The holy land, the pious waters, the amazing wildlife and the most unexpected attractions tucked away in a relatively unexplored corner of India. Jagannath Puri, or more commonly the city of Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath has the most unanticipated surprises waiting for you. Just like a trip to the four ‘teerthas’ is incomplete without a trip to Puri, so is a wildlife enthusiast’s visit incomplete without a visit to this city, which boasts of its diverse and notable fauna. With winter in full bloom, we are just in time to witness the rare sight of Olive Ridley turtles mating; many ecologists have called it one of the best sites to experience the diversity of Indian marine ecology. Alongside this, Puri offers numerous other attractions for travellers to explore.

Rare Turtles visit Puri

The Gahirmatha coastal area was turned into a sanctuary considering the ecological significance of its diverse marine and aquatic life. The Olive Ridley turtles, a rare species, visit the beaches of Puri since time immemorial for mating and nesting. Since reptiles have little parenting care of the eggs and are very vulnerable to external threats, the area was termed as a protected zone for this beautiful and rare species to grow in numbers. The best time to see these turtles hoarding by the shores is from December to April every year.

While this experience is an unforgettable one, there are certainly a lot of other interesting things you can do while in Puri - the pearl of the Bay of Bengal.

The Krishna Connection

How can a visit to Puri be complete without the blessings of Lord Jagannath? The Jagannath Temple is one of the most sacred places in ancient Hindu mythology; one of the landmark monuments in Orissa, this temple has been here since the 12th century. The temple’s deities are symbols of universal peace, love and brotherhood .The Rath Yatra or the chariot festival, held in June and July, is the most important festival where crowds in huge numbers from all over India flock to the temple. Even if you are not in time for this festival you can still visit the majestic temple, an architectural marvel. It has been marked as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India, and is taken care of by the same.

The Wildlife

The Chilka Lake is spread over an area of 1,100 sq kms. This inland salt water lagoon with a thriving eco system is the largest in Asia and home to native and migratory birds alike. Species like grey jacana, white bellied sea eagles and herons are a common sight here. It’s also a thriving breeding ground for flamingos. Chilka Lake flows across numerous islands that are a bird watcher’s paradise. Nearby places to visit are Nalabana, Bird island, Kalijai, Satapada, Parikud and Malud. Satapada is famous for its Brahmaputra dolphins that make it a fun tourist spot across all ages.

Not just Sand Castles

The Sand Art Park at the Puri beach, by the bank of river Mangala, is the world’s first such sand park. The famed sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo from India’s Got Talent is the one who turned this brilliant idea into a reality. The park, covering an area of over 20 acres, is a kaleidoscope of incredible art forms in terms of size and scale; it’s an unmatched experience that you might not want to miss on a visit to Puri.

Local Art and Artisans

Raghurajpur Artist Village, some 20 kms away from Puri, is a sure shot visit for individuals with a refined taste for art and craft. It’s a place with around a 100 odd dwellings, the people are skilled at creating art pieces using pastels, colours and dyes prepared organically using barley, cereals and pulse extracts. Every painting depicts a folklore, historical or mythological event dating back to 3000 B.C. Art is laid out on mats made up of ‘pattas’(leaf), a plant like bamboo, these are thus called ‘Pattachitra’. To watch these locals work intently on these masterpieces is a feast to the eyes.

Paving a Way to the Heavens

Swargadwar, which translates literally as ‘the door to heaven’, is a holy place in Puri. According to Hindu mythology, this place is the gateway to heaven for departed souls, also famous as the bathing place of Sri Chaitanya Dev who attained Brahma gyana. Here, Hindus perform sacred rites including taking a dip at a point called ‘Mahodadhi’, the place is a contrasting combination of serenity and melancholy. It has remained unaffected by the hustle and bustle of tourism and modernization. A visit to this place would lend a new perspective about death and the afterlife.

Image Source: Flickr @ASIM_CHAUDHURI

With so much to do and so much to see, rest assured Puri is going to amaze you for days even after you bid farewell to this beautiful city. Puri is truly a melting pot of art, culture, religion, flora and fauna in every sense.

Shilpa Ahuja

A young lass, even younger at heart who's into all finer things of life - travel, food, luxury. A PR person by profession, trying to make it big in the field of writing for the love of it.

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