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TravelTips24 : Asia : South Asia : India : Eastern India : Orissa : Puri

Puri

Puri is a renowned city and headquarters of Puri District in the Indian state of Orissa(Latitude: 19° 48' 0 N, Longitude: 85° 50' 60 E), also known as The Abode of Lord Jagannath.

Culture and History

Jagannath Puri or Purusottama Puri (approximately 1 and a half hours or 60 km from Bhubaneswar by bus {about Rs. 25 to Rs. 150), about 2 hours by train) is a pilgrimage town with the famous temple of Lord Jagannath (means Lord of the Universe) and is a major tourist destination with all its beautiful and pleasant sights. There are many hotels, most overseas tourists stay near to Chakratirtha Road (C.T. Road) for the best of star hotels like hotel holiday resort, mayfair beach resort or you can ask rickshaws for 'Sea Beach Road or Swargadwara'. Some good hotels are Hotel Puri and Hotel New Sea Hawk (in Swargadwar) The Sun temple at Konark is also near by. If you go to Puri by road from Bhubaneswar you will go past Pipli with its beautiful applique handicrafts, worth a look. The Puri sea beach is a major attraction with its fantastic sea face view and golden sand, the water is a bit rough (which is good if you like to surf).

Travel to Puri & Visa Requirements

By train

Puri is well connected by Railways. Trains are from Kolkata (Howrah jn), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. It is also a major railhead on the East Coast Railway, bifurcated from Khurda Road Jn. The Railway Station of Puri is in The heart of the town and near to all hotels. If you arrive by train go to the Orissan State Tourist counter at the station for advice, they are usually very helpful and speak English. The MCO Booth is also quite helpful. Locals speak Oriya. Due to the presence of people from various parts of India there would not be a language problem. Hindi is also widely used. Some locals even speak Bengali.

Tours & Getting around Puri

You can use cycle or auto rickshaws but agree a price before you set off. There are places on C.T Road where you can hire an Enfield motorbike, good if you want to drive along the coast to Konark(Sun Temple). A cycle rickshaw is in the range of 20 rupees.

Puri attractions and sightseeing

  • Shree Jagannath Puri Temple. One of the four dhams ie four most sacred pilgrimage places of Hindus. Constructed in 11th century and is the starting point of the world famous Rath Yatra held in July. Entry is limited to Hindus. Do lean against the Shani temple and watch the summit of the temple and do savour the temple food or bhog. The temple complex is huge and has some very interesting stories associated, priests or pandas are generally the ones who conduct the non Oriya people around and generally mention all these stories although they can demand exorbitant amounts; bring it down to something reasonable. It is possible to go into the sanctum sanctorum and touch the deities in the main temple for a fee.
  • Golden Beach of Puri.
  • Shankaracharya's GOBARDHAN Pitha A Hindu Math
  • Swargadwar The Gateway to Heaven. Site of cremation of almost all famous Oriya people.
  • Shree Lokanath Temple Dedicated to Lord Shiva, is said to be the place where Lord Shiva hid himself from Shani, under a pond. The Shiva Linga here is partially submerged and the pond is teeming with fish. Priests here tend to be very strict so do maintain etiquette.
  • Sunara Gaurang Temple
  • Bedi Hanuman Temple
  • Chakra Tirtha Temple
  • Mausima Temple
  • Shree Gundicha Temple Destination of Rath Yatra.

Famous Places Near Puri

  • Sun Temple of Konark.
  • Chandrabhaga Sea Beach.
  • Chilika Lake.
  • Satapada Dolphin Sanctuary.
  • Alarnath Temple
  • Pipili Famous for Applique Work.
  • Raghurajpur Famous for Patta Chitra.
  • Puri Konark Marine Drive This road was recently renovated and hence is in superb condition. Is peppered with deserted beaches and many rivers fall into the sea in places visible, if not accessible, from the road. Some beaches are said to have quicksands. Along the way there is a temple Ramchandi which is a popular picnic spot amongst the locals as non-veg is allowed in the temple.
  • Balihar Chandi Temple Is secluded with a beautiful and very calm beach nearby view from the temple of which is obscured by a forest.

