About Jagannath Temple

Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. The credit for laying the foundation of the Jagannath temple of Puri goes to Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev. The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and is greatly revered by the devotees following the Vaishnava traditions.

There is an interesting legend associated with the Jagannatha temple of Puri. It is said that King Indradyumna, the ruler of the territory, saw Lord Jagannath in his dreams and following the Lord’s wishes, as told to him in his dreams, he got the Jagannath Puri Temple constructed. Situated in the heart of the holy city, the temple is visited by devotees from farthest corners of India as well as the world. It exudes splendor and its tall spires lend it a magnificent aura. The walls are embellished with exquisite carvings.

The pillars that provide support to the temple are adorned with pictures depicting the life of Lord Krishna. In the list of the most splendid monuments of Orissa, Jagannath temple occupies a supreme position. One of the most popular attractions of the Jagannatha Temple of Puri comprises of its Rath Yatra that is organized every year. It is basically a chariot festival, where idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the main deities of Srimandir, are taken to the Gundicha temple in bejeweled chariots and are brought back to the mandir in the same way.

Climate

Located on India's eastern coast, the cool breeze from the Bay of Bengal makes the tropical weather in Puri more bearable as compared to interior Orissa. The summer months from March to May are hot and humid, with temperatures rising to over 39° C.

Puri faces the south west monsoon in June, and temperatures fall to around 28° C till October. The rainfall peaks to around 250 mm during July and August, and dips to approximately 127 mm by October.

Winter in Puri makes its presence felt from November, when temperatures start falling to maintain an average of 16° centigrade in December and January. Cold winds from the North North east keep the temperatures low in spite of the bright sunshine. However, this is the most pleasant time of the year for visitors to Puri.

Transportation

Puri, being the dwelling place of Lord Jagannath, is one of the most visited pilgrim destinations of India. Devotees come here from different parts of the country to offer prayers and seek the blessings of the Lord. The place witnesses exceptionally large crowds during the Rath Yatra Festival, whether the deities of Lord Jagannath Temple are taken out in a procession. Reaching the holy city of Puri is very easy, as it is well connected with the rest of the country, via air, rail and road. In this article, we have provided information on how to reach Puri.

• Air: Bhubaneswar serves as the most convenient entry point for traveling to Puri by air. The capital city of Orissa is linked with all the major cities of India, such as Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad, by direct flights.
• Rail: Puri has a good railway network also. Regular trains operate from the railway station in the city, connecting it with almost all the major cities of Orissa as well as the rest of the country.
• Bus: Puri has a good network of roads, connecting it with the major parts of India. For getting to Puri from some other city of Orissa, it is best to travel by road as it is a very convenient and inexpensive option. Government State Transport and Orissa Road Corporation buses regularly ply between Puri and Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chilka, Konarak, Chennai, Sambalpur and Visakhapatnam.