Puri, the magical-enchanting city of Lord Jagannath

Puri the abode of the lord Jagannath is a small city in the state of Orissa. It is located close to the Bay of Bengal and is about 60 km from Bhubaneswar. Meanwhile, the city has long been the centre of religion in India. It is one of the most sacred Hindu cities and receives infinite hordes of pilgrims and tourists. Visit the magical city for a memorable holiday and for accommodation choose from the best hotels in Puri.

Puri is a magical city located on the eastern coast of India's mainland and within the province of the state of Orissa. Many recognize the city as one of Char dhams, which is perhaps the four most sacred Hindu cities in India. The other legs of Char Dham being Rameswaram, Dwarka, and Badrinath. There is a belief amongst Hindus that a pilgrimage to all holy sites in India is simply incomplete without a trip to Puri. Also known as Jagannath Puri the city, on reference to the revered temple of Lord Jagannath, the city is one of the top cities that receive the highest number of visitors. The city is said to be the abode of the Lord Jagannath. He is the lord of the universe and is considered to be another form of Lord Vishnu. Puri is the only city in the country where goddess Lakshmi, Durga, Sarasvati, Sati, Shakti, and Parvati abodes along with Lord Krishna. It is one of the oldest cities in India and has long been the center of religion. It is the land of temples, mathas, sacred pools, and people with an utmost faith in the almighty.

The city is about 60 km away from Bhubaneswar, the capital of the parent state. Apparently, it is also Bhubaneswar that houses the nearest airport to Puri. There are frequent flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Air-carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and Spicejet, etc. serve the purpose. Plus, trains are the other, rather popular modes to reach the city. There is always a horde to book the tickets, so it is wise that one does the advance booking of the tickets. Apart from that, there are government-owned and private operators owned buses travelling between Puri and neighbouring cities. Additionally, there exist some good Hotels in puri that are located in the vicinity of the railway station. Meanwhile, travelling within the city is easy. Compared to cities like Delhi and Mumbai, Puri is mediocre in size. One can easily get around within the city via taxis, auto rickshaws, and local buses.

The city rose to prominence after the establishment of the Lord Jagannath Temple in the 11th century. The temple brought immense significance to the city and made it the epicenter of Jagannath Sect. In the following centuries the city further experienced constructions of various temples, mathas, shrines, and other religious sites. For an architecture buff the city is the repository of great medieval Indian architectural pieces. The city best exhibits the ancient Indian culture and tradition. It offers one the opportunity to understand the significance of religion in India, and to what extent the religion is followed. Although, the city is always magical, but it is during the festive season of the Rath Yatra or Chariot Festival, when the city simply immerses in the pious religious atmosphere.

When in the city the most well-known places that are must visit include: Swargadwar, Konark Sun Temple, Kanchi Ganesha Temple, Gundicha Temple, Raghurajpur Artist Village, Data River, Puri Beach, Chilika Lake, Loknath Temple, and Mausi Ma Temple etc. The good thing is that all these temples and other tourist attractions are easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Plus, there also exist some good 5 Star hotels in Puri that offer transportation services to the popular tourist sites.

Sandeep is an experienced travel consultant, who enjoys travelling and loves to write about the destinations he has been to and shares his experience. He also writes about travel tips, world's best holiday destinations, best hotels in a destination,