It was in Orissa, that Buddhism found some of its strongest exposure, and cult following. However, it was Hindu art that dominated the landscape, eventually, and resulted in the profusion of temple traditions, that have endured till now.
Heavily forested, and isolated, Orissa was once famous for its majestic battle elephants. But life in Orissa revolved around temples, and that the Oriyas lived lives free of strife, is evident from the fact that the state has few forts or fortified palaces to its credit, indicative of centuries of peace and harmony.
Most of the state’s attractions are close to each other, and convenient access is provided out of the state capital, Bhubaneshwar. The capital itself is an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, an emerging modern Indian city, that is steeped in the roots of the traditions of its glorious past, without being overwhelmed by it.
How to reach Puri:
By Air :The most convenient access into Orissa is a flight to Bhubaneshwar. Indian Airlines has flights from Hyderabad, Nagpur, Kolkata, Delhi, Raipur, Varanasi, Mumbai and Chennai.
By Rail :Train connections from all parts of the country exist, but are usually long and the non – availability of air-conditioned class travel is a constraint.
By Road :Once in Bhubaneshwar, road travel is the best option, to visit the other attractions in Orissa.
Tourist Attractions around Puri
Location : Just about 60 kms from the capital of Bhubaneshwar stands the holy beach town of Puri. Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the rice-growing alluvial plain on its east, Khurda district on its west, Sambalpur on its south and the state capital Bhubaneshwar on its northern side, it is an important sacred site for the Hindus. Puri is the neighbour of another important Hindu site of India, the Sun temple of Konark. The district of Puri encompasses most of the Chilika Lake.
About Puri
Puri, commonly known to Indians as Jagannath Puri, is one of the four major sacred sites for the Hindus all over the world. The seat of the hallowed God, Lord Jagannath, Puri, was once part of the Kalinga Kingdom which was brought under the rule of the Maurya dynasty, under the mighty Ashoka. Puri used to be a hilly region in the ancient times and is believed to have been inhabited by the Sabaras, a tribe belonging to pre-Aryan and pre Dravidian Austric linguistic group.
Most famous for the Jagannath temple, Puri also has a beautiful and virgin beach. This is one of the most unexploited beaches in India. This is a small town and the life of this town is all centered round the activities related to the Lord Jagannath and the temple. It is as if the sleepy town wakes up to the glory of the Lord during the annual Car festival or the Rath Yatra of the Lord; this when the whole town comes alive with devotees and enthusiasts who come from all over the world to watch this mega event.
devotees taking a purifying dip in its waters before visiting the Lord Jagannath temple. The clean turf and the white sands with large waves gushing towards the shores is a wonderful sight. The beach is ideal for swimming and other water sports. Tourists and devotees equally flock to the beach every morning to watch the spectacular sun rise form the shores. The rising fire ball from the waters pouring saffron in the waters and colouring the sky in various shades is indeed a magnificent sight to watch.
The Clean and clear beach is to day full of people throughout the year. Although it can be very hot in summers, the waters and the sand are beckoning enough for a tourist to come here time and again.