Category: Gundicha Temple

Puri in Odisha is both a spiritual as well as a relaxing getaway for people not only staying in the country but many more who come from abroad. Most of those coming here get fascinated by the legends of Lord Jagannath and look forward to spending a good amount of time on the beach, swimming and not to forget; visiting some epic places in the nearby areas. You can plan on visiting the world famous Sun temple in Konark and if planning to visit in the winter months then going to Chillika can be a treat. This brackish water lake becomes home to thousands of migratory birds and the lake comes alive with these colourful avian who fly down from far off countries. But apart from this particular time you can go for boat rides and enjoy the beauty of the place at any time of the year.

Coming to Puri is a fairly easy process as it is well connected by railways and those wanting to fly down can come to the nearest airport in Bhubaneswar which is just 60 kilometres away from the main city. One can plan to drive across the golden triangle that connects Puri, Bhubaneswar, Konark and don’t forget to stop and admire the sea on the marine drive or to quench your thirst with some tender coconuts which are plentily available on the roadsides. The city has an old world look and the numerous temples and houses bear the stamp of architectural designs of the yore. The majestic temple of lord Jagannath is the cynosure of all eyes and those who don’t get a chance to visit the temple make it a point to come during the annual Rath Yatra which gets celebrated during the months of June-July. For this year the festival is scheduled to begin in the first week of July. As there are more than a million footfalls during this time of the year getting hotel reservations become a problem.

Being city that thrives on tourism there are numerous hotels and Puri Beach Resort but if you want to spend time in a place that is luxurious, close to the beach and will give you the best possible deal then you can go ahead and book your accommodation in hotel Holiday Resorts. This hotel is highly recommended by trip advisor and also by those who have stayed here. You can book your rooms online and as they offer a 360 degree view of the whole place you can check out all the rooms before settling for the one that will best serve your purpose.

The hotel offers an all-inclusive package deal and those who opt for the privilege membership card get attractive discounts which make it all the more economical. The private beach next to the Puri Resort Booking is free from crowd and what can be better than to cool yourself in the clear blue waters, relax on the beach with a book, play beach ball with your friends or go for a romantic walk with your partner along the shore. The other facilities here include two multi cuisine restaurants, bar and a bakery shop which will tickle your pallet with a variety of dishes. For relaxing inside the hotel there is no dearth of options as there are swimming pool, gym and a gaming zone to keep the young ones occupied. The Spa here is just the place for your body and apart from the different massage they have a specially curated one for those suffering from jet lag. The hotel is a great place to have fun and along with that their banquet rooms and the conference room can be booked for meeting, weddings and other functions. So go ahead and book your rooms in Holiday resorts and have a holiday that will detoxify you both physically as well as psychologically.

For more details about Restaurant in Puri just move on www.puriholidayresort.com

Puri Tours

Travelling to Puri? You will need a guide to help you plan out your stay and make your trip an unforgettable one. Need not worry! We have an entire list of things that you can do while you’re at Puri.

But first, let us give you a quick read-through about Puri, one of the most stunning spots in Odisha. It is a city in the state of Odisha, situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres to the South of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the state. It covers an area of 16.33 square kilometres and is famous for the Jagannath Temple, a revered pilgrimage destination or as they call it, a Char Dham temple and the long sandy Puri Beach.

Now, let’s move on to our travel guide on the top things to do in Puri which will help you discover the best shopping destinations, eateries, adventure and fun activities in Puri.

  1. Lord Jagannath Temple

When in Puri, one cannot miss the opportunity of visiting the Lord Jagannath Temple. It is located in the heart of the city and is the visitors’ total favourite! Here you’ll be able to learn about the culture and history of Lord Jagannath and the architecture of the temple will leave you spellbound. If you visit Puri in the month of June-July, you can also see the world famous chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, the Rath Yatra.

If you book a room in a hotel in Puri that’s near to the temple, you wouldn’t have to spend much time travelling.

