Jagannath
Puri
 One
of the four celebrated religious centers of India, Puri, the
abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction.
According to tradition Puri was once a thickly wooded hill
inhabited by the Sabaras (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribes
of the Austric linguistic family). The sunny beach at Puri
is one of the finest in the world. Watching the sunrise in
a symphony of colours is a wonderful experience. It is one
of the most popular sea-side resorts where visitors from any
part of the globe can comfortably relax.
Places to see:
Jagannath
Puri Temple:
Even before one enters
Puri, this 65-metre high temple makes its presence felt. The
12th century temple built by Chodaganga, to commemorate the
shifting of his capital from South to Central Orissa, stands
in a compound on the Nilgiri Hill, and is surrounded by a
20 foot high wall, within which lie several smaller shrines.
A traditional porch, shrine, hall of offerings and a pillared
hall of dance, form the rest of this temple. The remarkable
thing about this temple, since its early beginnings, is that
there has been no discrimination, ever, between castes. To
one end of the road, that leads to the temple is Gundicha
Mandir, Lord Jagannath's summer temple, within a walled garden
at the far end of Grand Road, where the deity is enshrined
for a week, on a simple throne. Like the Lingaraja in Bhubaneswar,
Puri's Jagannath is not open for non - Hindus, who must contend
themselves, from viewing it from a vantage point, outside
its precincts.
Satyabadi
(Sakshigopal):
The shrine of Lord Sakshigopal is only 20 kms away from Puri.
the sacred feet of Shri Radha can however be only seen on
'Anala nawami' day.
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