Tag: Puri Beach Resort

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

Fusion Restaurant

Great hospitality is when each guest’s dining experience is made memorable. Not only serving delicious food, but great service also goes a long way in making guests feel welcome at a restaurant. That’s what we believe at Puri Holiday Resort. So, to satisfy the taste buds of food lovers, this Puri beach resort has introduced Fusion Restaurant which offers a variety of cuisines like Indian, Chinese and Asian food options.

Located in the lobby level of Puri Holiday Resort, this restaurant in Puri has a magical ambience that will leave you awestruck. The decor combines the best of ancient and modern styles and has a tinge of green which will have a calming effect on your minds. It doesn’t stop there! The restaurant features a glass front from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful Puri beach. While eating your hearty meal and enjoying the sea view, your experience at the Fusion Restaurant will satiate your soul.

There are a range of cuisines that this Restaurant Near Puri Beach serves namely Indian, Chinese and Continental. So, you can order all kinds of delicacies to your heart’s content. Starting from a spicy North Indian dish to a healthy stir-fried Chinese item, there’s everything you can enjoy. The food tastes amazing and will make you want to come back again. Visitors have time and again reviewed the food served here as, “Fantastic”, “Amazing”, “Fresh and Juicy” and “Perfectly Cooked” to name a few.

Just like we believe, the service at Puri Holiday Resort is one of the best and that’s what makes us stand out from all other Luxury Hotels In Puri. People serving you are cooperative and very friendly. Moreover, they are well-trained and are always on their toes to make your dining experience worthwhile. No matter what your needs are, the attendants are quick-witted to understand and communicate with you to deliver the best possible service! Your experience at this Puri beach resort will be a memorable one anyhow.

Do you want to try out vegetarian or vegan options and worried if the Fusion restaurant serves them or not? If yes, you do not have to worry. It offers a number of vegetarian and vegan items for you to savour. Puri Holiday Resort keeps the needs of all kinds of guests in mind.

Furthermore, the restaurant serves all kinds of meals and so, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, Fusion Restaurant will serve you food of your choice. There’s also a special in-house bakery at Puri Holiday Resort which will serve you special tender desserts which will fill your taste buds with ecstasy. They taste so good every bite will feel like gulping down spoons of happiness.

If you’re in Puri or visiting it soon, do visit Fusion Restaurant for the sake of your taste buds. It is the best restaurant in Puri which will make your dining experience unforgettable.

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

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!

Know Puri Better – www.puriholidayresort.com

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

Budhhist Monastery

Puri is a land of remarkable culture and tradition. Along with the main temple Jagannath, there are number of other places in the city and also spread in its adjacent boundaries. Pipili,Konark, Chilika are some famous place, but today we are going to explore a hidden gem- Kuruma.

Kuruma, a small village in Puri, is located at a distance of 8 kilometers to the south-east of the sun temple of Konark. Kuruma is alternatively spelled as Kurum. The place is famous for the ancient Buddhist site. This site was built between 9th – 10th centuries A.D. It is situated on the left side of the Konarka–Kakatapur road and can be approached by a road branching from the Bali Dokan chowk and is about 2 kilometers from the chowk. The exact geographical location of this village is LONGITUDE 860 07’ 24” E and LATITUDE 190 53’ 62” N. Scholars are of opinion that this was one of the sites containing Buddhist stupas described by HiuenT’sang.

The site was first reported by Brajabandhu Das, a local school teacher and subsequently excavated by Odisha state Archaeology from 1971 to 1975. Prior to this excavacation, a stone slab containing the beautiful image of Lord Buddha was found on the bank of a tank at one end of the village. Here Buddha is seated cross legged with right hand in Bhumisparsa mudra while the left hand placed over his left knee. The image also wears a beautiful crown and a beautifully carved necklace. Besides this Buddha image, other two images were also found near the tank. One of these figures is identified as ‘Heruka’. Local people call this image as ‘Dharma’ (the Sun God) and another image is identified as ‘Yama’ (the God of Death). This Buddhist monastery is having twelve blocks, three in each cardinal direction and an open large courtyard at the center.

