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Story Behind The Yatra

There is a mythological story famous about the Jagannath Puri Rath yarta. Once in Dwarka, queens of lord Krishna asked Mata Rohini to tell them something about Krishna’s Brij lila, Gopi and their affairs.

Mother tried avoiding at first, but on excessive request of queens, she told them. Then, Subhadra was asked to stand at the gates to house and not to let anyone come inside. Coincidentally, lord Krishna and Balram came there. Subhadra followed the orders of Rohini and did not let them go in.

Standing on the doors, all the three of them heard the narration of Brij love affairs. Dev Rish Narad also heard this and requested lord to reside here in the same love form. Lord agreed to the wish of Narad. The temple here has the idols of lord Jagannath, Balram and Subhadra.

These idols don’t have legs, they have shoulders but no hands. And, the idols are made of wood. They are replaced in every 12 years. This Rath Yatra is carried on from the 12th century. This yatra is carried up to the Gundicha temple. On the way, lord is offered Khichdi in the Mausima temple.

How the Festival is Celebrated

The festival begins with the Ratha Prathistha or invoking ceremony in the morning, but the Ratha Tana or chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the festival, which begins in the late afternoon when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhdra start rolling. Each of these carriages have different specifications: The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosa, has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high; the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhvaja has 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high; Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high.

Each year these wooden chariots are constructed anew in accordance with religious specifications. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood and they are religiously replaced by new ones every after 12 years. After a nine-day sojourn of the deities at the country temple amidst festivities, the divine summer vacation gets over and the three return to the city temple of Lord Jagannath.

Built in 1026 A.D. during the reign of King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty, the Sun temple is dedicated to the Sun God. This temple, though ravaged by Mehmud of Gazni, still retains enough of it’s original structure to convey the grandeur of its conception and the superb artistry of execution. Every inch of the edifice, both outside and inside is carved magnificently with motifs of gods and goddesses, birds, beasts and flowers. Modhera is now the site of several dance and cultural festivals. The sun temple and the ambiance here provide a majestic backdrop for the exhibition of performing arts.

Konarak was sacked by the Muslim Yavana army in the 15th century. The central statue enshrined in the temple was smuggled away to Puri by priests, but the Sun Temple was badly damaged in the attack.

Nature took over the destruction from there. Over the centuries, the sea receded, sand engulfed the building and salty breezes eroded the stone. It remained buried under a huge mound of sand until the early 20th century, when restoration began under the British.

British archaeologists uncovered the lower parts of the temple that had remained well preserved beneath the sand and restored what they could of the rest of the ruins. Trees were planted to shelter the temple from the damaging winds and a museum was opened to display whatever sculpture wasn’t left in situ or sent to Delhi, Calcutta and London.

Interesting Places To See

The Konark Sun Temple takes the form of a huge chariot for the sun god Surya, with 12 pairs of stone-carved wheels and a team of seven galloping horses (only one of which survives intact).

The temple also symbolizes the passage of time, which is under the sun god’s control. The seven horses, which pull the sun temple eastwards towards the dawn, represent the days of the week. The 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year and the eight spokes in each wheel symbolize the eight ideal stages of a woman’s day.

The main entrance to the complex is on the eastern (sea-facing) side, in front of the Hall of Offerings (bhogamandapa). This was a later addition to the complex and was likely used for ritual dance performances, as its walls are carved with sculptures of musicians and dancers as well as erotic scenes.

The sanctuary tower was once the centerpiece of the Konark Sun Temple, but today it is no more than a jumble of sandstone slabs off the western wing. The imposing structure with the pyramidal roof that now takes center stage is actually the porch (jagamohana).

The roof of the porch has three tiers covered in statues, mostly musicians and dancers sereneding the sun god during his daily passage through the heavens. Sculptures on the bottom platform include a Shiva Nataraja, performing the cosmic dance. The interior is now blocked up.

