has a unique design with sanctum, Jagamohana and Natamndap. The premises have about 25 small shrines which enshires a host of images of Durga, Khshetrapala, Vairabi Annapurna, Ardhanariswara, Damodara, Gopal, Narasimha, Ambika, and Parswanath (jain) images. 

Pipili / Pipli

Futher ahead on the National highway 40 Km from Puri one can reach Pipili again a craft village for Applique work. One can find series of shops decorated with many applique works with bright colours. The varieties are like umbrellas, lamps shades, wall cloths, table covers, sofa covers, children cloths, bad covers and many more. These are prepared by skilled craft persons-perhaps a remnant of Mughal days. people love to see the varieties they even like to purchase the handicrafts. 

From Pipili one can straight way proceed to dhauli, an important historical site famous for Shanti stupa and Asokan Rock Edicts on a Hillock. it is said the famous kalinga war was fought here during 3rd century BC. it is also a Buddhist site and many archaeologist relics are discovered here. it is only 6 Km away from Bhubaneswar. 

Konark

From Puri one can visit the World Heritage Monument- Konark Temple,35 Km on marine drive. One can enjoy the the natural beauty of Marine Drive while driving. On the way there are a few scenic spots with Temple like Beleswar (14Km) and Ramachandi. While driving from Puri you can cross Tosali Sand Resorts, a luxurious hotel, a craft centre for stone images at Chaitana. Approching Konark one can see the beauty of the sea st Chandrabhaga, which is regarded as Tirtha also. Here Sunrise is very beautiful and enchanting. this is 3 Km from konark. 

Now you can enter in the marvels of time and space, the elegant stone house of art and architecture- The Sun Temple of Konark. The entrance ticket may be purchased (Rs 5/- per indians and US $ 5 for foreigners) from ASI ticket Booth. 

Konark in ancient times is a celebrated centre for Sun worship. Konark as Arka Kshetra finds mention in Sambha Puran. Sambha, the son of Srikrishna as the Puranic story goes, worshiped the Sun here and installed the image and got cured from Leprosy. it has a logn tradition of Sun worship interwoven with many legends and stories. 

Satapada on Chilika

Satapada, a lake side resort located on the southeast side of Chilika logoon which is the largest brackish water lake in Asia. 50 Km. from Puri on the road leading to land’s end you find Satapada. 

A finy cluster of seven island ’sata’ meansseven and ”pada’ means village-this is where the lake meets the Bay of Bangal. Chilika covers an area of 1,165 square Kilometers over the district of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam. Chilika is home to more than a hundred species of fish and dolphins. With the onset of winter, birds begin to arrive in Chilika, and within a month, thousands congregation of migration birds in the world after lake Victoria in Africa.