Lord of The Universe: Jagannath Puri
Puri in Odisha is one of the four must-visit pilgrimage sites for Hindus because of Jagannath Temple that forms the part of Char Dham in India. Puri is a beach city located on the coast of Bay of Bengal which is one of the favorites among people of West Bengal for a short trip.
Located in the sacred town of Puri, the Jagannath Temple or the pride of India was built in the 11th century by King Indradyumna. This glorious temple is the abode of Lord Jagannath who is a form of Lord Vishnu. It is the most revered pilgrimage site for Hindus and is included in the pious Char Dham Yatra with Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram. Apart from the main shrine that rises high, many minor temples within the complex will make you feel like you have entered God’s home itself.
The best time to visit Puri is between October to February. During these months, the weather is pleasant and cool, with an average temperature ranging between 16-28 degrees Celsius.
Puri is still a popular destination among backpackers, however, the availability of bhang is now limited. With a plethora of hotels and home stays, the local tourists like to stay near the New Marine Drive and the backpackers prefer to stay near Chakra Tirtha. The Rath Yatra (chariot festival) which takes place during the month of June-July should not be missed if you are planning to visit during this time.
The splendid Oriya architecture of the Jagannath Puri Temple is an icing on the cake. The four gates are beautifully designed with intricate carvings. The scrumptious Mahaprasad of the temple is something you should not miss. In one of the largest kitchens of India, the lip-smacking food is cooked in earthen pots for thousands every day and offered to devotees. The vibrant religious festivals of the town allures tourists in large numbers. The most awaited of them is the Rath Yatra celebrated with immense gusto. The colourful ambience, interesting rituals, vim and vigour of the pilgrims is worth witnessing.
Although Puri does not have its own air base, the nearest airport is at Bhubaneshwar and is only at a distance of 68 Km.
Puri Swargadwar
Swargadwar is the creamation ground of Hindus. ‘Swarga’ means heaven and ‘dwar’ means gateway, so literary Swargadwar is consider as the ‘Gateway to Heaven’. General belief support the idea among Hindus to end their life in this holy place of Puri to get the accessibility to heaven for liberating their Soul and ultimately Salvation. Purusottam Kshetra Puri has been accepted as the ‘Martya Vaikuntha’, where Lord Vishnu stays as Jagannath in the Bada deula, the great Temple.
