Puri: What to see, do, and experience in Odisha’s temple town

The coastal town of Puri in Odisha is far more than only a seashore vacation spot. Steeped in historical past, spirituality, and wealthy cultural traditions, it gives travellers an immersive experience. Famous for the revered Jagannath Temple, one of many Char Dham pilgrimage websites, the town pulses with the vitality of devotees. The town’s markets brim with the intricate Pattachitra work, sand and shell artwork, and Odisha’s handlooms. Here are 5 unmissable experiences when in Puri:

Sun Temple of Konark

A brief 50-kilometre drive from Puri takes you to the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the thirteenth century by King Narasingha Deva I, this architectural masterpiece is formed like a colossal chariot devoted to Surya, the Sun God. The intricate stone carvings, depicting celestial beings, legendary creatures, and on a regular basis life, is a wide ranging tapestry of artistry and storytelling.

The grandeur of the temple may be greatest skilled at nightfall. As the solar dips under the horizon, the Konark Temple glows in a golden embrace, its carvings casting lengthy, mystical shadows, whereas the night breeze whispers by the ruins, carrying echoes of a timeless previous. Presently, a workforce of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is inspecting the progress of sand elimination from the Sun Temple, usually thought to be one of many seven wonders of India. The evaluation that was initiated in 2024 goals to assist consultants decide whether or not the sand, which was positioned contained in the temple’s meeting corridor (Jagamohan) by the British greater than 100 years in the past to reinforce its stability, can now be safely eliminated.

The magnificent Konark Sun Temple receives on a mean 5,000 to 10,000 guests every day. Currently, the sunshine and sound present depicting the historical past of the temple has been halted due to a technical subject. The timings of the temple are 6am to 6pm.

Odia Thali at Taj’s Vista Restaurant

Odia thali dished out at Vista restaurant at Taj Puri Resort Spa in Puri , Odisha.
| Photo Credit:
Okay R DEEPAK

Food in Puri is a revelation, and no go to may be full with out indulging in an genuine Odia thali. However, discovering a healthful Odia thali generally is a problem in Puri, besides in houses in the town. Taj Puri Resorts’ restaurant, Vista, bridges this hole by providing a lavish unfold of conventional Odia delicacies, bringing the culinary heritage of the area to the desk.

Curated by the lodge’s govt chef Biswarup Chatterjee, the thali is a symphony of flavours and textures. It contains dalma, a hearty lentil dish cooked with combined greens and tempered with paanch phoron (combine of 5 spices), is each nourishing and subtly spiced. The mustard-infused chatu besara is a wild mushroom curry with a tangy punch, whereas the koshila saag, a stir-fried medley of leafy greens, melts in your mouth with its gentle seasoning. The deep-fried brinjal fritters provides a crunchy distinction. The thali is served with rice and maacha jhola, fish curry cooked in mustard paste. The star of the meal is chhena poda, a caramelised cottage cheese dessert with a smoky aftertaste that lingers pleasantly.

The thali is offered for lunch and dinner on the Taj’s Vista restaurant.

The Jagannath Temple

A view of Jagannath temple in Puri , Odisha.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak

One of the Char Dham pilgrimage websites, the Jagannath Temple is a religious and cultural cornerstone of Puri. Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, this twelfth Century temple is famend for its grand annual Rath Yatra (chariot competition) and its Mahaprasad – holy meals ready in earthen pots over wooden hearth. The temple kitchen, stated to be one of many largest in the world, prepares Mahaprasad every day, utilizing a conventional method handed down generations. Devotees usually partake in this sacred meal, which incorporates khechedi (spiced rice and lentils), dalma, and numerous sweets, served on banana leaves.

One of the primary choices right here is the khaja, a crispy, golden candy made with layers of refined flour and dunked in sugar syrup. What makes Puri’s khaja particular is the usage of pure desi ghee, including an aroma and flavour. Stalls close to the Jagannath Temple equivalent to Nrusingha Sweets serve this delicacy recent and heat. Most candy retailers supply two variants of khaja – one made in oil and different in desi ghee. With every chew, the flaky outer layers crumble delicately, whereas the syrupy core bursts with a wealthy sweetness. The legacy of khaja-making in Puri dates again centuries, and its affiliation with temple rituals makes it an integral a part of the town’s meals tradition.

Raghurajpur heritage village

A view of the doorway of the Raghurajpur heritage village, identified for Pattachitra and palm leaf engravings, in Puri district of Odisha.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak

About 30 kilometres from Puri is the Raghurajpur Heritage Village, a residing canvas of artwork and custom. This quaint hamlet is famend for its centuries-old legacy of Pattachitra, intricate scroll work depicting mythological tales, deities, and folklore. Every dwelling right here is an artist’s workshop, the place vibrant murals and work adorn partitions, and expert palms convey to life palm leaf engravings, stone and wooden carvings, and conventional toys. Walking by its slim lanes is like moving into an open-air museum, the place the air is thick with the scent of pure dyes and the rhythmic strokes of paintbrushes narrate tales of a bygone period.

A lady sits exterior her home with crafts displayed on the verandah at Raghurajpur heritage village, identified for Pattachitra and palm leaf engravings, in Puri district of Odisha.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak

The village is dwelling to to a number of nationwide award-winning artists who’re a part of the Raghurajpur Chitra Karigari Co-operative Society, an organisation devoted to preserving these conventional artwork kinds. Beyond its creative attraction, Raghurajpur is a testomony to sustainable residing, the place craftsmanship is handed down generations, preserving Odisha’s wealthy cultural heritage. The villagers take immense delight in their work, welcoming guests with heat smiles and a glimpse into their inventive world. The greatest time to go to the village is from 8am until 6pm when guests can watch the artistes create these artwork kinds and buy them.

Silver filigree

Silver jewelry displayed at a retailer in Puri , Odisha.
| Photo Credit:
KR Deepak

Back in Cuttack, Pankaj Kumar Sahoo, a silver filigree artist creates intricate designs by reworking silver balls into advantageous threads and urgent them with wires by an in depth, time-intensive course of. He is without doubt one of the predominant suppliers of silver filigree (or Rupa Tarakasi that was granted a Geographical Indication tag) in New Kalinga Filigree retailer in Puri. The retailer is without doubt one of the oldest in the temple town now run by second era entrepreneur Sayed Saif Ali, who took over the reins of New Kalinga Filigree based by his father in 1982. “With growing awareness around the uniqueness of this art form, we’ve seen a noticeable rise in demand,” says Sayed.

Each filigree piece, whether or not an ornate necklace, a fragile brooch, or a miniature idol of Lord Jagannath, displays the artwork kind continued for generations.

The author was in Puri on the invitation of Taj Puri Resort and Spa