The Quaint, Religious Charm Of Puri You Reckon Of Relishing

An enchanting city where abides the shimmering aura of religion as well as bestowed rich culture, every aspect of Puri is simply magical. It is a renowned city of the sun, sand, sea, and most importantly, religion. Situated in the eastern region of Orissa, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, Puri is one of the four most cardinal holy cities in India (popularly known as Char Dham). It is an important city in the parent state and headquarters the district that shares the same name. According to Hinduism, the city is a must-visit if one seeks to attain the ultimate salvation. The city is the doorway to heaven and every year thousands of pilgrims, especially the Vaishnavites, throng to the place from far and wide. It is a magical city, and there is a certain definite enhancement to it. Before the sun rises, all preparations are made, and as soon as the first ray of light emerges, the whole city gets immersed in the pious religious milieu. This is how a typical day starts here.

Puri is about 60 k.m. from Bhubaneshwar, the capital of the state and along with Bhubaneshwar and Konark completes the Golden Triangle circuit of Orissa tourism. The city closely associates with Lord Jagannath, who is Lord Vishnu himself, and there is a belief that it is the earthly abode of the Lord. There exists a large 11th century temple called Jagannath Puri Temple, not too far from the coast, which in true terms is the heart of the city. Every Hindu is expected to make a visit to the temple in their lifetime. Inside the temple exists a wooden deity of Lord Jagannath along with the idols of Subhadra and Balabhadra. Here exists a unique divine essence in the surroundings that provides reconciliation and spiritual healing to every single visitor. However, only Hindus are allowed to enter inside the temple and they have to be appropriately dressed for the matter. The temple is also the host of the world-famous Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival, which is celebrated annually and attracts millions of pilgrims as well as tourists from all over the world. It is on the front grounds of the temple from where the yatra starts with three approximately 45 feet tall chariots pulled by the pilgrims. It takes a lot of people to pull the chariots, however, considering the fact that pulling the chariots is one of the most pious activities, there is no shortage of enthusiasts.

Visiting the Jagannath Temple is the first-most activity that a tourist does. It is easily accessible, plus, you will find a large array of hotels in Puri in the surroundings. Therefore, giving you the conveniences of connectivity. In addition to the sacred temple, Puri Beach is also a must-visit. It is clean, and serenity that spreads across several miles resides here. Besides, the other major tourist places that you might like to visit include: Shankaracharya’s Gobardhan Pitha, Chakra Tirtha, Mausima Tirtha, Swargadwar, Shree Gundicha Temple, etc.

Author Bio: Anjali is a travel enthusiast currently associated with an online travel search engine. This time she writes about hotels in Puri, a pilgrimage state in the Orissa. Also, check out flight prices as various airlines are offering cheap air tickets this vacation season.