The monastery is abandoned now but the images retrieved from the site now worshiped within a small shed. Tourists may visit the room of teacher Sri Brajabandhu Das near to the UGME school, where some of the excavated specimens like script on stone, ancient coins etc. are kept under his supervision. From archaeological point of view Kuruma is not vary famous, but from tourism point of view it is an important place due to its close proximity to sun temple of Konark.

Stay connected at www.puriholidayresorts.com to know more about interesting places in and around Puri.

Bhabakundalesvara Temple

A village named after Manika, a milkmaid who had supposedly sold yogurt to Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra when they were on their way to Kanchi. The word ‘Manikapatna’ is a combination of two words ‘Manika’ and ‘Patana’. ‘Manika’, the name of the milkmaid and ‘Patana’ means ‘Village’.

Manikapatana, alternatively spelt as Manika Patna, is located in the Puri district. It is quite close to the mouth of the Chilika lake.

Manikapatana, one of the Excavated Archeological Sites of Puri district, is in Krushnaprasad block from which the remains at mediaeval period are found. This village is also famous for Bhabakundalesvara Temple.

Bhabakundaleswar temple is located on the left side of the National Highway 203 leading from Puri to Satpadabranching at a distance of 3.3 kilometers from Dahikhia square and situated at a distance of half kilometer from the Bay of Bengal. It is located around 44 kilometers from Puri. The temple is facing towards east and the presiding deity is a Siva Linga made of black chlorite stone. Festivals like Sivaratri, Kartika Purnima, Ekadasi, etc are observed in this temple with great devotion. Marriage, thread ceremony, engagement, etc are also observed here.

One of the most popular stories related to Lord Jagannath is that of kanchiavijana (or journey to Kanchi). Once the King of Puri, Purusottama Deva in the Gonga Dynasty, went to the South India and reached a kingdom called Kanchi. There he met the daughter of the King of Kanchi – Padmavati and both came to know each other. Later the King of Puri was invited by the King of Kanchi who, along with his queen was very pleased with Purusotama Deva and offered marriage proposal for their daughter. Pursottama Deva was very happy with the proposal and accepted gladly. Later the King of Kanchi sent his minister to Pursottama Deva with an official proposal for Marriage. It was the time of RathaYatra (Car Festival), so King Pursottama Deva asked the Minister to stay for few more days so that he can enjoy the Famous RathaYatra of Puri. The Minister was quite happy to see the same. On the Rathayatra day thousands of people gathered to see the festival.

The Minister of Kanchi saw that King Pursottama is standing in front of the chariot with a broom in his hand. After sometime he started sweeping the area where the chariots were kept. The Kanchi minister felt very bad by seeing this activity. He was very angry with this act of the king and returned back to Kanchi immediately and said everything to the king, stating that how can we put the hands of our princess in the hands of a sweeper who sweeps the road.

The King of Kanchi without understanding the situation agreed to the minister opinion and decided that he would certainly not give the hand of his daughter in marriage to one who performs the vile work meant for an untouchable. After this the King of Kanchi organized a Swayambara ceremony where he invited every suitable man from everywhere except King Pursottama Deva. Hearing this Pursottama Deva felt very bad and decided to challenge the King of Kanchi for a war.

For more interesting places and tales stay connected with us at www.puriholidayresort.com

Kakatpur is a small village in Puri District and is situated at a distance of 50 kms from Puri, on the Puri-Astaranga road. Situated on the bank of river Prachi, this temple is famous for Goddess Mangala. Goddess Mangala is the presiding deity of Kakatpur and is worshipped in this temple.