  1. The Puri Beach

A holiday in Puri is incomplete without visiting the royal golden beach. You can sit back and relax all day and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the spot. Sunsets at this point look magical! The sparkling waters will convince you to get up and get playing. Trust us! It is the perfect spot to relax and have a fun time with your family.

There are many luxury hotels in Puri facing the beach. So, if you choose to stay in any one of them, make sure your Puri hotel booking includes a sea-facing room. You’ll enjoy the view no matter what time of the day it is.

  1. Gundicha Temple

Known as the Lord Jagannath’s Garden House, the Gundicha Temple is located just 3 kilometres away from the Jagannath Temple at the end of Bada Danda, the pathway for Rath Yatra. The temple has huge walls made of sandstones that are grey in colour. It is famous for the garden that is built in its middle which is known as God’s Summer Garden. The insides of the temple and the garden are so beautiful you’ll always want to come back.

Some Puri holiday hotels include special trips to the Lord Jagannath and Gundicha temples. So, you can always use that opportunity to travel to these attractions. Puri Beach Resort is one of the luxury hotels in Puri that tend to the visitors in the best way possible. You can look for this particular hotel if you want a Puri resort booking for your holiday.

  1. Narendra Sarovara

The sacred lake located to the North-East of Lord Jagannath Temple is considered to be very special to the followers of Lord Jagannath. It has an island in the middle of the lake dedicated to the three deities, Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra. The lake is famous for Chandan Yatra, wherein Lord Madan Mohan takes a ride on a boat called Chapa. This festival is usually held in April-May on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. On this very day, the construction of the chariots for the three deities for the festival of Rath Yatra begins.

  1. Sudarshan Crafts Museum

Visiting the Sudarshan Crafts Museum must anyhow be in your to-do list when you’re in Puri. It was started in 1977 by the famous sculptor and artist Shri Sudarshan Sahoo and is located on the Station Road. Inside the museum, you’ll find the sculptor’s works like wood carvings, stone works fiberglass works, paintings, handicrafts and more.

Shri Sudarshan Sahoo and his wife also run a Gurukul system to teach budding artists how to fine-tune their skills and showcase their talent in the entire world. This is one of the must- visit locations in Puri.

  1. Chung Wah

If you’re wondering where to eat when you’re in Puri, you need to worry no more. Chung Wah is a restaurant in Puri that’s the most popular eatery out there. It is a Chinese restaurant and serves delicacies that speak directly to your heart. No doubt you’ll find a restaurant in Puri that serves good food, but Chung Wah is class apart!

  1. Main Market

Are you a shopaholic? You must head to the Flea Market or the Main Market in Puri. There are innumerable numbers of shops lined in the Main Market. You’ll mostly find religious items, handicrafts, soft wood items, sea shells, mythological paintings, traditional textiles and more. The market is usually crowded because of the amazing items on sale. You’ll love the experience of shopping at the Main Market in Puri.

Whenever you visit Puri, make sure you include trips to these tourist attractions to make your stay memorable.

Stay Tuned with Hotel Holiday Resort at www.puriholidayresort.com to gather all the information about Puri.

Mukti Mandapa

Located in front of the Nrusingha temple- on the southeren side of the Lord Jagannath Temple. Mukti Mandapa holds very special significance. The name Mukti Mandapa is formed by the combination of two words ‘Mukti’, which means freedom and ‘Mandapa’, which means platform.

It was built in 15th Century on the request of Queen Mahadevi, wife of King Mansingh of Jaipur.

What Is Mukti Mandapa

It is a council of Brahmin scholars that acts as a final judicial system in religious matters. It is headed by Shankaracharys of Puri Govardhan math on permanent basis. All the disputes that fall under religion are discusses and a final verdict is passed by the council of pandits. In ancient days, the matter was when put in front of the King, he used to call the council for discussion and the verdict was passed by the council itself.

According to some local beliefs, a person gets salvation and will be free from all their sins if he/she follows all the rituals as told by the scholars of Mukti Mandapa.

Apart from these duties, Mukti Mandapa is also involved in some significant rituals of the temple and Odia tradition. The yearly Odia calendar is submitted to the Mukti Mandapa for the approval before being published and made publically available.

