Puri is renowned for its patachitras, intricate religious paintings on silk and cotton fabric, originally created as wall hangings in the temple of Lord Jagannath. Fringed by the shimmering blue sea and soft golden sand, the colourful temple town itself is like one big patachitra.
Located along the Bay of Bengal coastline, Puri has one of the finest beaches in the country. The casuarina tree-lined beach with its languid waters and huge works of sand art are captivating. The beach is unique in that you can see both the sunrise and sunset from here. Doing nothing by the beachside is as pleasurable an activity here as swimming or surfing in the waters.
Apart from its laidback beaches, Puri is famous for the Jagannath temple. Built in the 12th century AD in the distinctive Kalinga style of architecture, it is the abode of Lord Jagannath, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple sprawls across 10.7 acres of land, with its spire soaring 65 metres into the sky, visible anywhere in Puri. The grandeur of the temple, its customs, and the reigning deity suffuse all aspects of life in Puri and leave no visitor to the town untouched.
Shopping is one of Puri’s other charms. Vivid ikat and double-ikat textiles, appliqué art lampshades, garden umbrellas, wall hangings, bead and bamboo works, tarkashi or silver filigree objects, palm-leaf inscriptions, or of course, the patachitra, there’s always a bit of Puri you can take home.
FACT FILE
- Area: 3,051 sq km
- State: Orissa
- Distance from nearby towns/ cities: Bhubaneswar (state capital of Orissa, 65 km away); Konark (35 km away)
- Take away: Pata or patachitra, which are folk-religious paintings on cloth in typical colours of red, black, yellow, white and indigo blue; appliqué work items like wall hangings, etc; ikat sarees and dress materials; Bomkai and Sambalpuri sarees; tarkashi or silver filigree work; kitsch like miniature reproductions of Konark wheels and other handicrafts
Best Time To Visit
The winter months of October to February are the most pleasant time to be in Puri. Or you might want to visit Puri for
- Rath Yatra – June-July (precise dates change each year)
- Birds at Chilka Lake – October to March (migratory season)
- Puri Beach Festival – Early November (check precise dates); it’s an open-air gala of Oriya craft, cuisine, and cultural evenings, with contemporary fashion shows and rock shows as well.
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