The Folklore

There is a famous story behind the evolution of the name of the deity as ‘Kakatpur’ Mangala and believed by the local people. Goddess Managla kept herself hidden under the deep water of river Prachi. Once a boatman was sailing his boat across river Prachi. At that time, the river was outpouring and flooded so he was unable to sail his boat to the middle of the river. He spent whole day and night but not able to sail his boat and during early morning, before the dawn, Goddess Mangala came in his dream and asked him to recover her from the water and to establish her in nearby Mangalapur village. The boatman dived into the water and able to find the deity from the bed of the river. Then as per the direction of the Goddess he established the figure of the deity in a temple in Mangalapur village. After this the boatman saw a black crow dived into the water and did not come out of the water for hours and days, the crow detained inside the water of river Prachi exactly in the same place from where he recovered the figure of Goddess Mangala. In local Odia language ‘Crow’ means ‘Kaka’ and ‘Detained’ means ‘Atka’. So by combining the two words it becomes ‘Kaka-Atka’, so during the course of time the Mangalapur village is known as ‘Kakat’ (Kaka-Atka) pur and the Goddess is known as KakatpurMangala.

Relation With Jagannath Temple

KakatpurMangala temple has a close relation with Lord Jagannath temple of Puri during the Navakalebara(Renovation of the Deities) festival. Old deities are buried under earth at the dedicated place inside Jagannath templeand new idols are created for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. The new idols are created from a sacred wood known as ‘Daru Brahma’ in local language. Nobody knows from where to find the sacred wood to create the new idols, so as per the tradition the priests of Lord Jagannath temple come to KakatpurMangala to pray the Goddess to help them to find the sacred wood. The priests sleep in front of the Goddess with their face down and then Goddess Mangala come in their dream and tell the exact location of the three sacred trees for the three deities. This custom has been performed from years together without any deviation. This shows the power and energy of Goddess Mangala and her blessings for her devotees.

For more such interesting facts and information about Puri, stay tuned with www.hotelholidayresort.com

Pipili

Puri has a very wide and distinctive selection of handicrafts. Best known is probably the gorgeous applique work of Pipili. Pipili is on the way from Puri to Bhubaneswar. It is 40 kilometers from Puri, at the junction where the Konarkroad branches from the Bhubaneswar to Puri road. It is a small village. On the main road at Pipili there are many shops selling Applique work products, tourist visiting Puri buy these products from Pipili. It is famous in Odisha as well as in India for it’s applique craft. Each and every family of the village engaged themselves in this applique craft. Most of the people of the village depend on this applique craft for their day to day life. Applique, a French term, is a technique by which various cutting pieces of coloured fabrics are applied to the surface of another foundation fabric. Applique works of Pipili is also known as patching cloth design and in local language this handicraft is known as ‘Chandua’.

Samiana(Canopies) and chhatris(umbrellas) that bear magnificent appliques and designs of great artistic skill are manufactured at pipili and Puri. It is a hereditary craft. Brightly coloured patches of fabric, cut into animal and flower shapes, are sewn onto bed covers, cushions, wall hangings etc. The art form typically depended on four basis colors, red, white, black and yellow to produce a striking effect. In recent years, green too has been applied vigorously enlivening the craft even more.

Any type of worship or sacrificial work is incomplete without pipilichandua. Canopies, chhatries and tarasas made in applique process are increasingly finding place in festivities. In every religious geity be it the car festival or the minor event of festive, shamiana or the canopies are displayed significantly. Wide scale use of shamiana are seen in the various festival of Lord Jagannath. Since the Lord’s rituals are more of the nature of the daily routine of human being, fan, umbrella of applique work are in rampant use to save the deity from the scorching heat of Sun or the rough weather. In chandanyatra the entire procession is taken out displaying and covering the deities with chattris of applique work. Further, the chandua another marvel of applique work has become a household commodity in almost every religious work.

Besides used in the religious function, with the touch of a little modernity, garments of varied designs are also made with it. Ladies item like frock, blouse, purse, handbags etc. are in great demand among tourists. Screens of bigger size with applique touch are also been made depicting the different characters of religious myth for interior design or decoration of houses.

Make sure you visit this hub of arts and crafts when visiting Puri. For more such interesting places near and in Puri, stay tuned with Puri Holiday Resort – your accommodation partner in Puri.

For more details 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.

Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath, is one of the richest places when it comes to the presence of some ancient, age old and important sacred temples. The temples are not only significant from religious point of view, but also lend traditional, cultural and historical importance.