The council also performs rites and rituals during the Nava Kalavera festival. The council is offered Mahaprasada after morning and mid-day dhupas.

Structure of The Platform where The Council Sits

The structure Mukti Mandapa is made up of black granite stone with height 5 feet and the area covered is 900 square feet. The shape of the platform is an elevated square and is open from all sides except for roof, which is at the height of 13 feet from the ground level. Total 16 pillars support the whole structure out of which 12 pillars are around the periphery and 4 are present in the middle section. The height if each pillar is 8 feet. These 16 pillars are believed to be the symbols of the sixteen Brahmin Sasanas (settlements or villages) established around Puri city by Ramachandara Dev, the first king of Bhoi Dynasty. A number of idols of different Hindu Gods and Goddesses adorn the platform.

Mukti Mandpa holds a very high respect and place. The council and the platform is believed to be a home extensive knowledge and experience and hence many people bow their heads and touch the platform to show their respect towards this valuable seat. The platform, no doubt has been adorned by a number of learned men and therefore deserves all the respect offered to it by devotees.

Stay tuned at www.puriholidayresort.com for more interesting information about Puri.

Holidays, even the pilgrimage ones, are incomplete without doing shopping. After all, we all love to take back some memories in form of souvenirs from the places we visit. Puri, apart from its religious significance owns rich cultural heritage that can be seen around in the local markets of the Puri, reflected in the wonderful collection of textiles and handicrafts. Weaving saris is a traditional craft of Odisha.

In Puri you would find many Government and private outlets dealing in textiles where shoppers flock in large numbers. Do check out the exquisite passapali, bomkai, sambalpuri and ikat saris while shopping in Puri. Handicraft items including palm leaf engraving, silver filigrees, horn work, pattachitra, coir products, metal ware, appliques, sea shell items, stone statues, wooden statues, papier mache masks and solapith are available at Government emporiums, private shops and bazars of the city. You can also find a wide range of utility products and decorative pieces in textiles including canopies, blinds, and garden & beach umbrellas.

Being a beachside destination, shells and oyster are available in abundance in Puri. Over the years the ace craftsmen have perfected the art of making artefacts out of shells and oysters. A variety of utilities, decorative showpieces are definitely a feast to eyes and may leave you spoilt for choice. Do pick up few sea shell items while shopping in Puri.

So today let’s unravel some of the best shopping destinations in Puri.

Utkalika

Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Ltd which is commonly known as Utkalika. Utkalika outlet is located in Grand Center market complex, near Jagannath Temple. At Utkalika you will find almost all varities of textile and handicraft items at resonable price including Applique Work, Art Textiles, Brass & Bell metal, Cane & Bamboo Craft, Dhokra Casting, Golden Grass, Horn Works, Palm Leaf Engraving, Paper Mache, Pattachitras, Sabai Grass, Silver Filigree, Stone Carving, Terracotta, Tribal Jewellery, Wood Carving. No bargaining is allowed here as this is a Odisha State Government owned shop with fixed price for all items.

Sudharshan Workshop

Sudharshan workshop is famous for stone carving and is located at the Station Road near Puri Zilla School and has a variety of items like stone & wood carvings of various religious deities & exotic sculptures, handicraft products and paintings.

Pattachitra Center

Pattachitra Center is famous for pattachitra& palm leaf engraving. It is located on Nabakalabara road of Puri. Though it is famous for pattachitra, but you will also find other handicraft items like stone statues, wooden statues and various types of paintings

Priyadarshini

Priyadarshini is located at V.I.P roard of Puri and is very famous for handloom items and handicraft products. Priyadarshini is one of the finest Odisha handloom woven in cotton and silk. Claiming to be Odisha’s top weaver’s, Priyadarshini will not disappoint you with its wide-range of collection including sarees and dress materials. Right from the traditional temple borders and geometric designs to the exquisite fabrics like Tusser, Sambalpur and Ikat named after the Odisha regions, the colorful variety is a treat to watch and elegant to drape.

