Enchanting Lagoon of the East - Chilika Lake

The Beautiful Lagoon - Chilika

Mother Nature provides multi-dimensional travel destinations with a variety of choices that you can select as per your love and preference. India has been blessed with a variety of landscapes and natural gifts that a traveler can opt based on your choices. We have options of landscapes like hills, plains, deserts; then we have options of natural creations like Waterfalls, beaches, islands and many other preferences for a traveler to jump on. Along with these well known landscapes, there are some rare natural creations which has the potential to offers amazing experiences.

Chilika Lake is Asia's largest lagoon, present on the east coast of India, in the state of Odisha having a cross-section area of 1100 sq.m. The place offers a geography, which is very unique to itself and very few ecosystems are available which match it in prosperity. The lake is connected to Bay of Bengal through a small mouth which is essential for maintaining the salinity of the lake waters. The unique geography of the lake allowed the growth of many unique wildlife, which have adapted to the habitat and calls this place as their home. Any dastic variation in the salinity of the lake makes a degrading impact on the eco-system. Chilika lake has been developed as tourist spot and a bird sanctuary by Odisha government. The efforts got accelerated due to presence of Irrawaddy Dolphins in the waters which are nearly threatened and fears extinction due to habitat loss, hunting and careless approach towards its conservation. The area is a well identified wetland marked for conservation.

Information on Ramsar Convention declaring Chilika for Wetland conservation

Things to Explore

 

1. Dolphin Sightings

 

The area is known for Irrawaddy Dolphin and Bottle Nose Dolphin sightings, but being a rare species and amidst a lot of noise and boats, you may not get the chance to see them properly. Best time to watch the dolphins is between 7am-9am. Do avoid this tour during mating season of Dolphins, else after few years the activity will be deleted from this list. 

 

Irrawaddy Dolphin (Pic: Kalinga TV)

2. Rajhans Island

 

The last island on the eastern part of lake, with Chilika lake on one side and Bay of Bengal on other side. It is one of the better points to see in Chilika.

Sandy Rajhans Island

 

3. Sea Mouth Island

 

A sandy patch of land which is open only during low tide which acts as the mouth of Chilika where sea water enters the lake. Be careful while exploring this land and be sure to take guidance from your boatman. This place is famous for Red Ghost Crabs.  

 

4. Kalijai Island 

 

An island near Barkul Jetty which has a temple dedicated to goddess Kali. It is said that the temple was built to console the souls of two woman who died on the island. Presently, the Island is more used a tourist and picnic spot. 

 

Kalijai Island and its temple

5. Breakfast Island

 

A small island spot near Rambha Jetty which can be accessed by boat ride. It has an old building constructed on it. 

 

6. Dinosaur Island 

 

A nice island near Rambha Jetty which can be accessed by boat ride. The name is given due to a artificial dinosaur statue on the island. Its a photographic place.

 

Breakfast Island (Left) and Dinosaur Island (Right)

7. Chilika Eco-Park, Satapada 

A garden developed near Satapada Jetty, by Chilika Development Authority which can be a good place for children to have walk and evening fun. It has a blue whale skeleton kept in the garden.

Along with these spots, there are many other small islands, sandy lands and natural beauties around the area that can be seen, photographed and explored. 

Blue Whale Skeleton at Eco-park

 

Bird-watching Experiences 

 

1. Nalabana Island Bird Sanctuary (Allowed with prior government permissions)

Indraprasth Island having an area of 15.53 sq.km, which host a lot of birding activity due to its suitable habitat. The island emerges out of the lake during post monsoon times. The problem with the area is that only professionals are allowed inside the island with prior permission from Wildlife department. General tourists can explore the surrounding islands of  Bhusandpur, Soran, Parikuda and Chadheighara islands. 

 

2. Mangalajodi Bird Conservation Area

A beautiful wetland with grassy patches attract a lot of birds to this area. During season, the area is a famous bird photography site. Do maintain discipline and respect while venturing into these habitats. The activities at the place opens up early in the morning till 6 pm evening. Bird watching towers are also available in the area.