Puri city tours

Enjoy the splendour of the Golden Beach of Puri. It is ideal for surfing and cool for a dip. The beach is covered in golden sand. The waves can also be high and rough during purnima (full moon). Also, "Please Do not litter the beach" to keep its magnificent view intact. You have to be careful about swimming off the Chakra Tirtha Rd end of the beach because there is a canal that carries raw sewerage into the ocean.

Puri Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Shyama -- pure vegetarian restaurant opposite the Jagannath temple on the Grand Road above the shops on the corner. There are many restaurants in Swargadwara, New Puri and C.T. Road.
  • Kakatua -- Near the Iskcon temple in Swargadwara there is a good sweet shop/restaurant with a cockatoo outside and the resto is named after it...
  • Krishna Resorts -- pure vegetarian restaurant with gujarati and marwari thali on chakratirth road.

Puri cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

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 Road). These hotels are often inexpensive and offer quality services at very reasonable rates.

  • Hotel Vijoya International, [1]. A charming, beautiful hotel situated right on the sea shore in Chakra Tirtha. The private beach is clean and tent facilities are available. Pickup and drop facilities are available from the station and you will be welcomed with flowers and welcome drink. Rooms are neatly furnished and are sea facing. The restaurant provides exquisite cuisine and will customise your menu for any special requirement (for a kid, for example). Try the fish tikka.
  • OTDC Panthanivas [2]
  • Mayfair Puri, [3]. The most beautiful beach resort with SPA services. Room tariff 5,000-7,500 INR. This hotel has its private beach with couple of lifeguards roaming around. Elegantly furnished rooms with exotic cuisine served at the restaurants makes this resort apart.
  • Hotel Holiday Resort, Chakratirtha Road, Phone: 06752 222440, 224370, 234371 (fax: 06752-223968, E-mail: holidayresortpuri@rediffmail.com), [4]. is the next to Mayfair, when it comes hospitality and service. It has a private beach, life-guards, private auto-rickshaw stand, swimming pool, spa and all modern amenties. Indian and Foreign cuisines are served at the restaurant and good room service makes this resort the best.
  • Toshali Sands Resort and Hotel(Travel and Stay in Puri), Toshali Ethnic Resort in Puri, ☎ 0674-2547720/2547074/9337334670, 0124-2563105/2565315(info@toshali.in, fax: 0124-2563174), [6]. Toshali Sands is the only luxurious five star facilities resort in Orissa,close to beach. Approved by Department of Tourism with its unique ethnic charm that offers everything that you could ask of a Resort Hotel with excellent luxuries.Warm and friendly staff.Spread in acres.Resort has Russian language interpretor.Rs.3200 for a big Deluxe Cottage.  edit
  • Hans Coco Palms Resort, ☎ 6752 230951, 230952(fax: 06752 230165), [7]. Quiet location and a swimming pool. The hotel has a private beach, although there are only two canopies for guests. There are no lifeguards (nulia), but you can hire one if you wish. Breakfast (especially the Hans Coco Palms Special) is a good value for money and very wholesome. Try the tomato shorba and 'thaali' for lunch/dinner.Rs.3600 for a double (February 2007).  edit
  • Masir Hotel Only for Fooding [Veg.or Non-Veg] (Swargadwar, Puri, 752001) [9] Budget hotel in Puri(Oldest) for 70 years of sevice.Mobile No.0-98611-77774 / 0-93388-77774 (Bubun)
  • Hotel Roopam, New Marine Drive Road, ☎ 06752 230650, 231222, [10]. Rs.600-1000.  edit
  • Puri Hotel, Sea Beach, ☎ 06752 222114, 223809(purihotel@purihotel.in, fax: 06752 222744), [11]. Excellent location. You get a full sea view straight out of balcony of most of the rooms. They have a website with a facility of online booking . Rs.400 for a big 4-bed room with balcony.  edit
  • trust travels, Sea Beach, ☎ 09830667163,(contact@trusttravels.com, fax: 91-(033)-2461-8826), [12]. Excellent location. You get a full sea view straight out of balcony of most of the rooms. They have a website with a facility of online booking. Rs.400 for a big 4-bed room with balcony.  edit
  • Krishna Resorts, Chakratirth road, Phone: 06752 220448, (Email: harishvchawda@yahoo.co.in). Near the sea beach having furnished a/c and non a/c rooms from 350/- for non a/c 650/- for a/c rooms, 4 bed rooms and 3 bed rooms also available, colour tv and hot water facility. Vegetarian-friendly restaurant attached.
  • Krushna Mandir, At. Near Arabinda School, Swargadwar) Phone.91-6752-654800 / Fax No.91-6752-231895 & Cell No.0-98610-10600 /0-97796-64480, email: bmbhuyan@gmail.com, [13]. 25 furnished Rooms with kitchen facilities only for Holiday Home (Booked by Kolkata office)(see website for details), Authorised Indian Rail travel agent on-site.
  • Balananda Tirthasram & Restaurant(Balananda Tirthasram), Sea Beach Road, Puri(After metorological ofice). checkin: Morning; checkout: 24 hours. Very beautiful family hotel. Very moderate rate beautiful picturesque sight of sea. Rent are from 200 and more. You can see the sea from your room balcony. Very beautiful and friendly vegetarian restaurant. Rs.24 only per meal. It is a family restaurant. Just opposite sea beach. You have to take the order and collect coupon at morning before 10 for lunch start at 12.30pm. Same for dinner and breakfast. Phone no. 06752228727 / 06752694108 For more dhirajpatra dot co dot nr24.  edit