Sun Crafts

Sun Crafts is located at V.I.P roard of Puri and is very famous for wooden Jagannath figures. You will find Jagannath figures in almost all shopping places in Puri, but the finishing and quality produced by the artisans at Sun Crafts is unmatchable. You can also place order for the figures as per your requirement and they will make it for you. You will also find pattachitras&plam leaf engravings here.

Grand Road (Known As ‘BadaDanda’ In Local Language)

Grand Road is the main road in front of Jagannath Temple’s lions gate. All the way down the Grand Road outside the Jagannath Temple, you will find shops selling rudraksha (holy seeds), sandalwood beads, images of Lord Jagannath, brass idols, paintings on coconut, wooden replica of chariots and other devotional items. You will find other shopping complexes like Grand Center, Sahoo Super Bazaar, Nayak Plaza, Suriya Complex, Jagannath Ballava Market Complex and Laxmi Market Complex on the Grand Road. You will find amazing collection of fancy apparels, cloth items, handicrafts and lovely souvenirs in these market complexes. You will find the same item with different price tags in these market complexes so please do bargain during shopping.

Sea Beach Markets

There are three major places near to Puri sea side where you will find most of the crowds, these three places are Penthokota area, area in front of Puri hotel and Swargadwara area. You will find most of the shops & stalls in these areas selling sea shell items made out of shells and oysters and handloom products. During evening, you will find lot of vendors moving on the beach and selling cronch shells and other decorative items. Sometimes you will get good price from these vendors as compared to shops for same item.

All these places will lend an excellent opportunity to peak into the rich heritage of Odisha. Outside main city Puri, Pipli and Raghurajpur are two famous villages known for extraordinary handicrafts.

At last, here comes a Shopping-Tip for Local Puri Market-BARGAIN!

Yes, do not forget to bargain to buy your choices at very reasonable costs.

Happy Shopping!

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Puri Tours

General Information and Tips About Puri

  • The standard time in Puri is GMT + 5 ½ Hours
  • Govt of Odisha tourist offices are available at Railway station, Jagannath Temple, Sea Beach, Bus Stand and also in various tourist destinations.
  • The summer is very hot and humid at Puri. Do carry sunglasses, sunscreen lotion and a hat.
  • The winter is not too cold at Puri. Do carry light winter clothes with you.
  • You will find beggars in all tourist destinations, it is not mandatory to help them, try to avoid them as far as possible. Do not let them hassle you, and do not encourage them by giving them money.
  • Change currency only from official money changers.
  • Cyber cafes with Internet facility is available in some places of Puri.
  • Always respect religious shrines and places of worship.
  • Non Hindus are not allowed to enter into Lord Jagannath Temple.
  • In case of any trouble, immediately contact the nearest Police Station.
  • Make sure to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship. All most all temples in Puri will not even allow you to carry leather articles like wallet, belt etc inside. You can deposit them in the temple shoe stand and collect it on your way out.

Safety Tips

  • While travelling in/to various tourist places of/around Puri in local buses, trains etc. be aware of pick picketers and snatchers. Though it is not a frequent activity but many cases reported every year. Never leave your luggage, briefcase or other items unattended.
  • Don’t keep your wallet in the rear pocket. Keep it in an inside jacket pocket or side trouser pocket.
  • All valuables and important papers (jewelry, passports, return tickets, etc) should be kept in your hotel’s safe deposit box. Never leave them unattended in your room. Avoid carrying large sums of cash on your person.
  • Don’t take the advice of taxi drivers for the purpose of accommodation.
  • You should be aware of the local laws and customs prevailing in India. This will help in making your trip hassle free.
  • Never ever purchase air/ rail/ bus tickets through strangers or unauthorized travel agents/ tour operators, also known as touts. They are not at all reliable. Buy tickets from the authorized centers only.

