Jagannath puri and Jagannath Temple or jagannath puri orissa tourism attractions

Location: Puri

Dedicated To: Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna)

Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. The credit for laying the foundation of the Jagannath temple of Puri goes to Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev. The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and is greatly revered by the devotees following the Vaishnava traditions.

There is an interesting legend associated with the Jagannatha temple of Puri. It is said that King Indradyumna, the ruler of the territory, saw Lord Jagannath in his dreams and following the Lord's wishes, as told to him in his dreams, he got the Jagannath Puri Temple constructed. Situated in the heart of the holy city, the temple is visited by devotees from farthest corners of India as well as the world. It exudes splendor and its tall spires lend it a magnificent aura. The walls are embellished with exquisite carvings. 

The pillars that provide support to the temple are adorned with pictures depicting the life of Lord Krishna. In the list of the most splendid monuments of Orissa, Jagannath temple occupies a supreme position. One of the most popular attractions of the Jagannatha Temple of Puri comprises of its Rath Yatra that is organized every year. It is basically a chariot festival, where idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the main deities of Srimandir, are taken to the Gundicha temple in bejeweled chariots and are brought back to the mandir in the same way.

Orissa History

The original inhabitants of Orissa were the native tribal groups, namely, the Buiyas and Gonds. The origin and history of the state can be traced back to the ancient times, when it was known by different names like Kalinga, Utkal and Odra. During those times, the territory of Orissa was far beyond than what it is today. During the era of the Mahabharata, Kalinga, Odra and Utkal emerged as dominant kingdoms.

The political history of Orissa began with the rule of emperor Nanda of Magadha. Later on, when Chandragupta Maurya defeated Nanda, his empire did not include Kalinga. Kalinga was captured by Asoka, which was a major event of the bygone times. The battle of Kalinga had far reaching consequences. It brought about a revolutionary change in the personality of Emperor Asoka, which in turn changed the very course of Buddhism in India.

The second century A.D. witnessed the strong rule of Kharavela. In the 4th century A.D., the Gupta Empire took over the state. It was followed by the Bhaumakara dynasty, which was later overthrown by the Soma dynasty. The thirteenth and fourteenth century was the period of Muslims Sultanate, which continued till the year 1568. Thereafter, Orissa witnessed the rule of the Mughals.

It came to an end with the death of the last Mughal Emperor, named Aurangzeb. The throne was then taken over by the Nawab of Bengal, who was compelled to surrender Orissa to the Marathas. The rule of Marathas continued till the British conquered the state in 1803. Later in the year 1949, Orissa got an independent status and this is how the present state came into existence.

Orissa Beaches

The crystal clear waters of the Orissa beaches take you into the beautiful world of fantasy. The whole atmosphere out there is so serene that it will make you feel as if you are in the paradise. Amongst the most popular beaches of Orissa is the Gopalpur-on-Sea Beach, which is situated along the Bay of Bengal, in a small town of Gopalpur. It is also one of the most popular beach resorts in Orissa. Then, there is the Puri Beach, which is equally famous. Thousands of people come here to enjoy the cool breeze and swim in the blue waters.

Gopalpur on Sea
If you want to have a break from the hustle bustle of city life, then Gopalpur-on-Sea Beach is just the apt place for you. Lying at a distance of 16 km from Berhampur, this lovely beach provides a breathtaking view. More

Konark Beach
Konark Beach is one of the most fabulous tourist attractions of Orissa. It is located at a distance of three km from the famous Sun temple of Konark. The view of sunrise from the beach is so enchanting that it cannot be described in mere words. More
Swargadwar Beach
Swargadwar Beach is one of the most sought after tourist attractions in Puri. It falls into the category of must visit sightseeing places of the city. The place has a lot of religious significance for people, as it was the bathing place of Sri Chaitanyadev, a renowned Vaishnava prophet. More
Puri Beach
The holy city of Puri is one of the most revered pilgrim destinations in India. It is situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal and is therefore, home to some of the finest beaches of Orissa. More