Stay 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 8 pm. If you get seriously ill in Puri it is better to go on to Bhubaneswar to the Kalinga Hospital as the hospitals in Puri are very, very basic and not too clean. The hotel should be able to get a local doctor for you if you need one.

There are mouthwatering foodstalls on the beach selling fish, mutton, chicken kebabs, chops and cutlets. DO NOT try these, unless you want to experience the medical system of Puri. Even weather-beaten, battle-hardened, super-immune Indian stomachs can not tolerate these tasty but unhygienic attacks on your digestive system. Eat out of hotels, perfectly fine. But do NOT try the seashore roadside food stalls.

Stay safe from pandas of any temple.Ignore them as they are very dangerous.They will extract money from your pocket ruthlessly in the name of God. They are very influential and nothing can be done with the help of law. Avoid entering innermost sanctum of any living temple(even if you are Hindu/Indian).They will ask you to offer puja or pay respect to innumerous Gods here and there of same temple very politely/affectionately but will demand money in name of each God separately.No use arguing with them.If you are a bit religious/curious then carry enough change so that you can donate Rs 1,2,5, 10 to get rid of them without any commotion.

Stay away from monkeys.Dont lure them with food and other stuff. Balananda Tirthasram - Puri sea beach

Get out

Puri being a major tourist spot is well connected with rest of the country by train. In case of flight connectivity one has to go to Bhubaneswar to get onto one. From the main bus stand in Puri you can get buses to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack which are less than 60-70 km far. Bhubaneswar which is a major hub further increases connectivity. The temple of Konark is nearby and definitely a must visit. Satapada on Chilika Lake is nearby and is a great place for sighting dolphins.

This page was last edited at 16:21, on 14 November 2008 by Ryan Holliday. Based on work by Bhuban mohan Bhuyan, Anindya Banerjee, Soumen Dey, Bullet, sengupta, Issan Patri, Arunachalam Subramanian, Nick Roux and Swadhin Mohanty, Wikitravel user(s) Morph, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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