Odisha ·
Puri
Puri, also known as Jagannath Puri (the Abode of Lord Jagannath) or Purushottama Puri, is a seaside pilgrimage town in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a major tourist destination with the famous temple of Lord Jagannath (means Lord of the World) and a very long beach offering beautiful and pleasant sights.
Puri at a Glance
Why Puri?
The highlights, landmarks and experiences that make this destination worth visiting.
- Gundicha Temple
- Vimala Temple
- Puri Beach
- Markandeshwar Temple
- Bata Mangala Temple
- Alamchandi Temple
Puri at a Glance
Essential travel information to understand Puri before planning your visit.
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Explore Puri
Places to Visit
- Gundicha Temple: Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri.
- Vimala Temple: The Vimala temple or Mãā Bimåḷā Deuḷå is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala, located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is generally regarded as a Shakta pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.
- Puri Beach: Puri Beach or the Golden beach is a beach in the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal.
- Markandeshwar Temple: Markandeshwar Temple is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on lord Shiva. He saw a small child on a banyan leaf floating on the sea and wondered upon.
- Bata Mangala Temple: Bata Mangala Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mangala. The temple is located 7 km away from the Hindu Holy town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India.
- Alamchandi Temple: Alamchandi Temple is one of the Shakta shrines of Puri and is located in the Kumbharapara area near Atharanala Bridge of the Puri. Skanda Purana has made a reference to Goddess Alamchandi residing in the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri to protect the Ratnavedi.
Things to Do
- Puri Beach: The 8-km long beach of Puri is ideal for surfing and cool for a dip. The beach is covered in golden sand.
- Puri–Konark Marine Drive: This road is in superb condition. It is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers flow into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road.
- Swargadwar: Literally, "the gateway to heaven", Swargadwar is the site of the cremation of almost all famous Odia people. There are good hotels and restaurants near the crematorium.
- Puri Light House: Great views of the sea along with the town of Puri.
- Netaji Museum, Puri: Located in the ancestral home of Netaji. Displays an impressive collection of rare photographs, handwritten letters, journals, and personal artifacts.
- Mahatma Gandhi Park: A park by the beach, complete with a lotus pond and ornamental plants. IFamily friendly place with toy train and other activitires for kids.
Sightseeing Places
- Gundicha Temple: Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri.
- Vimala Temple: The Vimala temple or Mãā Bimåḷā Deuḷå is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala, located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is generally regarded as a Shakta pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.
- Puri Beach: Puri Beach or the Golden beach is a beach in the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal.
- Markandeshwar Temple: Markandeshwar Temple is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on lord Shiva. He saw a small child on a banyan leaf floating on the sea and wondered upon.
- Bata Mangala Temple: Bata Mangala Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mangala. The temple is located 7 km away from the Hindu Holy town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India.
- Alamchandi Temple: Alamchandi Temple is one of the Shakta shrines of Puri and is located in the Kumbharapara area near Atharanala Bridge of the Puri. Skanda Purana has made a reference to Goddess Alamchandi residing in the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri to protect the Ratnavedi.
Temples
- Gundicha Temple: Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri.
- Vimala Temple: The Vimala temple or Mãā Bimåḷā Deuḷå is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala, located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is generally regarded as a Shakta pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.
- Markandeshwar Temple: Markandeshwar Temple is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on lord Shiva. He saw a small child on a banyan leaf floating on the sea and wondered upon.
- Bata Mangala Temple: Bata Mangala Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mangala. The temple is located 7 km away from the Hindu Holy town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India.
- Alamchandi Temple: Alamchandi Temple is one of the Shakta shrines of Puri and is located in the Kumbharapara area near Atharanala Bridge of the Puri. Skanda Purana has made a reference to Goddess Alamchandi residing in the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri to protect the Ratnavedi.
- Lokanatha Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is said to be the place where Lord Shiva hid himself from Shani, under a pond. The Shivalinga here is partially submerged and the pond is teeming with fish.
Places That Define Puri
Explore the most iconic landmarks and sacred sites.
Gundicha Temple
Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri.
Vimala Temple
The Vimala temple or Mãā Bimåḷā Deuḷå is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala, located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is generally regarded as a Shakta pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.
Puri Beach
Puri Beach or the Golden beach is a beach in the city of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is on the shore of the Bay of Bengal.
Markandeshwar Temple
Markandeshwar Temple is a place where sage Markandeya meditated on lord Shiva. He saw a small child on a banyan leaf floating on the sea and wondered upon.
Bata Mangala Temple
Bata Mangala Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Mangala. The temple is located 7 km away from the Hindu Holy town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India.
Alamchandi Temple
Alamchandi Temple is one of the Shakta shrines of Puri and is located in the Kumbharapara area near Atharanala Bridge of the Puri. Skanda Purana has made a reference to Goddess Alamchandi residing in the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri to protect the Ratnavedi.