Just beyond the porch is a double staircase that leads to a shrine containing a statue of Surya, the sun god. The beautiful image is carved of high-quality green chlorite stone and is one of the masterpieces of Konarak. Surya wears tall riding boots and is accompanied by a small figure of Aruna, the charioteer, at his feet. From here you can climb down into the remains of the inner sanctum, where the deity was originally enshrined.

One of the most pristine beaches of Orissa, this small beach is a splendid retreat for sea worshippers, located about 16-km from Berhampur. Once a humming seaport, Gopalpur offers its visitors a slice of serenity in environs that are conducive to introspection and conviviality.

One can still see the crumbling walls and pillars of the jetty, witness to its past glory of commercial activity. The pleasures of the Blue Beach and the Blue Bay of her backwaters continue to lure the water babies. Gopalpur-on-Sea is a surfer’s delight and excellent for sailing.

Discovery of a Holiday Hideout

Originally, a small fishing village on the coast of Orissa, it was so named when a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna was constructed some time in the 18th century. Apart from its temple, Gopalpur was distinguished for its magnificent beach and was discovered as a perfect winter resort.

The East India Company built huge warehouses and godowns because the trade with Burma had picked up and Gopalpur had become a trading point for rice from Rangoon. In those days, there were dances and parties that continued until the early hours and wealthy Bengalis from Calcutta made it their holiday home.

Sun Temple Konark showcases how the Sun god roams about on his royal chariot. This temple I India is meant to be worshipped by the people from all the sects and from all walks of life, as the Sun God is indispensible in everyone’s life.

Designed and constructed in the form of a pyramid and stretching above like a tower, Konark Sun Temple resembles the structural formation of the temples that can be found in Kalinga. As you take an elaborate view of the Sun Temple at Konark, you get to notice the Audience Hall and some parts of the Dancing as well as the Dining hall. And what you notice while entering the temple is that the face of the temple is in the East-West direction. Adding more to the information about the temple, the area of the Sun Temple of Konark is 857 ft by 540 ft.

Outside the Konark Sun Temple, you come across trees including rosewood, mahogany as well as eel. However, most of the part of the Konark temple came to ruins as a result of Kalaphad’s invasive attack on Odisha (Orissa). This general who had worked under the Sultan of Bengal named Sulaiman Khan Karrani, was a major cause of spoiling the numerous temples built in Odisha (Orissa). Eventually, even today, you come across distorted images as well as uprooted stones from the walls of the temple.

Places To See

The Konark Sun Temple takes the form of a huge chariot for the sun god Surya, with 12 pairs of stone-carved wheels and a team of seven galloping horses (only one of which survives intact).

The temple also symbolizes the passage of time, which is under the sun god’s control. The seven horses, which pull the sun temple eastwards towards the dawn, represent the days of the week. The 12 pairs of wheels represent the 12 months of the year and the eight spokes in each wheel symbolize the eight ideal stages of a woman’s day.The main entrance to the complex is on the eastern (sea-facing) side, in front of the Hall of Offerings (bhogamandapa). This was a later addition to the complex and was likely used for ritual dance performances, as its walls are carved with sculptures of musicians and dancers as well as erotic scenes.

The sanctuary tower was once the centerpiece of the Konark Sun Temple, but today it is no more than a jumble of sandstone slabs off the western wing. The imposing structure with the pyramidal roof that now takes center stage is actually the porch (jagamohana).The roof of the porch has three tiers covered in statues, mostly musicians and dancers sereneding the sun god during his daily passage through the heavens. Sculptures on the bottom platform include a Shiva Nataraja, performing the cosmic dance. The interior is now blocked up.

Just beyond the porch is a double staircase that leads to a shrine containing a statue of Surya, the sun god. The beautiful image is carved of high-quality green chlorite stone and is one of the masterpieces of Konarak. Surya wears tall riding boots and is accompanied by a small figure of Aruna, the charioteer, at his feet. From here you can climb down into the remains of the inner sanctum, where the deity was originally enshrined.

