With a rich heritage dating back to the 3rd century BC, this temple town welcomes pilgrims and tourists alike with spectacular temples and exquisite beaches!  Welcome to Puri, a land of numerous temples shrouded with myths and legends, often better known as the earthly abode of Lord Vishnu or Jagannat.  Puri is one of the four dhams (sacred religious centres) in India, others being Rameswaram, Badrinath and Dwarka and is part of the Eastern Golden Triangle which comprises Puri, Konark and the capital city of Bhubhaneshwar.

The history of Puri dates back to the period when the town was inhabited by the Sabaras, a Pre-Dravidian and Pre-Aryan tribe belonging to the Austro-Asiatic family. During the 7th and 8th centuries, Puri had been a provincial outpost that linked eastern India with the South. Owing to its religious association with Sankaracharya (a Hindu reformer), Puri became one of the new centers for the practice of reformed Hinduism. With the arrival of the Gangas in the 12th century, Puri emerged as one of the centers of Vaishnavism. Anantavarman Chodaganga, one of the powerful rulers of Puri, established the Purusottama temple in 1135 which later came to be known as the Jagannath Temple in the 15th century.

While the Jagannath Temple is clearly one of the biggest tourist attractions this place has to offer, other temples with interesting myths and legends behind them include the Gundicha Ghar Temple, Konark Temple, the Loknath Temple and the Ardhasani Temple.

Situated on the Nilgiri Hills, Jagannath Temple, Puri was established to pay homage to the Lord of the Universe. Even the name of the temple is derived from two different words, ‘jag’ meaning ‘universe’ and ‘nag’ meaning ‘lord’. Legend has it that King Indradyumna who ruled the territory decided to build the temple upon seeing the deity Lord Jagannatha in a dream. Following several difficulties, the temple was built and an old Brahmin agreed to carve the image on a sacred piece of wood but the artisan left the job incomplete since he was disturbed in the middle of his task. The artisan is believed to be Lord Krishna in disguise. This temple is one of the tallest temples in India having a superb architectural skill of the period. The rock-hewn temple has tall shikharas (spires). The pillars that support the building are embellished with scenes from the life of Lord Krishna.

According to popular belief, the Gundicha Ghar Temple another popular temple at Puri is the abode of the aunt of Lord Krishna, who is called Gundicha, thus naming the temple after this mythical figure. According to the myths and legends of Hindu religion, the Gundicha Ghar Temple in Puri is the place where the lord spends as many as 9 days of a year at the time when the festival of Rathyatra is celebrated in the town of Puri.

The ideal time to visit the Ardhasani Temple at Puri is during the celebration of Rath Yatra. It is widely believed by the followers of the Hindu religion that Lord Jagannath halts at this temple of Puri, while coming back from the Gundicha Temple. He comes to this temple to enjoy a special preparation made out of rice, which is termed ‘ poda pitha’.

Paying homage to the mythical figure of Subhadra who is said to have saved Puri from the floods by drinking half the total amount of flood water, is the Ardhasani Temple of Puri.

Last but not the least is the Loknath Temple, which has been put up to pay homage to Lord Shiva. According to popular belief, Lord Rama established the lingam with the help of a pumpkin. Established in the 11th century or the 12th century AD, believers often come here to get a glimpse of Lord Loknath, as it is widely believed that he has the power to cure the common people from all types of problems related to health.

Puri is also known for its numerous maths, each known for their individual character and importance. Some of the most important ones are the Suna Goswami Math, the Jagannath Ballav Math and the Govardhana Math, with the latter being one of the most commonly visited maths in Puri, established around 1000 years ago, by Sankaracarya, one of the most popular religious leaders of Hinduism.

Another region famous in Puri is Swargadwar. Legend has it that if a person breathes his last at this place he gets the privilege of being transported to heaven directly! It is also widely believed that such a person easily attains complete salvation.  It is widely believed by the people belonging to the community of Hindus that a dip in the waters of the sea can help one to attain redemption.

Moving from its legendary temples and maths, another attraction of Puri is the Atharnala Bridge, a tourist attraction that bears testimony to the history of the region. Put up as early as in the 13th century, this bridge was constructed in an effort to develop the transport system for the people there at that time. Situated at the entry point of the town of Puri, other than the historical importance of the structure, visitors to the town also come to view its architectural expertise.

Counted amongst the most beautiful beaches in India situated in the Bay of Bengal, is the Puri beach famous for its spectacular sunrise and sunset. One can also take a dip in its holy waters or swim in the sea, stroll around the sandy beach or engage oneself in any other activity. The best time to visit the beach is in November during the Puri Beach Festival. But if you can’t make it  to this festival, Puri has some other interesting festivals like the Rath Yatra Festival, also known as the Car Festival, which commemorates the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. Other important festivals are the ‘Dol Yatra’ a spring festival, or the ‘Avhisheka’, the coronation ceremony of Lord Jagannath that also marks the beginning of the annual cycle of festivals here and the ‘Kumar Purnima Festival’ celebrated during the month of Aswina, when devotees of Lord Krishna, who is known as Lord Jagannath in Puri and Goddess Lakshmi play dice on the behalf of their titular deities.

For those wanting to take back a part of this mystical place, there’s loads of handicraft that make great souvenirs! From horn work to silver filigree, folk painting to metal ware, silk and cotton handloom, applique work, and lampshades, shopaholics this place surely won’t disappoint you!

Visit this place during its festivals to experience its fascinating culture or its exquisite temples or as legends put it…to secure your place in heaven! This land of numerous temples, shrines and maths will surely fascinate you with its myths and legends.