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Puri Tourism | How to Plan a Trip to Puri

Puri welcomes 2 kinds of travelers - the casual tourist whose main intention is sightseeing and conventional pilgrim travelers.


Puri At a Glance
  • Average Climate:10°C - 30°C
  • Best Time to Visit:October - March
  • STD Code:06752

Puri Travel Guide

From the perspective of spiritual tourism in India, Puri Tourism in Odisha has bypassed the ancient city of Varanasi on a spiritual scale. Subsequently, the search for salvation for Vaishnavite Hindus ends in Puri. It is 62 km (approx.) from Bhubaneswar, the capital town, making it easily accessible by railways, roadways, and airways. Puri is one of the most revered cities in India and experiences a strong footfall of tourists annually. If you are planning a trip, our Puri tour package covers the best spirituality and devotion for which Puri is known. Moreover, it also makes the tip of Odisha’s Golden Triangle and Bhubaneswar and Konark.

Most importantly, this coastal town along the coast of the Bay of Bengal is the Eastern Dham of India. As a result, Puri manages to attract Hindu devotees in droves. The Rath Yatra Festival in June/July at Jagannath Temple is the soul of Puri Tourism. Also, Golden Beach (Puri Beach) is now a coveted Blue Flag beach because of its clean waters.

Put on your reading glasses to browse the Puri Tourism Travel Guide, where we have chalked down everything about Puri. Scroll on!

Places to Visit in Puri

The whole Puri town constitutes a chain of temples. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything in Puri apart from the temples. If you look from a touristy lens, the sightseeing places in puri cover lakes, beaches, museums, and even heritage and artistic villages like Raghurajpur. History connoisseurs must visit Sudarshan Craft Museum to unfold the history of Odisha and Puri under one roof!

Sanath Dharam Hindus must visit the Jagannath Temple on their Puri tour, where the Rath Yatra Chariot Festival scores thousands of devotees. Indian Holiday offers a Jagannath Puri tour package with everything you need during your pilgrimage journey.

Whether you are a couple or a family traveler, Golden Beach (Puri Beach) beacons you to unwind at its blue waters, followed by watersports. Lastly, boating at Asia’s biggest inland saltwater lagoon, Chilika Lake, is icing on the cake when you are in Puri.

Best Time to Visit Puri

Weather-wise, season-wise, month-wise, climate-wise, and temperature-wise, November to February is the best time to visit Puri. This is a peak tourism season when the humidity, scorching sun, and the sea are calm. Therefore, beach activities are easy to enjoy without hindrance under 17°C to 27°C (approx.). On the other hand, summer in Puri marks its presence from March to May (shoulder season), where the minimum and maximum hovers between 24°C - 37°C (approx.).

The summer period in Puri is hot, but tourists still throng the towns. Whereas monsoon is the best time to go to Puri because of the annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) in June/July. You’ll have humidity and the scorching sun with the minimum and maximum temperature hovering around 25°C to 33°C (approx.). But remember, the sea is not calm, and watersports are not suggested.

How to Reach Puri

If you are coming from a flight either from domestic or international locations. In that case, arrive at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. It has two terminals for Indian and international flights. At the same time, Odisha has only one international airport in the capital town, Bhubaneswar. The distance between Bhubaneswar to Puri is approximately 62 km.

If you are coming from the train, Puri has its own Junction (Puri Railway Station), which is well-versed with trains across Indian destinations. In short, visitors have to make Bhubaneswar their base point if air travel is the commute mode. At last, road travel to Puri from Kolkata, Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Andhra Pradesh is possible with excellent National and State Highway networks.

Things to Do in Puri

Your Puri holidays will likely revolve around the sightseeing of temples because Puri is the Eastern Dham of India. The sheer name of Puri conjures up the images of attending the aarti ceremony at Jagannath Temple, Lokanath Temple, Gundicha Temple. But there is more to enjoy in Puri apart from the mainstream experiences.

For instance, visit the Lighthouse close to the Puri (Golden Beach) between 4 PM - 6 PM after the watersports activity. If you are visiting Puri in June/July, attend the famous Rath Yatra (Annual Chariot Festival) at Jagannath Temple, followed by a holy dip at Puri Beach. Click here to read in-depth about the best things to do in Puri for every type of tourist.

Culture and Tradition of Puri

The official Tourism website of Puri claims that even millions of tourists who have been to Puri will resonate with what we will say! Puri’s culture is based on the Jagannath cult. At the same time, Puri is the principal center of Vaishnavism in India, and Lord Jagannath is worshiped here. Lord Jagannath is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is worshiped on approx. 24 different occasions.

Puri’s culture and traditions are all about temple architecture and its fascinating legends. The famous Ratha Yatra, Chandan Snana, and the Raghurajpur Artistic and Heritage Village showcase the best of the culture and traditions of Puri. An added bonus will be if you explore the several museums upholding the ancient heritage artifacts and inscriptions associated with the ancient culture of Puri.

Restaurants and Local Food in Puri

Tourists in Puri will have no shortage of options to satiate their thirst with the local food of Puri. You will be amazed to know that the famous food of Puri is prepared in temples for devotees. Moreover, the restaurants and local food joints in Puri serve Khaja to those with insatiable teeth. At the same time, the 56 types of Bhogs offered at Jagannath Temple are the real slice of Puri cuisine. If you are on Puri’s street food tour, taste the Oriya version of Indian Khichdi, Chungi Malai, made from the spice, fried rice, and coconut.

Places for Shopping in Puri

After your food-hopping tour, join the shopping-hopping excursion in Puri. The best places for shopping in Puri are encircled around the temples. Outside the temples, vendors sell Puri souvenirs like Lord Jagannath Temple sculptures, Konark Sun Temple Chariot Wheels, and more! But if you want to bowl over with the authentic shopping experience in Puri, head to Raghurajpur Village, just 15 km (approx.) from Puri. Rajghurajpur village is one of the best places for shopping in Puri to shop Pattachitra - palm leaf etching paintings made by talented craftsmen.




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FAQs about Puri Travel Guide

Q: What is the best time to visit Puri?

Ans:  The best time to visit Puri is in the winter season. From October to April, Puri experiences cool and pleasant weather, which makes the outdoor activities and sightseeing comfortable. This is the peak tourist season in Puri and receives a large number of travelers.

Q: What are the most famous tourist places in Puri?

Ans: There are a plethora of famous tourist places in Puri, which allow travelers to get a sneak peek into the rich cultural history and breathtaking beauty of this city. Some of the best places to visit in Puri are:

  • Shri Jagannath Temple
  • Chilika Lake
  • Puri Beach
  • Narendra Tank
  • Raghurajpur Artist Village
  • Markandeshwar Temple
  • Gundicha Temple
  • Loknath Temple
  • Lakshmi Temple
Q: How to reach Puri?

Ans: Puri is well-connected with the major cities of the country by all modes of transport – by air, by rail, and by road. Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport from Puri, which is situated at 56 km. There are regular flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and other major cities for Puri.

Puri railway station is the primary railhead that serves the city. It connects the city to other parts of the country. There are several regular and direct train services available to cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. From local transport buses to cabs and taxis, there are many ways in which one can reach Puri. It is connected with neighboring cities through well-constructed roads.

Q: When Jagannath Rath Yatra is held?

Ans: Jagannath Yatra is an annual event held in late June or early July in Odisha. In 2021, it will be held on 12th July. It is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (the second day in the bright fortnight of Ashadha month). This festival commemorates the annual visit of Jagannath to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt's home) near Saradha Bali, Puri.