Radhakanta Math
Radhakanta Math is a Hindu monastery in the temple town of Puri in India.The math is renowned for having the Gambhira or the room where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived in Puri. His staff, water pot, bed and sandals are still preserved here.
Sakhigopal Mandir
Sakhigopal Mandir (formally Satyabadi Gopinatha Mandir) is a medieval Hindu temple dedicated to Gopinath located in Sakhigopal on the Bhubaneshwar - Puri Highway in Odisha. The mandir is built in the Kalinga Architecture style.
Swargadwar
Literally, "the gateway to heaven", Swargadwar is the site of the cremation of almost all famous Odia people. There are good hotels and restaurants near the crematorium.
Lokanatha Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is said to be the place where Lord Shiva hid himself from Shani, under a pond. The Shivalinga here is partially submerged and the pond is teeming with fish.
Puri Light House
Great views of the sea along with the town of Puri.
Puri–Konark Marine Drive
This road is in superb condition. It is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers flow into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road.
Explore Destination on Map
Discover all sub-destinations, routes and detailed navigation information on an interactive map.
Explore Puri on Map
Open the destination map to discover attractions and routes.
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Way
- When to Visit: Climate-based guidance for choosing your dates.
- Getting Around: How to reach and move around.
- Budget & Practical Tips: Costs and safety notes from local guidebook sources.
All Itineraries
- 1 Day in Puri: 1 days with detailed day plans
- 2 Days in Puri: 2 days with detailed day plans
How to Reach
- By Air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), about 50 km from Puri.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Puri railway station, about 1 km from central Puri.
- By Road: Puri is approximately 1½ hours or 60 km from Bhubaneswar and the journey costs about ₹130.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer: Summer in Puri (Apr, May, Jun) averages 27–33°C with about 59 mm of rain per month.
- Monsoon: Monsoon in Puri (Jul, Aug, Sep) averages 26–31°C with about 612 mm of rain per month.
- Post-monsoon: Post-monsoon in Puri (Oct, Nov) averages 22–30°C with about 106 mm of rain per month.
- Winter: Winter in Puri (Dec, Jan, Feb) averages 17–28°C with about 2 mm of rain per month.
Weather
- Summer: Average highs of 33°C and lows of 27°C.
- Monsoon: Average highs of 31°C and lows of 26°C.
- Post-monsoon: Average highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C.
- Winter: Average highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C.
Travel Tips
- Staying safe: In cheap hotels or guest houses on Swargadwar or New Puri, try to take care of your own belongings. Do not try to go to the beach after 8PM.
- Getting around: You can use cycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws or electric rickshaws but agree on a price before you set off. Just to avoid a horrible experience in the beginning confirm twice on the price, as they frequently try to charge you more than you agreed on.
- Heat: Daytime highs reach about 34°C in June; carry water and plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning.
- Rain: The wettest months are June, July, August, September and October; check road and site conditions before travelling.
Suggested Itinerary
Choose the perfect duration for your Puri trip.
Spiritual & Religious
Planning Guide
- Overview: Puri, also known as Jagannath Puri (the Abode of Lord Jagannath) or Purushottama Puri, is a seaside pilgrimage town in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a major tourist destination with the famous temple of Lord Jagannath (means Lord of the World) and a very long beach offering beautiful and pleasant sights. There are many hotels; most overseas tourists stay near the beach.
- Accommodation: Puri is a very popular holiday resort for people from all over India but they tend to stay in the hotels nearer to Swargadwar (rather than C.T. These hotels are often affordable and offer quality services at very reasonable rates. Listed options include Asian Inn Beach Resort, Balananda Tirthasram & Restaurant and Deep Resorts.
- Best Way To Explore: You can use cycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws or electric rickshaws but agree on a price before you set off. Just to avoid a horrible experience in the beginning confirm twice on the price, as they frequently try to charge you more than you agreed on.
The Sacred Heart of Puri
A timeless journey of faith and devotion.
Significance
Puri (poo-rih) literally means "city" in Sanskrit. It appeals to both pilgrims and vacationers as it blends religion with fun.
Spiritual Significance
Puri (poo-rih) literally means "city" in Sanskrit. It appeals to both pilgrims and vacationers as it blends religion with fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Puri is most comfortable in January, February, March, April and November, when average daytime highs stay at or below 32°C and rainfall is low. The hottest month is June (average high 34°C) and the wettest months are June, July, August, September and October.
The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), about 50 km away. The nearest railway station is Puri railway station, about 1 km away. See the How to Reach page for road, rail and air details.
Main attractions include Gundicha Temple, Vimala Temple, Puri Beach, Markandeshwar Temple, Bata Mangala Temple and Alamchandi Temple.
A stay of 2 days covers the main sights. Ready-made 1-day and 2-day itineraries are linked on this page.
Average highs range from 27°C to 34°C over the year, with about 2246 mm of rain in total.
Tour Packages for Puri
Your Puri Journey Starts Here
Explore top attractions, local culture, and the experiences that make this destination worth visiting.