Health And Medication

  • Avoid drinking water from an unknown source. When in doubt purchase Bisleri, Kinley, Aqua Finaetc mineral water bottles from any shop.
  • Even when you are visiting restaurants or hotels, insist on bottled (mineral) water. You will not face much trouble as almost all the restaurants and hotels keep bottled water.
  • You can find vendors selling fresh coconut water everywhere in Puri.
  • Avoid foods that have been laid out in the open, avoid sweets and candies from local markets. Try and avoid spicy food, especially if you’re not used to it. Enjoy your food inside the hotels and restaurants.
  • Pharmacies or chemists are available in every place of Puri. In case you need to consult a doctor, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or go to any hospital/clinic.
  • Never forget to carry your essential medication with you. The brand names can differ and your specific brand of medication may not be available in Puri.
  • Never eat cut fruits sold by the roadside vendors. Always eat fruits you can peel. Wash the fruits properly with water well before eating them.
  • Sun in Puri can be ruthless in the summer months. Keep a good sunscreen lotion and sun block cream to avoid sun damages.

For more details, you can contact the hotel management at Hotel Holiday Resort or visit www.puriholidayresort.com

Daksinakali Temple

To the world, Puri is famous as Abode of Lord Jagannath. However, the city is dotted with some of the most beautiful temples and one can find followers of different deities.

Apart from Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri is also famous for its Sakta temples. In Puri there are several temples dedicated to Sakta deities such as Varahi, Ramachandi, Bhubanesvari, Harachandi, Daksina Kali, Shyamakali, etc. There is a small temple dedicated to goddess Kali at Bali Sahi. This temple is known as Dakshinakali Temple. It is situated towards the south-eastern side of the Lord Jagannath Temple on Bali sahi. Tourists can approach the temple by using the road leading towards Swargadwar from Singhadwar (Lion’s Gate) of Lord Jagannath Temple, on the left side of this road there is a diversion to Kalikadevi lane. After enetring this lane you can find this temple on the right side.

Daksinakali Temple is facing towards east and the presiding deity is Goddess Kali. The deity is chatrubhuja (four armed) and seated on a corpse. She is shown as drinking blood, with a sword and holding severed head of a demon in two of her hands. If Kali steps out with her right foot and holds the sword in her left hand, she is a Dakshina Kali. If she steps out with her left foot and holds the sword in her right hand, she is Smashan Kali (Kali worshiped near the cremation ground).

The deity is enshrined in a modern temple at a higher raised platform from the road level. Festivals like Kali Puja, Deepavali, Durga Puja, Kumara Purnima, Chaitra Mangalabara, etc. are observed in Dakshina kali Temple with great devotion. On the auspicious day of Kali puja thousands of devotees visit the temple to offer their prayer to Goddess Kali to get her blessings.

Dakshina Kali Temple has important religious associations with Jagannath Temple and it is believed that Daksinakali is the guardian of the kitchen of the Lord Jagannath Temple. Puranic tradition says that in Puri, Lord Jagannathis regarded as Daksinakalika. Goddess Dakshinakali plays an important role in the ‘Niti’ of Saptapuri Amavasya. Tourists come to visit Lord Jagannatha temple, also visit this temple.

At this platform, we try our best to bring the hidden gems of Puri. Stay tuned with us at www.puriholidayresort.com and catch the glimpses of this enchanting city with new and refreshed outlook.

The ‘Beach Festival’ of Puri is organized by the people of Odisha, the citizen of Puri, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and sponsored by Department of Tourism (Govt. of India and Govt. of Odisha).

Puri Beach festival unravel the majestic grandeur of divergent art, craft & Culture from different states, particularly the ethnic pristine splendor of Odishan glorious culture heritage amidst the exotic ambience on the golden pastures of the Bay of Bengal. Top performers from other states have been invited to present their rich talents. That performance could see by the foreign and domestic tourists to attract them to visit again and again. The basic idea of Puri Beach festival is to present the art, crafts, culture, cuisine and tourism potential of the state on a single platform and to attract world focus on it. Further the motive is to promote Odisha in and outside of the country. A variety of sports such as beach kabadi by girls, country boat race among the nolias, kick-boxing, tea-kwno-do, wushe, karate, Indian style of wrestling, beach volley ball by both boys and girls, fire bonati and malkhamb are some of the attractions which would keep both the domestic and the foreign tourists busy and enchanted all through the 7 days of the festival.