Many tourists from across the country of India visit this town of Orissa to have a glimpse of the tourist attractions of Puri. These tourist destinations of Puri contribute heavily to the tourism industry of Orissa.There are a number of Puri temples, which constitute one of the main attractions at Puri. All these temples are visited by innumerable tourists, particularly by the people who are ardent devotees of the religion of Hinduism.

Some of the most commonly visited temples at Puri are the Jagannath Temple, the Gundicha Ghar Temple, Konark Temple, the Loknath Temple and the Ardhasani Temple. All these temples have their individual identities.There are quite a few maths in this town of Puri. Some of the commonly visited maths of the town are the Suna Goswami Math, the Jagannath Ballav Math and the Govardhana Math.

Apart form the Lord Jagannatha Temple, Rath Yatra is another religious attraction of the city. Held in the month of July, it is a procession of Lord Jagannatha and his siblings from the temple to Gundicha Mandir which is at a distance of 3 km. One more thing that makes tourist visit Puri is the Puri beach festival. With many performances and classical dance shows, it is a perfect representation of culture of Orissa.

Tourist Attractions

Jagannatha Temple

Puri is one of the most sacred cities in India and is called the temple town of Orissa. It is home to the world famous Lord Jagannatha Temple and the Puri beach which are the most visited destination in Orissa. This is also the place where you can be the part of the divine Rath Yatra. Apart from all these, you can also make a day excursion to Konark, which is famous for magnificent Sun Temple.

Chilka Lake

Chilka Lake is definitely the most favored natural attraction in Orissa. Situated southwest to Puri, it is the largest freshwater inland lake in Asia. It covers an area of around 1165 sq. km. Although the size decreases drastically during the dry season and sometimes reaches to 906 sq. km. The lake is located just by the side of Bay of Bengal and is separated by a sandy area. The lake is considered as an important wildlife habitat. Chilka sanctuary is home to more than 150 species of migratory as well as resident birds. You will find most of them on the Nalaban Island which has been recognized as a bird sanctuary. The aquatic life here is also quite varied. There are around 225 species of fish found here along with dolphins.

Puri Beach

Beaches in Puri are probably the best of all that are there on the eastern side of India. Tourists flock to the beach almost throughout the year, but the best time to visit the beach is during the famous Puri Beach Festival which is held early in November. This five day festival is a lot like the Goa festival with fashion shows and Rock concerts continuing throughout the night. There are also classical dance performances. In fact, the Puri Beach Festival turns out to be a perfect mirror of Orissa culture.

Konark Sun Temple

Konark is situated just 35 km from Puri. It is famous for the magnificent Sun Temple which is dedicated to Sun God. Built in 1278 CE by Ganga King Narsimha Deva, the temple became renowned for its architectural supremacy and spectacular carvings. The temple is thought to be the chariot of Sun God. It has 24 wheels around the temple, 7 horses pulling the temple, two lions guarding the entrance. It is situated on the eastern coast and is said to be.

One of the calm and cool seaside resort having a rare phenomenon the sea water here recede and proceed 5km everyday in front of your eyes it go back and come out again. Chandipur beach is backed by the magnificent swing of casuarina trees and brushed sand dunes, make the beach a site to watch.

16 kms from Balasore, Chandipur is a quiet beach resort in orissa. At first sight there seems to be nothing that would differentiate it from rest of the beaches in world except for its flatness that also makes it one of the widest beaches in the entire country. However as time fleets across, one can notice the strangest phenomena of the nature which is peculiar only to Chandipur beach in the world.

As the day progresses, sea water recedes about 5 kms during low tide and advances to the shore line again during high tide in the evening. Elsewhere, the waves dash on the shore shouting madly, but here they are like a musical fountain, soothing to the ears. Elsewhere, the waters wait for the visitors but here the visitors have to wait for the waters. Elsewhere, the waves go wild and the visitors calm but here the ecstasy of tourists on touring orissa will go wild while the waves remain calm.

This marvel of Nature gives the bathers an unexpected pleasure of fearlessly walking into the sea and happily playing with the waves. When the waters disappear, you can even take jeep ride on, the widest beach. The beauty of the exposed bosom of the beach is further enhanced by the small red crabs. If a beach comber, you will be delighted with its abundant wealth of sea shells and drift wood.