One of the sacred tourist destinations of Puri, Barala is a village of religious importance where a famous Shiva temple is located. Barala is 11 kilometers from Sakhigopal, which is 22 km from Puri, on the Puri-Bhubaneswar National Highway 203 branching at Pattanayikia chowk, ahead of Chandanpur. This Shiva temple is knwon as BaralaBalunkeswar Temple or BaralaBalunkeswar Shiva Temple. This temple is one of the most important Shaiva shrines of Puri. The exact geographical location of the temple is LONGITUDE 850 50’ 52” E LATITUDE 190 58’ 29” N.

Barala Shiva Temple

Balunkeswar Shiva Temple is facing towards the east. The innermost chamber of the main temple preserves a Shiva Linga which is the presiding deity of the temple. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Lord Balunkeswar. Flowers, sandal paste, milk, Curd (yoghurt), honey, beetle leaves, coconut water, bilva leaves, etc. offered to Lord Balunkesvara throughout the year. This temple also houses 25 small shrines enshrining of images of Durga, Khshetrapala, Vairabhi Annapurna, Ardhanariswara, Damodara, Gopal, Narasimha, Ambika, and Parshwanath (Jain) images. Famous Festivals like Mahashivaratri, Sitalasasthi, Sankranti, Ekadasietc are observed here with great devotion. On the day of Mahashivaratri thousands of devotees from far and near arrive at the temple to offer their prayer to Lord Balunkeswar to get His blessings. Marriage ceremony, thread ceremony and engagements are also observed in this temple.

The architecture of the Balunkesvara Temple is novel with Vimana (Main Temple), Jagamohana (Entrance Hall) and Natamandapa (Dancing Hall). The temple is surrounded by a high wall with Sinha dwara (Lion’s Gate) on the east. There is another entrance on the southern side of the temple. Images of Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna are carved on the main door of the dancing hall. Lord Ganesha image is found on southern entrance of the jagamohana. Lord Narasimha and Lord Hanuman images are also available in the temple. The temple is under the care of Endowment Department of Government of Odisha.

To know more about Puri, stay connected to Hotel Holiday Resort. Also give us the opportunity to serve you, when you are in Puri.

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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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Alarnath Temple

Lord Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri, around 25 km from Puri, is not a big tourist destination but a famous religious place for all Krishna devotees. It is explained that in Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma came and worshipped Lord Vishnu here on top of a hill. One day Lord Vishnu appeared and said, “I am very pleased with your worship. Make a four-armed Deity of Me holding shankha, chakra, gada, and padma (conch shell, disk, club, and lotus). The Deity should be made from a piece of black stone. Also install a Deity of Garuda”. Lord Vishnu also said, “This place will be called Brahmagiri (Brahma’s hill) because you have worshipped me here”. According to mythology, the rulers of Alwar in Rajasthan had established the temple here. The temple was later known as Alwarnath or Alarnath.

Long yesrs back (in 1610 A.D) Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Alarnath during anavasara period of Lord Jagannath. Anavasara is the two weeks period when Lord Jagannatha take rest in isolation from the rest of the world after suffering from fever due to the annual bathing festival (Snana Yatra). Lord Chaitanya claimed that he visualised the appearance of Lord Jagannath in Alarnath and spent a long period in worshipping the deity here. It is believed that those who can not worship Lord Jagannath during his stay in the sick chamber can get the blessings of the deity if they visit the Alarnath temple. During this period the temple servitors offered holy porridge (rice pudding sweetened by jaggery), known as ‘Kheer’ in local language, to the lord. During anavasara period of every year thousands of devotees visit Alarnath temple to get the blessings of Lord Alarnath and to taste a pot of famous holy ‘Kheer’.

