Archive for the ‘Puri’ Category
January 19th, 2012 | 
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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.
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.
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.
The most sacred pilgrim center for Hindus in India, Puri also known as the Jagannath (the Lord of Universe) and is credited with the famous Jagannath temple and is along the coast of Bay of Bengal in the state of Orissa in India. The Hindu mythology contained in the Skanda Purana describes Puri as the resting place of Lord Vishnu.
Puri is a large depository of art and architecture of India, especially that of Orissa. The historical and cultural edifices have silvery antiquity dating back to 3rd century B.C. to 17th century A.D. Konark, Bhuvaneshwar and Puri complete the golden triangle of Orissa, the three places with majestic history, heritage and many renowned worshipping shrines and of which Puri attracts the maximum number of visitors.
Lord Jagannath is believed to be the symbol of Universal peace, love and brotherhood and is a manifestation of Lord Krishna. The important annual festival here is the ritual of Rath Yatra, during which thousands of devotees throng to this temple.
Puri is an emerging industrial area with the major industries like rice milling, handicrafts and fish curing. Puri is a religious place and a most wanted holiday attraction. Puri engulfs all cultural heritages of ancient India and traditional Hindu beliefs. With historical temples and sacred rituals, Puri draws all the enthusiast tourists to its lap for a lifetime experience.
Travel within city
Cycle Rickshaw
Cycle rickshaws are prevalent in Puri and these are the locally preferred mode of transport. Cycle rickshaws in Puri can charge you anywhere around Rs 10 to 20, depending on the distance traveled. Cycle rickshaws are quite slow, so opt for cycle rickshaws only if you have ample time in your hands. Cycle rickshaws are also the cheapest mode of transport.
Auto Rickshaw
Auto rickshaws in the city of Puri do not run on meter, and you should negotiate a prior rate before getting into one. Make sure you talk to the locals first and figure out what the actual rate will be, as this will help you avoid paying too much out of your pocket for a short trip. There are no separate night rates included, and travelling through an auto rickshaw is actually very safe. You can also reach your destination faster this way.
Posted in Historical Places In India, Know India, Orissa, Puri, Religious Places In India | 
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Konark Beach
Konark is the world famous site of the most exquisite Sun temple one can ever come across. The sqrawling beach at Konark is rated as one of the finest in the world. With a long stretch of clean sands and cool blue sea making rapids in rolling waves, the beach has its own lovely serenity.
Konark beach is calmer than the Puri beach, which tends to get very rough. However, the waters tend to be trickier – even strong swimmers need to be wary. The immense backdrop of the Sun Temple looks breathtaking when illuminated in the evening. Three kilometres away from the temple, you can either walk down or hire a bicycle or cycle-rickshaw to reach the beach. A walk along the beach is a pleasant exp
The long expansive coastline of Orissa houses the lively Puri beach with scintillating surf and rustic sands. Puri is an important pilgrimage centre, where thousands of devotees of Lord Jagannath gather every year for a sacred dip in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. However, the beauty of the beach invites many tourists and beach lovers to enjoy the pulsating sea and the golden sands.
The wide sprawling sands of the coast make the Puri beach ideal for beach sports. Swimming and water sports in the blue waters is recommended only if accompanied by a life guard, as the sea can be rough at times. The crowd at the beach consists of an amalgam of tourists, pilgrims and local fishermen. Fishermen with their catamarans and wide brimmed hats may offer curious tourists a ride on their boats.
An important event on the beach is the Puri Beach Festival, which is a celebration of Orissa’s arts and crafts and is a fun-lover’s fest. Held on the picturesque beach the festival stages events ranging from rock shows to fashion shows and different classical and folk dances of India along with a display of handicrafts, handlooms, cuisines and sand art. The festival never fails to delight locals and visitors alike, who overwhelmed by its charm can’t wait for the event to occur again the next year.
Other than the beach the important tourist attractions near it include the Lord Jagannath Temple and the chariot shaped Sun Temple at Konark, which stands around 35 kms. from Puri.
The Puri beach is located in the south-eastern state of Orissa facing the Bay of Bengal. It lies around 60 kms. from the capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar.