Puri Travel Guide

Puri (ପୁରୀ) is a coastal pilgrimage town in Odisha's Puri district, home to the Shree Jagannath Temple and one of the four Char Dham shrines of Hinduism. Travellers come to Puri for darshan of Lord Jagannath, for the annual Rath Yatra, and for its long sandy beach on the Bay of Bengal, which also makes it a convenient base for Konark, Raghurajpur and Chilika.

This page is a visitor guide. For the temple's architecture, origins and rituals, read our history of the Jagannath Temple.

What are the top things to do in Puri?

Shree Jagannath Temple (Srimandir)

The 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple is the reason most people visit Puri. Devotees enter through the Singhadwara (Lion's Gate) on the Bada Danda (Grand Road). Queues can be long on festival days, weekends and during the winter holiday season, so plan an early start. Read the temple rules below before you go, because they are strictly enforced.

Bada Danda and the Rath Yatra route

The broad Grand Road runs from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away, which is the destination of the chariots during Rath Yatra. Outside festival time, a walk along Bada Danda gives a good sense of the town's temple economy: shops selling pattachitra, brass lamps, religious souvenirs and sweets.

Golden Beach and Swargadwar

Puri's beachfront stretches along the town. Golden Beach was one of the first eight Indian beaches awarded the international Blue Flag eco-label on 11 October 2020. Swargadwar, on the seashore, is a traditional Hindu cremation ground and a place of deep religious significance; visitors should behave quietly and avoid photographing rites there. Sea currents along this coast can be strong, so swim only in patrolled areas and follow lifeguard instructions.

Short trips from Puri town

The Puri district administration lists several sites within easy reach of the town (distances approximate, from Puri):

Konark's Sun Temple is about 34 km away along the coast, and the craft village of Raghurajpur is close to the Bhubaneswar road; see Konark and Raghurajpur.

What are the rules for visiting Jagannath Temple?

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and Puri Police enforce clear rules. Check the latest notices on arrival, since they are updated from time to time.

• Entry is restricted to Hindus. A signboard at the Lion's Gate has long stated this, and the rule continues to be applied. Non-Hindu visitors can view the temple's exterior, the Nilachakra on the spire and the activity on Bada Danda.
• Dress code. From 1 January 2024 the SJTA made "decent clothes" mandatory. Shorts, half pants, torn jeans, skirts and sleeveless clothing are not permitted. Many devotees wear a dhoti or traditional dress, saree or salwar kameez.
• No phones or cameras. Mobile phones and cameras are prohibited inside the temple, and Puri Police notices warn that violators will be penalised and prosecuted. Drones over the temple have been seized.
• No gutkha, paan or plastic. Chewing gutkha or paan and carrying plastic or polythene inside the premises were banned from 1 January 2024, with fines for violations.

When is the best time to visit Puri?

• October to February is the most comfortable period, with cooler, drier weather that suits temple visits, beach walks and day trips. It is also peak season, so book rooms early around Christmas and New Year.
• March to June becomes hot and humid. Mornings and evenings are better for sightseeing.
• Rath Yatra falls in June or July (Ashadha month) and draws over a million people. Hotels fill up and roads are closed around the route, so plan well ahead if you are coming for the festival, and avoid these dates if you are not.
• Monsoon (roughly July to September) brings heavy rain and rough seas; swimming is unsafe on many days.

How do I reach Puri?

• By air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, approximately 60 km away. Taxis and app cabs run from the airport to Puri.
• By rail: Puri railway station is a terminal station on the East Coast Railway, with direct trains from Kolkata, Delhi and many other cities.
• By road: Puri is about 60 km south of Bhubaneswar by highway. Regular buses link Puri with Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Konark.

See our planned guide on how to reach Odisha for connections from other states.

What food should I try in Puri?

• Mahaprasad: food offered to Lord Jagannath and sold at the Ananda Bazar inside the temple complex. Read more on our Mahaprasad page.
• Khaja: a layered, crisp sweet strongly associated with Puri and sold along Bada Danda; see khaja.
• Chhena poda and rasagola: Odisha's best-known milk sweets; see chhena poda and rasagola.
• Dalma: the everyday lentil-and-vegetable dish of Odia homes, found in most local restaurants; see dalma.

Etiquette and practical tips

• Use only authorised temple counters and staff. The SJTA has publicly warned devotees about fraudulent websites seeking online puja payments.
• Remove footwear where asked, and respect queues and security checks.
• At Swargadwar and other ritual sites, ask before photographing people.
• Carry cash in small denominations for local shops and autos, and drink bottled or filtered water.

Plan your visit

Puri works well as a two- or three-day base: one day for the Jagannath Temple and the town, one for Konark and Raghurajpur, and one for Satapada on Chilika Lake. Many visitors combine Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar as the Golden Triangle. If you would like help putting the days together, you can request a custom itinerary at /travel/plan.