There is a beautiful myth about the ‘Kheer’ bhog. One day a child devotee prayed to the lord with great devotion and offered hot kheer. The lord in hurry dipped his fingers to take pleasure of the kheer and his upper right hand’s fingers got burn. It is clearly visible and on your request the Priest will also show you the brunt fingers. plain

n this temple Lord Vishnu is worshiped as Lord Alarnath. The deity has four arms. He holds chakra in his upper right hand, Lotus in his lower right hand, Conch in his upper left hand and club in his lower left hand. Lord Vishnu’s carrier eagle, known as Garuda, kneels at the feet of the deity with his hands folded in prayer position. The deities of Lord Krishna‘s queens Rukmini and Satyabhama are also find inside the temple. Deity of Lord Chaitanya is also found inside the temple. There is a stone slab in front of the deity which bears impressions from Lord Chaitanya’s body. When Lord Chaitanya first lay in full respect in front of Lord Alarnath, the stone below Lord Chaitanya melted from His blissful touch. There is a lake behind the temple where ChandanYatra (Sandalwood Festival) is celebrated for 21 days every year.

There is Goddess Lakshmi temple inside the Alarnath temple compound. The Goddess has four arms and looks very beautiful. Drashan of Goddess Laxmi gives a sense of inner peace.

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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.

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Ratha Yatra, also referred as Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival is the most famous festival celebrated in Puri. It is the oldest Ratha Yatra taking place in India and the World, whose descriptions can be found in Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita and takes place annually on Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashadha month.)

The festival commemorates Jagannath‘s annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (aunt’s home) near Balagandi Chaka, Puri. The significance of this annual festival can be known from the preparations that start well in advance as a huge crowd gathers in Puri on this holy day to catch the glimpses of their beloved Lord Jagannath.

Procession

The idols of Lord Jagannath along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra steps out the temple sanctum and are placed in three richly decorated Rathas. From the main temple they are taken to Gundicha or Mausi Maa temple, where they stay for 9 days, before returning back to Shree Mandira. The whole procession is carried out in a joyful mood with loud music, devotional songs, and chants praising Lord Jagannath. The devotees flock Puri from all over the world to participate in this auspicious festival with earnest desire to pull the chariots of deities and even the hot and humid weather could mar their spirits of rejoicing the annual festivity. Sudarshan Chakra is also part of the procession.

Different kinds of sevaks are employed to offer various services to Lord and his siblings.

rath yatra 2018

The Rathas or Chariots

The chariots used to pull the deities are also considered very auspicious and every year new chariots are carved from wood of specified trees like phassi, dhausa, etc. They are customarily brought from the ex-princely state of Dasapalla by a specialist team of carpenters who have hereditary rights and privileges for the same. The logs are traditionally set afloat as rafts in the river Mahanadi. These are collected near Puri and then transported by road.

The chariots are richly decorated as per the prescribed and followed for centuries stand on the Bada Danda, the Grand Avenue. Covered with bright canopies made of stripes of red cloth and combined with those of black, yellow and blue colours, the huge chariots are lined across the wide avenue in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Sinhadwara or the Lion’s Gate.

Lord Jagannath’s chariot is called Nandighosha. It is forty-five feet high and forty-five feet square at the wheel level. It has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter, and is decked with a cover made of red and yellow cloth. Lord Jagannatha is identified with Krushna, who is also known as Pitambara, the one attired in golden yellow robes and hence the distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot.

The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja, is the one with the Palm Tree on its flag. It has fourteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter and is covered with red and blue cloth. Its height is forty-four feet.

The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana, literally “trampler of pride,” is forty-three feet high with twelve wheels, each of seven-foot diameter. This chariot is decked with a covering of red and black cloth – black being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess.

Ratha Yatra 2018

This year, Ratha Yatra is falling on 14th July 2018. If you are interested in attending this grand procession in Puri, then it is advisable to make bookings in advance and collect all the necessary information before-hand so that you do not face any problem later on. As it is a very popular and grand festival, thousands of people travel to Puri. During this time of the year, Puri becomes one of the most crowded places in Odisha. Therefore, we at Hotel Holiday Resort offer the best services to our guests and make all the necessary arrangements for their visit to Puri during Ratha Yatra festival.

Hotel Holiday Resort makes sure that your stay during this time of the year is comfortable and enjoyable too. Contact us for any further query regarding the festival, tour and accommodation facilities and services. We would be happy to welcome you during Ratha Yatra 2018 and cater all your needs on your stay in Puri.

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