Puri

Introduction

For Hindu's, the coastal town of Puri is one of the holiest pilgrimage places in India. For everyone else the beach is the main attraction. Puri took off in the 1970's as it was on the hippie trail due to the legalisation on bhang. Today however it is more about relaxing on the beach and eating the local food.

Sights and Activities

Jagannath Mandir

Jagannath is Lord of the Universe and incarnation of Vishnu. Built in 1198 and reaching a height of 58 metres at its peak, the spire is topped with a flag and wheel of Vishnu.The temple is closed to non-Hindus but the photo opportunities from outside make up for this.

The Beach

Not as spectacular as Goa, but it is still a beach. Wide and long there is plenty of room to find a private spot to enjoy.

Events and Festivals

• Rath Yatra - Held in June or July each year, Rath Yatra celebrates Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra.

Weather

Best to avoid July through to October, monsoons or even cyclones can hit the area.

Getting There

By Train

Like the majority of trains in India, booking well ahead is usually require, the booking office opens three months in advance.

By Bus

The bus station at Bhubaneswar is the nearest major junction, two hours away. Change here for the majority of destination.

Getting Around

There is not a huge area that needs covering, but rickshaws (agree a price first) are always a good option. A lot of shops rent bikes and this would be my preferred method of transport, but do watch the traffic as this can be hazardous.

Eat

The best meals to be hard in Puri are definitely seafood dishes. As it is a coastal town, the fish is freshly caught.

Sleep

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

India Post is the national postal service of India, and on their website you find details about prices to send postcards, letters and parcels, both domestically and internationally. For most postcards to send internationally, it is better to visit the post office before writing on the card as you may need quite a few stamps. Parcels must be taken to a tailor, he will then sew it up in white linen. Make sure he seals it with red wax, otherwise the post office may refuse to send it or try to get you to pay them to do it. Sewing up a parcel should only cost 50rs to 200rs. In general, post offices are open from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm in most bigger towns and cities, though there are regional variations and some might keep longer hours or be open during (part of) the weekend as well. Ask around.