Puri Beach Festival

Besides the sports events the other major attraction is the culture based program.Since Odisha is a place with varied culture, the different traditional functions emphasizing its culture are displayed in its wide form. Representatives from different part of the state participates and perform their own cultural theme which includes dance, song, orchestra etc. in a lively way. The great oddissi dance projecting the saga of widely accepted Ramayana, Mahabharata, Dasavatara, prahalladbadha etc. are performed by different established group in dance form. The marital art of Mayurbhanj is displayed in Chau nurtya.The paikas of Khurda who are known in the pages of history for their valor, are also reflected in the dance form by the traditional paikas as Paikanrutya. In addition to this, members from other part of the country & foreign as well takes part to show their cultural ability.

The major attraction which is exclusive is the ‘Sand Art’. Sand art is a new concept which is carved out from heap of sand. The different monumental structure of ancient India, are projected in sands. The famous picture of AlasaKanya or the tiresome lady which is found over the walls of ancient temples like konark, Jagannath temple is well shown in the sands.

The HRAO has taken step of presenting this festival to attract not only foreigners, but also a huge domestic tourists traffic who would be eager to come to this state on one platform. They would be able to enjoy our rich cultural heritage, handicrafts, handloom, cottage industries, and the lack of memories and moments that would be everlasting in the minds of the tourists who visit Odisha during the festival. HRAO:The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha may be just about over one and half decade old,being ‘born’ in 1984,but in its short life it has contributed in a most significant manner to the growth of the hospitality industry in Odisha.The growth of the HRAO is an index of the expansion of the hotel industry in Odisha.Today,there are almost 200 members of the Association and the membership is growing.HRAO was formed basically to help the members in running a smooth and successful business and to promote tourism in Odisha.

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Jagannath Rathyatra 2018

Puri along with Bhubaneshwar and Konark marks the epicentre of spirituality as the area is dotted with a number of ancient old temples, which hold crucial significance in Hinduism.

Among all, Chakratirtha is an important pilgrim centre of Puri. It is situated towards the northern end of Puri town and at a distance of 3 kilometres from the Lord Jagannath temple. It is located on the right side of Chakratirtha Road, leading from Subas Bose Chowk to Penthakota, the fisherman village. At this place there is a temple dedicated to Lord Nrusingha. Local people know this temple in various names like Chakra Narasimha Temple, Chakra Nrusingha Temple and Chakra Narayana Temple. At this temple, a large Chakra, the devine weapon of Lord Visnu or Jagannath, is being worshipped in water in the sanctum sanctorum made of black granite with a statue of Lord Narayan at the centre, known as Chkranarayana.

The presiding deities of the temple are three images of Lord Nrusingha known as Abhaya Nrusingha, Chakra Nrusingha and Laxmi Nrusingha. These three different forms of Lord Nrusingha as worshipped at Chakratirtha have unique values in Hindu religion. The form of Abhaya Nrusingha represents Sri Balabhadra. The form of Chakra Nrusingha represents Goddess Subhadra and the form of Laxmi Nrusingha represents Lord Jagannath. In puranas, the first three gods of the universe, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar have also found expression in the forms of Chakra Nrusingha, Laxmi Nrusingha and Abhaya Nrusingha respectively.

Significance

It is believed by local people that once there was a cyclone in Puri and the Neelachakra (the wheel at top of Jagannath Temple) was displaced from its location, flown across the sky and finally fell at Chakratirtha. It is also believed that the ‘Daru’ (divine log of wood for the creation of deities of Lord Jagannth temple during Navakalevara ) touched the ground at Chakratirtha for the first time coming through the sea. Chakratirtha has another spiritual significance as the abode of Goddess Mahalaxmi’s father is situated here.

Chakratirtha temple has close association with Lord Jagannth temple and every year the Agnyamala from Lord Jagannath comes to Lord Nrusingha. Narasimha Janma festival is observed in this temple with great devotion.

