Puri - Temples and Beaches

Puri, the district headquarters in the state of Odisha, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in India. It is very popular among tourists due to it blend of tourism and devotion. Puri is famous for its beaches and temples, as it is one of the seven most holy places to visit in India. It is also one of the four major pilgrimage centers of Hinduism, along with Dwaraka, Badrinath and Rameshwaram being the other three. Due to these significances, millions of tourists visit the place on different occasions and seasons to enjoy the holidays. Let us take a look at the beaches and temples that are situated in Puri.

Konark Sun Temple - built in the 13th century is one of the most famous temples in Puri. It is made to look like a giant stone chariot dedicated to the Sun god.

Vimala Temple - is famous for its beautiful architecture. The temple is dedicated to Vimala Devi and is located in the Jagannath Temple complex.

The Jagannath Temple - is the temple that gives the place its name as the temple is also known as Jagannath Puri Temple. It is one of the Char Dhams and hence many Hindus visit the temple to seek blessings from the God.

Apart from the above major temples, Puri is home to many smaller temples that are also famous for their stories and construction. Other temples like Lakshmi Temple, Sakshi Gopal Temple, Gundicha Temple and Alarnath Temple are also famous among tourists and devotees.

Puri Beach - is one of the most visited beaches in Puri, and it sees large number of tourists round the year. The beach also offers boating options for extra bit of fun. The Puri Beach is very close to the city and you can easily find buses and taxis to the beach.

Baliharchandi Beach - is very famous for its calm and serene atmosphere. The beach is not crowded and is one of the best places in India to spend some time in serenity. Gentle waves and scenic sunset provide great opportunities for photography.

Swargadwar Beach - is another beautiful and calm beach situated in Puri. The name Swargadwar simply translates as ‘Doorway to Heaven’. The Beach is very famous for its gentle waves and long shorelines. It is also not very crowded and you can spend long time just sitting and admiring the beauty of nature.

Puri is very important according to Hindu beliefs, and hence the Indian Railways have connected it to all major cities to provide easy travelling options for pilgrims. The Puri Railway Station runs very busy as it handles around 138,000 passengers and 92 trains on a daily basis. Puri Railway Station is very well equipped and has 3 four-bedded dormitories and non-AC retiring rooms; along with tourist information counter, computerized reservation offices, vegetarian and non-vegetarian refreshment rooms, telephone booths, cloak room, waiting room, and book stalls. You can also make use of online facilities to ensure a safe journey.

For example, if you book your ticket for Purushottam SF Express running between New Delhi and Puri, you can check the PNR status and seat availability online. You can also check 12802 running status status by enquiring for train running current status online; many service providers provide train tracking facility so that you can plan your journey well in advance.

Making use of all the above mentioned facilities and visiting the above mentioned places in Puri will make your vacation the most memorable one.