Sri Jagannath Temple

Sri Jagannath Puri Temple Located in the sacred town of Puri, the Jagannath Temple or the pride of India was built in the 11th century by King Indradyumna. This glorious temple is the abode of Lord Jagannath who is a form of Lord Vishnu. It is the most revered pilgrimage site for Hindus and is included in the pious Char Dham Yatra with Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram. Apart from the main shrine that rises high, many minor temples within the complex will make you feel like you have entered God's home itself.

The splendid Oriya architecture of the Jagannath Puri Temple is an icing on the cake. The four gates are beautifully designed with intricate carvings. The scrumptious Mahaprasad of the temple is something you should not miss. In one of the largest kitchens of India, the lip-smacking food is cooked in earthen pots for thousands every day and offered to devotees. The vibrant religious festivals of the town allures tourists in large numbers. The most awaited of them is the Rath Yatra celebrated with immense gusto. The colourful ambience, interesting rituals, vim and vigour of the pilgrims is worth witnessing.

Be it the sanctity, the delicious food, the serenity or the exuberance towards God, Jagannath Puri temple seems to tick all the boxes and hence, is a place worth including on your bucket list.

Jagannath Puri Temple History
The history of the Jagannath Puri Temple is related to a fascinating story. Lord Jagannath was worshipped secretly in a forest as Lord Neela Madhaba by a king named Viswavasu. King Indradyumna was curious to know more about the deity, and so, he sent a Brahmin priest, Vidyapati to Viswavasu. All the efforts of Vidyapati to find the place went in vain. But, he fell in love with Viswavasu's daughter, Lalita and married her. Then, on the request of Vidyapati, Viswavasu took his son-in-law blindfolded to the cave where he worshipped Lord Jagannath.

Smart Vidyapati dropped mustard seeds on the ground on the way. After this, King Indradyumna proceeded Odisha to the Deity. However, the idol was not there. Though he was disappointed, he was determined to see the idol of Lord Jagannath. A sudden voice told him to construct a temple on Nilasaila. Afterward, the king ordered his men to build a beautiful temple for Vishnu. The king later invited Brahma to consecrate the temple. However, Brahma was in meditation which lasted till nine years. By then, the temple got buried under sand. The king was anxious when during his sleep, the king heard a voice that directed him to find a floating log of a tree on the seashore and make idols out of it. Accordingly, the king again got a magnificent temple built and installed the images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra made out of the wood of the divine tree.

Architecture Of Jagannath Puri Temple
The Jagannath Temple is one of the most spectacular temples of India. With its classic Oriya architecture, it never fails to sweep tourists off their feet. It covers an area of approximately 4,00,000 square feet and is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer wall is called as Meghanada Pacheri which is 20 ft. high. The other one is called as Kurma Bedha which surrounds the main temple.

The main shikhara or tower which is higher compared to other shikhara houses the deities. The temple has four distinct structures- the Vimana, the Jagamohan or the porch, the Nata Mandir and the Bhoga Mandap built in a row. There are four gates- the eastern Singhadwara (Lion Gate), the southern Ashwadwara (Horse Gate), the western Vyaghrasana (Tiger Gate), and the northern Hastidwara (Elephant Gate). The Lion Gate is the main gate, located on Grand Road. Within the temple complex, there are many shrines also. Also, there is a wheel on the top of the temple known as the Nila Chakra or the Blue Wheel. It is made up of different metals and every day a new flag is hoisted on the chakra.

Best Time To Visit Sri Jagannath Puri Temple
May to July witness the monsoon season of Puri and therefore, heavy rainfall is observed during this time. However, the major festivals of Jagannath Puri Temple like Rath Yatra take place in these months only. Though the weather is unfavourable, you have the opportunity to be a part of the dazzling festivals of Puri. The prices can be high as a plethora of devotees visit this time.

How To Reach Sri Jagannath Puri Temple
Once you reach Puri, you can easily hire an auto rickshaw or a cycle-rickshaw if your hotel is nearby. Bikes can be taken on rent here. There are no metros in Puri. However, private as well as state-run buses are available to take you through the town.