To know more about such interesting places in Puri and experience the best stay here, connect with Hotel Holiday Resort Puri at www.puriholidaysresort.com

Daria Mahavir Temple

A small sea side temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman is situated west of Chakranarayan temple in Puri. The temple is known as Daria Mahavir Temple. In local language ‘Daria’ means ‘Sea’ and Mahavir is another name of Lord Hanuman. The temple is located on the left side of the Chakratirtha road leading from Subash Bose Chowk to Penthakata. From the architectural point of view the temple is not so important but from the religious point of view, it occupies an important position in the cultural history of Puri. The exact geographical location of the temple is LONGITUDE 85050’67”E and LATITUDE 19048’03”N. The temple is facing towards east. The outer walls of the temple housed images of different Deities. The image of Anjana, holding a baby in her lap, is carved on the western side wall. There is a female divinities over a decorated pedestal on the northern side wall. The image of Lord Ganesha is carved on the southern side wall.

The presiding deity is a two armed Hanuman, holding a ladu (sweet) in left hand a gada (mace) in his right hand. Famous rituals like Pana Sankranti, Hanuman Jayanti, Rama Navami etc are observed in this temple. The temple is also known as Bedi Hanuman Temple.

Folklore – From where did the temple got its name

The temple has an interesting story behind the name ‘Bedi Hanuman’.

It is believed that Daria Mahavir protects Sankha kshetra Puri against the fury of the sea. It is Daria Mahavir’s duty to see that the sea does not cross its limits and enter the peripheral boundaries of Puri. But when the Jagannath Temple was built, Varuna, the God of the Sea, able to came to the Jagannath temple to pay his respects. In the meantime sea water entered the city, causing considerable damage to the temple. The devotees prayed to Lord Jagannath who asked Hanuman to explain how the sea entered the city in his presence. Lord Hanuman told that he was not present at that time and was left for Ayodhya without informing him. On hearing about Lord Hanuman’s unscheduled visit to Ayodhya, Lord Jagannath got his hands and feet tied with rope (bedi) and asked him to be vigilant on the sea shore day and night. Since his hands and feet tied with rope (bedi), he is known as ‘Bedi Hanuman’ or ‘Chained Hanuman‘. There is a popular belief that since then, the sea has not entered into the city.

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Markandeshwar Temple

The Golden Triangle of Odisha is adorned with innumerable temples. Some of these temples hold a very special significance and are historically, culturally and religiously are very important. Most often Jagannath Temple is the most famous and visited pilgrimage site in Puri, however apart from Jagannath Temple, there are few other beautifully carved out temples which should be included in your visiting-spots when travelling to Puri.

One such temple is Markandeshwar Temple in Puri.

Markandeswar temple is also known as Markandesvara Temple, Markandeya Shiva Temple and Markandeswara Mahadeva Temple. This temple is facing towards east and the presiding deity is a Sivalinga. This temple is connected with the rituals of Chandan yatra, Balabhadra Janma, Ashram Bije, Sital Sasthi, Kaliyadalan etc. of the Jaganath temple. Festivals like Janmastami, Risi Panchami, Rakhi Purnima, Sivaratri, Sankranti, Narasimha Chaturdasi etc. are also observed with great devotion at this temple. This place is one of the Pancha Tirthas of Puri and also one of the fifty two sacred Shiva places of the country.

Markandeya is one among the Pancha Pandavas. God saved Markandeya from a severe danger from sea. The place where God saved Markanda is known as Markandeya, the holy place, on that particular spot Markandeya remained on meditation for a long time. At this place a Shiva Temple was constructed by sage Markandeya. The ancient Markandeswar Shiva Temple is situated in the Markandeswar street by the side of  Markandeswar tank, to the north of the Jagannath temple. This place can be approached on the right side of Markandeswar road leading from Markandeswar chowk to Prui-Brahmagiri road. The exact geographical location of this temple is LONGITUDE 85049’94”E and LATITUDE 19048’62”N.

