Jagannath Temple
One of the Char Dham and home of the Rath Yatra
Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach)
pilgrimage site · Odisha
Puri is an ancient holy city on the Bay of Bengal coast in Odisha, and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage towns.
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- State
- Odisha
- Type
- Pilgrimage Site
- Best season
- Winter
- Things to do
- 2+
Puri is an ancient holy city on the Bay of Bengal coast in Odisha, and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage towns. Everything here turns on the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, whose deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra — are carved in wood rather than stone, a form found nowhere else. The city runs from the crowded Grand Road, thick with pilgrims, down to the wide sand of Puri Beach. The temple's ancient rituals set the rhythm of the place, and in mid-summer the whole city gives itself over to the historic Rath Yatra chariot festival, which draws crowds from around the world.
A short history
The present Jagannath Temple was built in its current form in the 12th century by the Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, though the deity's worship here is believed to predate the temple by centuries and shows traces of pre-Vedic tribal origin. The temple survived repeated raids over the centuries; its annual Rath Yatra, in which the deities are pulled through the streets on massive wooden chariots, gave the English language the word 'juggernaut'.
Why Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach) matters
Seat of the Char Dham pilgrimage and home to the annual Rath Yatra, one of the world's largest religious processions.
How many people come
2.4 crore
temple town in 2024 · Odisha Tourism (reported estimate)
When to go
October to March, when the coast is cool and breezy for the temple visits.
Why visit
The temple admits Hindus only and that is enforced at the gate. Rath Yatra in June or July is when the deities come out onto the road and everyone can see them — the one time of year the restriction stops mattering.
Cultural notes
The temple is known the world over for its Mahaprasad, a sacred vegetarian meal cooked fresh each day in massive clay pots by an ancient steaming method. At the annual Rath Yatra the huge wooden chariots of the deities are pulled by hand down the grand avenues by millions of devotees.
How to reach
Puri is reached by flying into Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, 60 km north. Puri Railway Station is a terminus with direct trains from the major cities. A four-lane national highway runs from Bhubaneswar, with regular deluxe buses daily.
Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach) in 2 days
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Food & cuisine
Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach).
3 dishes
Mahaprasad (Puri)
Cooked in the temple's Rosaghara kitchen in earthen pots stacked on wood fires — one of the largest temple kitchens in the world, feeding tens of thousands daily.
Chhena Poda
A baked cottage-cheese dessert said to have originated in Puri's temple-town bakeries — caramelised on the outside, soft within.
Puri Khaja
Layered, flaky fried sweet sold by the temple-lane vendors, dunked in sugar syrup.
Eat your way through Puri
A stop-by-stop walk through what this city actually eats — what to order, in what order, and when.
Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach) guide & itineraries
Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach) is perfect for
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What & where to eat
Nearby getaways
Things to do
How to spend your time in Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach).
Puri Beach
Long golden beach and sunrise
Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival)
The famous chariot procession (June-July)
Konark Sun Temple day trip
UNESCO temple about 35 km away
Popular attractions
The places in Puri (Jagannath Temple & Beach) most people come for.
Frequently asked questions
What is Puri famous for?
The Jagannath Temple (a Char Dham) and its grand Rath Yatra, a long beach, and the Konark Sun Temple nearby.
Can non-Hindus enter the Jagannath Temple?
Entry is for Hindus; others can view it from nearby rooftops such as the Raghunandan Library.
More to explore in Odisha
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