How To Reach

Road : Chandipur is well connected by an excellent all-Weather road. 16 km from Balasore on N.H. 5, 230 km from Bhubaneswar and 314 km from Kolkata. Regular bus services are available. Taxis and Auto rickshaws are also available from Balasore.

Rail : Nearest railhead is Balasore (16 km) on the S.E. Railway served by a number of fast trains from Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Puri, Tirupati, Bhubaneswar etc.

Air : Nearest airport is Bhubaneswar (230 km) and Kolkata (314 km).

Puri beach, 60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the most sought after beaches in India and is an indispensable part of the city. The abode of Lord Jagannath attracts millions of tourists round the year who come here to take a holy bath, which they believe is a golden path to Moksha or Eternal salvation. Stretching on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, this beach is crowded with vendors, acrobats, food stalls and merry-go-rounds round the year. The major attraction is obviously the sea. As compared to the western ghats, Puri enjoys a relatively higher amplitude of bustling waves eager to rush and blot out the city. It is true that you cannot resist a leisure walk on the shore on the first day of your visit.

Puri situated on the eastern sea-bed of India, is the only most popular sea-side resort where the beauty of the sky in radiant colours, the roaring waves and the golden beach can be experienced. The long sandy beach draws large numbers of western travellers and Indians. According to Hindu belief, there are five great holy spots(Pancha Tirthas) at Puri out of which sea is the greatest and holiest for tourists and travellers.

Puri sea beach is the best in India. In Mumbai, Goa, Cochin and Chennai as well as other sea beaches, taking bath in sea is a risk due to tides, under current and deepness. But in Puri to take sea bath is a pleasure and enjoyable experience. The beach is very wide and exposed and there’s not a scrap of shade to be found.

Sand Art

If you are lucky, you can even spot a professional artist indulged in making the best sculpture of his lifetime. Although not historically proved, an interesting story regarding the origin of sand sculptures, in the Oriya myth goes as… “Poet Balaram Das, renowned for his famous work Dandi Ramayana, was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Once during the Chariot Festival, he was insulted and was not allowed to climb the chariot. Tormented, he went to the beach and carved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with the golden sand. Thanks to his devotion, the original deities from the chariot vanished and appeared at that place where Balaram Das was worshipping.” Although the legend does not have a strong historical backup, but it is evident that sand art isn’t a new episode, but dates back to 13th century B.C., at the time of Balaram Das and people of Puri are well acquainted with sand sculpture since then.

Numerous people try their hands in this activity while sitting on the shore, enjoying “Jhaalmoori”, burgers and ice candies. One can also find dancing monkeys, fortune tellers and mobile vendors selling fragrance sticks, toys and items made up of sea shells.

With the sea water receding approximately 5 kms during low tide and advancing to the shore during high tide everyday, the Chandipur Beach at Orissa offers a truly unique and captivating sight.

Easily accessible via train, the beach is merely 16 kms from the Balasore Railway Station on Howrah-Madras line of South Eastern Railways.

Watching the sea vanish right in front of your eyes and then observing its return is a very rare site. And to add more to this hide and seek of water, the Casuarina trees and creeper sand dunes seem to be swaying on a melodious musical note. The bbeach is also in close proximity to certain other places of tourist interest namely Remuna, Panchalingeswar, Aradi and Chandaneswar.

The seaside resort of Chandipur, 16 km east of Balasore, is one of Orissa’s finest beaches. The musical sway of the casuarinas trees and creepered white sand dunes add to its seductive beauty. Chandipur is one of the few beaches of the world where the sea recedes up to 5 km daily at low tide and chasing the waves in a jeep, when the sea retreats is unforgettable. When the tide is in, locals trawl for small fish along the coast. The serene and peaceful landscape of Chandipur captivates the visitor.

Easily reachable by auto rickshaw or taxi from Balasore, the accommodation at Chandipur is plentiful. Enjoy your stay at Chandipur Beach, Orissa.