Raghurajpur is a crafts village about 14 km from Puri, on the bank of the Bhargavi river among coconut and mango groves. Almost every house is a studio: the families here paint pattachitra, the traditional cloth scrolls of Jagannath and scenes from the epics, and many also make palm-leaf engravings, masks and painted toys.
The village is also the birthplace of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, who revived Odissi dance in the 20th century, and a home of gotipua, the acrobatic dance performed by boys dressed as girls.
Top things to do at Raghurajpur
Visit a painter’s home
Families welcome visitors to see how pattachitra is made — cloth primed with chalk and gum, natural pigments, brushes of animal hair. There is no obligation to buy, but most people do.
Look at palm-leaf engraving
Artists incise scenes into palm leaves with a stylus, then rub in soot to bring them out. Folding palm-leaf "books" make exquisite gifts.
Ask about a gotipua performance
Local troupes sometimes perform for visitors; ask at the village or through your tour operator.
How to get to Raghurajpur
- From Puri: about 14 km, 25–30 minutes by car, turning off the Bhubaneswar highway at Chandanpur.
- From Bhubaneswar: about 50 km — easiest as a stop on a Puri day trip or with a hired car.
- On a tour: the Puri and Konark 2-day tour includes an afternoon here.
Insider tips
- Prices vary with size, detail and the use of natural pigments; ask artists to show you the difference.
- Photograph works in progress only with permission.
- Visit in the morning or late afternoon, when artists are working and it is cooler.
Best tours & tickets for Raghurajpur
These experiences are the easiest way to see Raghurajpur with a guide and transport sorted:
Multi-day tour from US$209 Experience Odisha’s Gems: Puri and Konark in 2 Days
Two private days built around the coast: an early visit to the Jagannath Temple, the Gundicha or Loknath temple, the pattachitra painters of Raghurajpur in the afternoon, and Konark’s Sun Temple and its museum on day two.
- Early darshan at the Jagannath Temple
- Raghurajpur, the painters’ heritage village
- The Sun Temple and museum at Konark
Multi-day tour from US$330 per group 2N/3D Bhubaneswar, Konark & Puri Golden Triangle Tour Package
Odisha’s classic circuit handled for you: the Temple City, the Sun Temple and Jagannath’s Puri over three unhurried days, with hotels, transport and some meals included. Split between four people, it is one of the best-value ways to see the region.
- Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri in one private package
- Two nights’ accommodation and meals included
- Priced per group of up to four
