Puri, the land of Lord Jagannath, is dotted with many travel jewels. From the calmness of beach sites, rich wildlife to scenic hill spots and artistic ventures, the pilgrim town is the amalgamation of every site for travel lovers.
So, let’s take a look at some major tourist spots in Puri that lay behind the main streams!
Shri Jagannath Temple: Also known as the Purusottama Kshetra, the temple is home to Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Built by Chodaganga Deva in the 12th century, it’s famous for its Ratha Yatra which draws millions of devotees from across the globe every year.
Chilika: The largest brackish water estuarine Lake in Asia, it’s a treasure trove for wildlife and nature. It’s a famous picnic location and home to migratory birds and many threatened species of birds, animals, and plants.
Konark: Also known as Black Pagoda, this 13th-century Sun Temple was built during the reign of Narasimhadeva-1 of the Ganga Dynasty and is an excellent representation of ancient Odisha’s craftsmanship.
Ramachandi: Believed to be more ancient than Konark temple, this is one of the major Saktipithas in Puri and is located 7 km away from Konark.
Jahaniapira: A beautiful picnic spot situated near Astarang on the beach, it pays homage to the Shrine of PirMukudan Jahania Jahagast, a Muslim saint from Baghdad who spent his last days here.
Manikptana: The village is named after the legend of ‘Manika’ who met Lord Jagannath and his brother in mortal body. Here you can visit the 13th-century Shiva temple, known as “Bhabakundaleswar”.
Kuruma: Located about 8 km away from Konark, it’s famous as an excavation site, “Buddha Vihar” where an image of Buddha Dev seated in Bhumi Sparsa Mudra and an ancient brick wall was discovered.
Biswanatha Hill: Homing the shrine of Lord Shiva known as Biswanath, the hill is situated about 1/2 km away from Delanga. It’s also an important archaeological site with many Buddhist stupas and a monastery.
Raghurajpur & Pipili: The heart of Odisha’s artistic past and present, Raghurajpur village is popular for its Pattachitra Paintings, stone carvings, etc., while Pipili is a renowned place for beautiful Applique works.
Brahmagiri: Alarnath Temple: Dating back to 1610 A.D, here Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed during the ‘anasara period of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath. The temple is popular for its famous ‘Kheer’ prasad.
Varahi Temple, Chaurasi: Dating back to the 9th century the temple worships Varahi, the goddess with the face of a boar following tantric rites. Nilamadhab temple and the shrine of Amareswar are other attractions of the place.