Places of tourist interest in Puri:

There are several places to visit while in Puri, all of which are easily accessible by road. Some of the places worth visiting are Bada Danda, Balighai, Chilka Lake, Gundicha Mandir, Raghurajpur, Sakshigopal, Shri Jagannath Temple and of course, the Puri Beach.

Getting there

AIR : Nearest airport Bhubaneswar. Regular flight-routes are Delhi, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai.

RAIL : Direct train service to and from Calcutta, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati.

BUS : Regular minibus service from Bhubaneswar to Puri from Baramunda and Old Bus Stand. Hourly buses to Konark are also available.

According to the legends, Samba, a son of Krishna, erected a Sun temple at this spot in thanksgiving as Lord Surya cured him of a dreaded disease. This magnificent temple, dating back to 13th century, at Konark is the culmination of Orissa temple architecture. Close by is one of the most attractive beaches of the world - the Chandrabhaga beach.

Approach : By air to Bhubaneswar, Konark is 65 km from Bhubaneswar by road.

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa and an important Hindu pilgrimage centre, is also popularly known as the "Temple City of India.

Places to Visit :

Among the several places to visit these are the which should not be missed at any cost. The Dhauli Hills, famous for the Kalinga War; Sisupalgarh, showcasing a well-fortified city dating back to 3rd or 4th C; Hirapur, the temple of 64 yoginis; Atri, renowned for its hot sulphur spring; Nandankanan, famous for white tigers is home for Lions, Clouded Leopards, Black Panthers, European Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Gharials, Rosy Pelican, Grey Pelican, Indian Python, King Cobra, etc.

Orissa Waterfalls While you are in Orissa you cannot afford to miss the beautiful waterfalls here. The region is simply dotted with picturesque waterfalls. Some of famous ones are Barehipani & Joranda Falls, Badaghagra Falls, Khandadhar Falls, Harishankar Falls, Khanduala Falls, Nrusimhanath Falls, Phurli Jharan Falls, Pradhanpat Falls, Pradhanpat Falls and Putudi Falls. All these waterfalls can be reached easily by bus.

Orissa Art & Craft Orissa boasts of a long and rich cultural heritage. The artistic skill of the Orissan artists is unsurpassable in the world. The internationally known are the Patta Chitra, miniature paintings on cloth and the Palm Leaf Paintings, with illustrations in pure line on palm leaf and engraving with colour fillings.

Handicrafts Orissa is famous for handicrafts which exhibit the skill and creativity of her artisans. Her brass work, silver work, terracotta art objects, and appliqué work are unique examples of artistic excellence. Filigree, stone carving, horn work, lacquer work and papier mache are some of the exquisite artifacts that tourists must have a go for.