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Puri is a tremendously popular pilgrimage and family holiday destination in Orissa. This coastal town located on the Bay of Bengal is home to a plethora of temples, ashrams, religious centers, architectural wonders and of course the miles of sea area which are the main tourist attractions in Puri. However, when it comes to Puri tourism it is synonyms with Puri Jagannath. The small town of Puri is home of Lord Jagannath. Myths, legends lie entangled in the temples of Puri Jagannath. Every year thousands of devotees come to Jagannath Puri with full devotion to pay their obeisance. Jagannath Puri Temple: No doubt, this is the prime attraction in Puri. The temple was built by King Indradyumna upon seeing the deity Lord Jagannath in his dream. It took years to build this magnificent. Puri Jagannath temple is one of the four abodes of the divine that lie on the four directions of the compass. Puri Jagannath temple has a huge compound with 6000 direct temple servitors, a temple kitchen which feeds 10,000 people daily, and a central deity who has become the focus of religious life throughout Orissa and other parts of India. The Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrated at a grand level with huge pomp and ceremony. The Rath yatra commensurate the religious journey, Jagannath, Subhadra and Balbhadra are taken out in procession in three raths (chariots). This temple is a living example of superb architectural skill of the past. The peak tourist season in Puri is during the annual Rath yatra (Chariot festival). This annual festival is a fantastic spectacle in Puri and attracts devotees from across the globe. Tourists plan for a holiday in Puri for the Rath Yatra in advance as planning at the last minute is not at all a good idea. Apart from Jagannath Puri temple, there are also other important tourist attractions in Puri, like: Gundicha Temple: The Gundicha Temple built during the 16th - 17th centuries is today one of the important tourist attractions in Puri. Unlike any other temples Orissa, this temple is designed in the shape of a dome with Vishnu's wheel on the top. During the annual Rath Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath stays at this temple for seven days as it is popularly known as his aunt's house. Swargadwar: The place located along the seashore is a sacred place. This is the spot where Sri Chaintanya Mahaprabhu, the Vaishnava prophet merged into the sea and passed away. Devotees come here to take a dip in the sea as it is believed to open the doors to heaven. Other tourist attractions in Puri include: Jagannath Ballav Math, Chaturdham Veda Bhawan, Bedi Mahavir, Ardhasani, Chakra Tirtha, Balighai beach, Puri beach, Satapada Dolphin Sanctuary, Swetaganga, Rohini Kunda, Dasavatara Math and so on. If you have time you can even plan for a visit to Pipli, Raghurajpur and Chilika Lake which are located quite nearby to Jagannath Puri and are definitely worth a visit. When coming for a holiday in Puri Jagannath have ample time in hand to explore the various attractions of Puri and nearby locations.
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