Location : Orissa
Best time to Visit : October to March
Dedicated to : Lord Jagannath
About Jagannath Temple
Situated along the shimmering blues of the Bay of Bengal, the state of
Orissa offers the visitors a plethora of attractions including an array of
magnificent temples, sandy beaches, exotic wildlife and a rich cultural
heritage. The state, infact, the whole of south India is best known for its
ancient and medieval temples. While many of the ancient temples have
disappeared over the centuries, the famed temple of Lord Jagannath at
Puri stands proudly displaying glimpses
of its rich and colorful past and present. The temple is one of the most
sacred pilgrimage spots in India so much so that the name Puri has over the
years become synonymous with the Jagannath temple.
Puri is an ancient city enshrining Krishna (Jagannath) in the wooden form
along with Balabhadra (Lord Krishna's brother) and Subhadra (Sister). The
temple of Lord Jagannath is always thronged by visitors and is one of the
most visited religious sites in the country, being frequented by both
devotees and tourists. An interesting legend associated with the temple
states that an image of Lord Jagannath was found under a fig tree which
impressed King Indradyumna so much that he built a structure at the site and
erected the image inside. The wooden images being worshipped are renewed by
the devotees during special occasions.
The Temple
The vast temple complex is spread over an area of 4,00,000 square feet
bordered by a 20 feet high thick wall. The entire complex houses around 120
temples and shrines with its towering shikhar rising to an impressive height
of 192 feet. Architecturally, the temple is divided into four different
parts serving different purposes. The outermost chamber is known as the
bhogmandir a little ahead of which is the Nata Mandir, a pillared hall meant
for dance and music shows, next to which is the Jagamohana, where devotees
gather in large numbers for worship while last is the inner sanctum or the
deul, enshrining the deities.
From the History Books
The present structure of the temple was built by Kalinga ruler Anantavarman
Chodaganga during the 12th century while the work was carried forward by
King Ananga Bhima Deva. The image of Lord Jagannath, it is believed, was
found buried in the Chilka Lake to protect it from invaders. Puri is also
famed as one of the four holy peethas established by Shankaracharya, the
other three being Sringeri in south India, Dwarka in Saurashtra and
Badrinath in the Himalayas. Various religious leaders such as Ramananda of
the 14th century and Ramanuja of the 15th century did much to popularise the
worship of Lord Jagannath.
Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival
While the worship services and festivities continue to be carried out at
the place right throughout the day, there are as many as 24 major festivals
celebrated each year, the most important of these being the rath yatra or
chariot festival held each year during the month of June-July. The
procession involves three gigantic chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath,
Balbhadra and Subhadra, being taken across the streets of the city. The
giant chariots are 35 feet long rising to a height of 45 feet with 16
wheels, each measuring 7 feet in diameter. Thousands of devotees from all
over the planet throng the streets of Puri to witness the festivities with
over 4000 people needed to pull the huge raths to the deity's summer abode,
where the idols are worshipped for an entire week before the whole process
begins again and the deities are brought back to their home at Puri. The
chariots used for the purpose are reconstructed every year.
Advice for Visitors : When visiting the city to witness the rath
yatra, it is advisable to reach the place well before the crowds start to
pour in. Once the crowd starts to gather, head to the beach or other nearby
areas or get to the roof of a nearby building, which may cost you some
money, but the bird's eye view of the procession it affords is well worth
it.
Other Attractions in Puri
Gundicha Temple
Built around the 16th - 17th century, the ancient Gundicha temple is
situated towards the north-east of the Jagannath temple. The site is famed
as Lord Jagannath's summer home and is used to house the lord's statue
during the seven days of the rath yatra after which it is brought back to
the Jagannath temple. The architecture of the temple is unlike other temples
in Orissa having a dome with Vishnu's wheel at the top.
Swargadwar
Swargadwar or the gates of heaven is a place near the sea shore in Puri. A
dip here in the holy waters is believed to open the gates of heaven and
leads a person towards salvation. It is also the place where the Vaishnava
prophet, Mahaprabhu passed away by merging one with the sea.
Other Attractions
Other attractions in Puri include Jagannath Ballav Math, Chaturdham Veda
Bhawan, Bedi Mahavira, Ardhasani, Chakra Tirtha, Dasavatara Math etc. while
nearby excursions from Puri are Pipli, Raghurajpur and Chilka Lake.
Stay At
Puri being a famous tourist and pilgrimage spot boasts of quality
accommodation facilities. Some of the best accommodation options at Puri
include Hotel Shree Hari (located 50 mts from Puri beach, 10 min from
railway station and Jagannath temple), Surya Beach Inn (near the Puri beach,
15 min from railway station and Jagannath temple), Marina Beach Resort (on
the Puri beach, 10 min from railway station and Jagannath temple), Hotel
Holiday Resort (on the Puri beach, 0.5 Km from railway station) and Toshali
Sands Resort.
Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport is located at Bhubaneswar.
Indian Airlines has direct flights to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata, Delhi,
Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. From Bhubaneswar, you can
board a state transport bus or hire a taxi to reach Puri.
By Rail : Puri has its own railway station which connects
it to cities such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Vishakhapatnam while
Bhubaneswar (a 1.5 hour drive from Puri) is also connected to most of the
major Indian cities. Rajdhani Express connects Delhi with Bhubaneswar in a
25 hour journey. For more information on train timings and schedule, refer
to the official website of Indian railways http://www.indianrail.gov.in
By Road : Mini buses run by the state transport
department connect Puri with Bhubaneswar while jeeps are available to and
from Konark. There are two bus terminuses within the city at Baramunda and
opposite Ashok hotel while private buses are also available at the junction
of Grand Road and Hospital Road.
Distance from Major Cities
- Delhi : 1306 Km
- Bhubaneswar : 61 Km
- Calcutta : 397 Km
- Hyderabad : 817 Km
- Mumbai : 1367 Km
- Vishakhapatnam : 354 Km
