PuriTravel Guide

One of Hinduism's four sacred Char Dham sites — the 12th-century temple's towering shikhara dominates Puri's skyline, its flag always flying against the wind. Non-Hindus can view the temple from the rooftop of the nearby Raghunandan Library.

Cooked in earthen pots stacked seven high over wood fires in the temple's massive kitchen — said to be the largest in the world — this sacred meal of rice, dal, and vegetables is offered to thousands of pilgrims daily and considered blessed.

The wide avenue leading from the Jagannath Temple becomes the stage for one of the world's largest religious processions each summer, when three towering wooden chariots are pulled by hundreds of thousands of devotees.

A wide, golden beach stretching for miles along the Bay of Bengal — fishing boats with traditional sails dot the horizon at dawn, and the beach is dotted with sand artists, masseuses, and chai vendors.

The sacred cremation ghat where Hindus believe a soul cremated here attains direct moksha (liberation) — a profound and humbling place to witness the rituals of life and death that play out openly on the sand.

Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon, an hour from Puri — a boat safari here offers chances to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphin alongside flocks of migratory birds and traditional fishing villages on stilts.

A UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece 35km from Puri — the 13th-century temple is designed as a colossal stone chariot for the sun god, complete with 24 intricately carved wheels and a team of horses.

A heritage crafts village where nearly every household practices traditional Pattachitra scroll painting, palm-leaf engraving, and stone carving — watch artists at work and buy directly from the source.

A roadside village famous for its vividly coloured appliqué work — umbrellas, lampshades, and wall-hangings stitched in bold patchwork patterns that have decorated Odisha's temple festivals for centuries.

Puri's beachfront shacks and local eateries serve some of the freshest seafood on the east coast — try a traditional Odia thali with prawn or fish curry, dalma, and a slice of the region's famous rasagola for dessert.