A coastal temple town in Odisha, home to the Jagannath Temple and a long Bay of Bengal beach.
FamousPilgrimageBeachHeritageLake
Puri is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and draws huge crowds to the Jagannath Temple, especially at the Rath Yatra in July. It also has a busy town beach and makes a base for Konark, Chilika Lake and the craft village of Raghurajpur. It suits pilgrims, families and travellers interested in temples and crafts.
Trip planner
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| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| November to February | Peak season with mild weather, roughly 17 to 27 C, and a calmer sea. Migratory birds gather at Chilika Lake. |
| March to May | Hot summer, roughly 24 to 37 C, though visitor numbers stay fairly high. |
| June to September | Monsoon months with humid weather and a rough sea that is not suited to water sports. The Rath Yatra falls in July and brings very large crowds. |
| October | Some sources include it in the good season as the rains ease; it leads into the main winter season. |
The main shrine of Puri on Grand Road and one of the four Char Dham sites. Only Hindus may enter; others can view the exterior from the Raghunandan Library platform across the road.
The long town beach where pilgrims bathe after the temple visit and crowds gather for sunrise and sunset. Sand sculptures by Sudarshan Patnaik are associated with this beach.
The temple at the other end of Grand Road where the deities stay during the Rath Yatra.
An old Shiva temple whose lingam usually sits under water and is seen mainly on Pankoddhar Ekadasi before Shivaratri.
A heritage village of painters known for Pattachitra and palm-leaf engraving, plus wood and stone carving and Gotipua dance.
The great stone sun temple on the coast, reached along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive past the Balukhand sanctuary.
A huge brackish lagoon where boats from Satapada go out to see Irrawaddy dolphins and the sea mouth. Winter brings migratory birds.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Lodges, homestays and temple trust bhakta niwas near the temple or beach | ₹790 to ₹1,450 |
| Mid-range | Beach-side hotels and small resorts near Swargadwar | ₹1,700 to ₹2,800 |
| Luxury | Upper-end hotels in town | ₹3,200 to ₹4,400 |
Pilgrims eat the temple's Mahaprasad, and many food stalls and restaurants line the beach area serving Odia, Bengali, North Indian and South Indian food.
Vegetarian food is easy to find, as the temple offerings are vegetarian.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,100 | ₹400 | ₹150 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹2,300 | ₹900 | ₹1,500 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹4,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 per vehicle |
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No permits are needed. Non-Hindus cannot enter the Jagannath Temple. Carry photo ID for hotels and trains.
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Distance by road.
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