Puri combines a great pilgrimage with a seaside town. Hindus come for darshan at the 12th-century Jagannath Temple; everyone comes for the beach and the fresh seafood. Konark’s Sun Temple, carved as a giant stone chariot, is one of India’s finest monuments, and Bhubaneswar’s old temples are an hour away.
Highlights
- Jagannath Temple (Hindus only inside)
- Rath Yatra in June or July
- Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO)
- Chilika Lake for dolphins and birds
- Golden Beach (Blue Flag certified)
- Raghurajpur, the painters’ village
What to eat
- Mahaprasad from the Jagannath Temple kitchen (Ananda Bazaar)
- Seafood thalis
- Chhena poda and rasagola
- Dalma
Where to stay
Beach hotels on Chakratirtha Road and the New Marine Drive; a few calmer resorts towards Konark.
Getting there
Bhubaneswar airport (BBI) is 60 km away. Puri station has direct trains from Kolkata, Delhi and many other cities.
Tips
- Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Jagannath Temple; you can see it from the roof of the Raghunandan Library opposite.
- Swim only where lifeguards are on duty: the sea is rough.
- Rath Yatra dates follow the lunar calendar; book rooms months ahead.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar. See what else is good in October and our best time to visit India guide.
Temples and shrines near Puri and Konark
- Jagannath Temple, Puri Jagannath, with Balabhadra and Subhadra; one of the Char Dham
- Lingaraj, Bhubaneswar Shiva as Harihara
Places to see in and around Puri and Konark
21 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Konark Sun Temple World Heritage Site, 29 km
- Jagannath Temple Temple, 1 km
- Gundicha Temple Temple, 2 km
- Vimala Temple Temple, 1 km
- Golden Beach, Puri Beach, 1 km
- Alarnatha Temple Temple, 19 km
- Baladevjew Temple Temple, 34 km
- Chandrabhaga beach Beach, 26 km
- Mausi Maa Temple Temple, 1 km
- Ramachandi Temple Temple, 25 km
- Sakhigopal Temple Temple, 16 km
- Lokanatha Temple Temple, 3 km
- Alama Chandi Temple Temple, 2 km
- Bata Mangala Temple Temple, 17 km
- Konark Beach Beach, 31 km
- Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife sanctuary, 24 km
- Golabai Ancient site, 38 km
- Markandeshwar Temple Temple, 2 km
- Narasimha Temple, Puri Temple, 2 km
- Chakra Narasimha Temple Temple, 2 km
- Mukti Mandapa Temple, 1 km
Food to try in and around Puri and Konark
Odisha favourites to look out for.
- Pakhala
- Dalma
- Chhena poda
- Rasgulla
- Rasabali
- Chhena gaja
- Chhena jhili
- Kanika
- Khata
- Odisha Rasagola GI: sweet
- Kendrapara Rasabali GI: sweet
- Odisha Khajuri Guda GI: speciality
The full food passport, state by state.
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