Puri, 60 km south of Bhubaneswar on the Bay of Bengal, is one of India’s holiest cities and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites. Its centre is the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, built under King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, where Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are worshipped as carved wooden images.
The temple is famous for Rath Yatra, when the three deities ride enormous wooden chariots down the Grand Road (Bada Danda) to the Gundicha Temple, drawn by hundreds of thousands of devotees. The festival falls in June or July (Ashadha month); outside it, Puri is a relaxed seaside town with a long beach.
Top things to do at Puri & the Jagannath Temple
Darshan at the Jagannath Temple (Hindus only)
Only Hindus may enter. Phones, cameras, bags and leather must be deposited before the gate. Queues can be long; early morning is calmer. The Mahaprasad, cooked in the temple kitchen, can be bought at the Ananda Bazar inside.
See the temple from outside
Non-Hindu visitors can view the temple from the Grand Road and from rooftops opposite the Lion Gate — the Raghunandan Library roof has long been the traditional viewpoint, usually for a donation. The redeveloped Parikrama corridor around the walls also gives good views.
Walk the beach and Swargadwar
Puri’s beach stretches for kilometres. The Swargadwar end is lively, with the cremation ground that gives it its name nearby; the Blue Flag–certified Golden Beach is cleaner and calmer. Currents are strong — swim only where lifeguards are present.
How to get to Puri & the Jagannath Temple
- From Bhubaneswar: about 60 km, 1.5–2 hours by car. Frequent trains take around 1.5–2 hours, and buses run all day.
- From Konark: about 35 km along the Marine Drive.
- On a tour: private day trips to Puri with guides who know the temple procedures leave from Bhubaneswar hotels.
Insider tips
- Dress conservatively and carry nothing you would mind leaving at the depository.
- Rath Yatra dates follow the lunar calendar — book hotels months ahead if you plan to attend, and expect immense crowds.
- Beware of touts offering "special darshan". Use official counters.
- Try the local sweets: Puri’s khaja is sold everywhere around the temple.
Best tours & tickets for Puri & the Jagannath Temple
These experiences are the easiest way to see Puri & the Jagannath Temple with a guide and transport sorted:
Private day trip from US$136 per group Day Trip to Puri (Guided Private Tour from Bhubaneswar)
A full private day in the holy city of Puri: the Jagannath Temple, the Gundicha Temple at the other end of the Grand Road where the deities rest during Rath Yatra, and the long beaches of Golden Beach and Swargadwar. Priced per group of up to three, which makes it good value for families.
- Shree Jagannath Temple and Gundicha Temple
- Golden Beach and Swargadwar
- English- and Hindi-speaking guide
Private day trip from US$94 Bhubaneswar: Temples and Puri Private Day Tour
Starts with the small, exquisitely carved early temples of Bhubaneswar — Parasurameswara and Mukteswar — then heads 60 km to the coast for Puri, the Jagannath Temple and the sea. A good pick if Konark is already on another day of your plan.
- Parasurameswara and Mukteswar, the oldest jewels of the Old Town
- Puri and the Jagannath Temple
- Time on Puri’s beach
Pilgrimage tour Puri Pilgrimage Tour: Jagannath in a Day
A one-day pilgrimage-focused tour of Puri built around the Jagannath Temple and its rituals, with a guide who can explain the queues, the offerings and the customs that confuse first-time visitors.
- The Jagannath Temple with a local guide
- Puri’s other sacred sites
- Temple customs explained
Multi-day tour Spiritual Jagannath Puri Temple 2-Day Tour
A slower two-day spiritual itinerary in Puri: the Jagannath Temple and its rituals, the Gundicha Temple, time by the sea, and an optional excursion to Chilika Lake.
- Jagannath and Gundicha temples
- Evening on Puri beach
- Optional Chilika Lake visit