Orissa Temples

Orissa is one of the most visited states of India, which is known, mainly, for its splendid temples. A tour of the various temples of the state enables one to explore many interesting aspects of the Hindu religion. People come from all over India as well as the world to visit the temples. Out of these, the two most prominent as well as mot revered ones are that of Long Jagannath and Lingaraj (Lord Shiva). In this section, we have covered almost all the important temples of Orissa.
Lingaraj Temple
Lingaraj temple is one of the most popular temples of Orissa. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as 'Lingaraj'. It is adorned with beautiful sculptures, which have been carved on the spire. More

Mukteshwar TempleMukteshwar temple, one of the most prominent temples of Bhubaneswar, has been constructed in the style that is quite similar to the one used in the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture. More
Rajarani Temple
Rajarani temple is one of the most renowned temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. It is made from the wonderful red and gold sandstone, which is locally known as Rajarani and this is what gives the temple its name of 'Raja Rani'. More

Gundicha Temple
Gundicha temple is one of the most renowned temples in Puri, located on the northeastern side of the Jagannath temple. The origin of the temple can be traced back to the sixteenth century. More

Jagannath Temple
Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. More
Ramachandi Temple
Located towards the southwest of Sun Temple, is the Ramachandi temple. It has been named after Goddess Ramachandi. However, there is lot of confusion over the presiding deity of the temple. More
Sun Temple
Sun temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Konark. The credit for constructing this 13th century old shrine, dedicated to Sun God, goes to Raja Narsimhadeva of the Ganga dynasty. More

Huma Temple
Huma temple, situated near Sambhalpur, was established in the year 1670. It is believed that the temple was built by the King Baliar Singh, the fifth king of the Chauhan dynasty of Sambalpur. More

Puri Tourism

Orissa, connecting with Konark and Bhubaneswar.

The city of Puri is known for its historic immemorial, sanctorum, architectural magnificence, balanced climate and divine significance. Counted among the most sacred pilgrim centres for Hindus in India, the destination is a seat of Lord of Universe, Jagannath, as per testimony of Skanda Purana. Honoured with the famous Jagannath shrine, the spiritual city is also known as Jagannath Puri. Positioned along the coast of Bay of Bengal, the city is one of the frequented tourist destinations in India.

All the cities of the triangular axis have well-known pilgrimage venues, exotic landscapes, beaches, historical sites that attract travellers throughout the year. Besides, the destination is a repository of art and architecture of India with testaments dating back to 3rd century B.C. This ancient town has ruins and testaments belonging to the period from 3rd century B.C. to 17th century A.D.

The spiritual city attracts devotees along with tourists from around the world for witnessing attractions like Temple of Child Krishna at Indradyumna Tank, Atharnala Bridge and Sudarshan Crafts Museum. The city also has the famous Sun Temple of Konark. 

One of the major highlights of the city is Rath Yatra (Car or Chariot festival), which is hosted every year in the city. Puri Rath Yatra 2012 starts on 21st June at Jaganath Temple, Puri, Orissa. The festival marks the journey of Krishna known as Jaganath in this region, from Gokul to Mathura. Three huge chariots carrying the idols of Jaganath, his brother Balbadra, and his sister Subhadra are pulled along the streets from the Jaganath temple to the temple of Gundicha Mandir. On the ninth day, Rath Yatra is repeated in the opposite direction. Pilgrims and tourists throng to the destination to cherish the international event besides an annual Puri Beach Festival held in the month of November. 

The coastal city gained fame after Chodaganga Deva who built the temple of Purusottama Jagannath after winning a war. Over the years, association with Lord Rama, influenced renaming of city to Purusottama Kshetra, also known as Purusottama Puri, which exists as Puri at present.

Among well-known attractions in and around, Puri features Chilka Lake, a large inland salt-water lake, Puri Beach, Gundicha Ghar and the Childlike Wildlife Sanctuary. Over the years, the coastal city has emerged as an industrial centre with major industries like rice milling, handicrafts and fish curing. 

The pleasant weather of the coastal city all round the year makes it an ideal destination for the travellers. With mild summers and cool winters, October to March is considered the best time to visit Puri.