Markandeya Tank

Markandeya tank is an open structure and it enclosed within a stone wall made of dressed laterite blocks. The tank is rectangular is shape and 8.50 meters below the present road level. Its sides measure 350 feet on the northern side, 508 feet on the eastern side, 385 feet on the southern side and 542 feet on the western side. Bathing ghats are provided for the tourists in southern side of the tank. The tank is presently used for rituals as well as for normal bathing. Rituals like Pinda Dana, Mundan Kriya etc. are observed on the steps of the tank. The tank is fed by a natural spring from underground. The excess and waste water is discharged through an outlet channel in the north eastern wall. As a result the water level of the tank remains constant throughout the year. The exact geographical location of this tank is LONGITUDE 85048’94”E LATITUDE 19048’62”N.

Previously at the northern side of the tank there are seven stone images, each four feet high, kept over a platform representing the Sapta Matrukas or seven sacred mothers. These Seven Mothers are also accompanied by images of Lord Ganesha and Lord Virabhadra. I visited this temple on 02FEB2010 and found that the temple administration is creating a new temple for the Sapta Matrukas and all these images have already been shifted inside the under construction temple.

Few ancient stone inscriptions found on the steps to the tank and the Markandeshwar Temple, are of great interest to historians. These stone inscriptions pertain to Ganga dynasty. Both Markandeswar temple and Markandeswar tank can be dated back to the 12th century AD. Puri became an important center of pilgrimage by the 12th century. The history in Puri also proves that Sri Ramanuja visited Puri during 1107 and 1117. Sri Ramanuja was followed by Vishnu Swami, who is known to establish the Vishnuswami Matha, near Markandeshwar Tank.

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Gundicha Temple

Puri is one of the most fabulous places to enjoy the vacations and also seek blessings of Lord Jagannatha. Apart from the main Shree Temple, there are number of other temples that hold special significance and one such temple is Gundicha Temple, and is also known as Garden House of Lord Jagannatha.

This temple is located at the end of Grand road about three km north east of Jagannth temple and is marvellous piece of architecture with intricately carved structure all over in light-grey snadstone.

Relation to Lord Jagannath and Rath Yatra

It is during the Rath Yatra, that this temple becomes the centre of attraction as Lord stays in this temple for 7 days during Rath Yatra time. For rest of the year, the temple remains empty and can be visited by tourists.

Gundicha Mandira is also called the “birthplace” of Jaganantha Swami because here on a special platform called the mahavedi, a celestial carpenter carved the daru that manifested the Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra during the reign of King lndradyumna. This temple is named after King Indradyumna’s wife, Gundicha Maharani. In this area King Indradyumna performed one thousand ashvamedha yajnas.

During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, along with Sudarsana, leave Jagannath Mandira for nine days: one day for traveling to Gundicha, seven days spent there, and one day to return home. This Journey is known as to Gundicha Yatra, Nava Dina Yatra (“nine days Journey”), or Ghosa Yatra. It is most auspicious to have darshana of Lord during this time. Every year the Rathayatra culminates at this temple which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall cooling coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees create a Vrindavan atmosphere which Lord Jaganantha enjoys for 7 days before returning to Sri Mandira.

The cleansing of the Gundicha Temple – Gundicha-marjana – takes place the day before the Rathayatra festival as mentioned in Chaitanya-Charitamrita. Darshan of Jagannatha during His stay at Gundicha temple is known as Adapa Darshana. It is said in scripture that darshan of the Lord Jagannatha at Gundicha temple is equal to ten darshan at Nilachala Temple (main temple).

The place where Gundicha temple is situated is known as Sundarachala. Sundarahcala is compared to Vrindavana, and Nilachala, where Jagannatha recides, is compared to Dvaraka. During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha comes to Vrindavana, as the devotees are in the mood of residents of Vrindavana, begging the Lord to return with them.

Goddess Gundi

Some folklore suggests that main deity of the temple is Goddess Gundi, an avatar of Goddess Durga, who cures chicken pox.

Apart from these legends, there are few versions as well. Whatever the story may lie behind, but today the fact is that Gundicha Temple is one of the major attractions in Puri and also a must visit.

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