 

Pricing: For Day tours, You can book the tour package at around Rs 3000/- for 4 persons which includes fixed menu food, boat ride and a bird guide. If you want to stay here, you have options of cottage which costs around Rs 4000/- per couple and  if you opt for dormitory, it costs you around Rs 1000/- per persons. A full fledged birding trip can be arranged at a cost of around Rs 7000/- for 2 persons which includes stay for 1 night, fixed menu food and two birding tours.

Mangalajodi Bird Watching area

Facility for Exploring Chilika Lake

Chilika Lake has been well developed with multiple entry points. The well known entry points are Rambha (south), Barkul, Balugaon (West), Mangalajodi and Satapada (North), from where the lake can be explored as per comfort of the traveler. Odisha Tourism department authorized Jetty services are operating a number of lake tours, especially from Satapada and Naupada side, as the area is close to the mouth of Chilika Lake, which is separated from Bay of Bengal by a sandy patch of land and a mouth where lake merges with sea. This area is famous for Dolphin point.

 

Satapada Jetty Area

 

All tourist boats available for service are Motor driven as the travel distance is large and takes good amount of time. The boat services are managed by Motor boat association of Satapada. The jetty area is well built and provides the tourists with facilities like safety jackets, resting area, washrooms, small eateries for refreshments, and car parking facility as well. There are 6 travel routes covering different islands marked at the facility with individual pricing. (refer image below). Along with that, additional charges are applicable for picnic, night halting of boat, etc. So, before boarding the boat, have a proper conversation with the boatman to get a clear picture of your trip.

Rate chart for Boat service (Dolphin Motor Boat Association, Satapada Jetty)

Tip: If you are visiting Puri, then visit Chilika from Satapada point as direct road connectivity of 40 Km is available from Puri. But, if you are coming exclusively for Chilika Lake, then Rambha is a better entry point which has good stay options as well.

Warning:

Book your boat ride with utmost precaution to avoid fooling as the jetty guys will claim many fascinations and view points to see, but actually these are just marketing gimmicks. During your visit to the different island, you will find hawkers trying to convince you for purchasing artificial jewelries,  Artificial pearls in the name of real pearls, Artificial Gem stones imitating them as originals, food purchased here can be extremely costly, and prices can be asked randomly, so do ask the price before ordering.

 

How to Reach

Chilika Lake can be reached from many directions. To enter the lake from southern points,  Brahmapur acts as an important railway head where many trains stops and it is only 46km from Rambha jetty. In this case you can enjoy Gopalpur by Sea before you visit Chilika. The other way is reaching Bhubaneswar or Puri. If you are staying at Puri, Satapada Jetty can be reached easily via road trip of 48km. If you are coming by airways, Bhubaneswar is the only option. According to your arrival point, decide your stay area and points to visit.

Where to Stay

There are many stay options available around Chilika near Rambha, Barakul and other entry points. OTDC Panthanivas runs a resort near Barakul, which is a good stay option. Daveen Chilika Resort is an island resort near Satapada. But all these resorts may costs a bit and being at the outskirts, the only thing you can have is Chilika Lake and lots of birds.

I will suggest that book your stay at Puri, which is a proper town with all facilities, food options, and the best part is you can have stay options at comparatively cheaper cost.

Who should Visit

The place is good for most travelers, but it will be liked more by Nature enthusiasts.

Number of Days

You can have this place covered in 1 day which is around a 3-4 hour boat ride. Further extension of the trip can be done as per personal choice. 

Chilika Eco-park, Satapada

Increased tourism in these kind of area provides a two sided coin, where on one side it provides revenue for locals so they support in conservation activities, whereas increased movement of motorized boats results in accidental killing of Dolphins and damage the environment due to oil spills, giving a negative impact. Now, it is on us, the travelers, who can make a difference by adopting better eco-tourism habits. Also, avoid visiting Chilika during Dolphin mating seasons i.e. July to January. So, whenever you are touring an Eco-sensitive zone, do respect the wildlife and give them a respectable approach, as we are visiting their home for appreciating them, and strictly they are not meant for entertainment.

Beware, any mismanagement of the zone will result in damage to the eco-system, which will automatically reduce tourism in the area and finally losing earnings for many whose family is sustained by these tourism business. So, its a sensitive cycle that needs to be conserved for the sake of both animals and humans.

Enjoy Traveling and Be Responsible towards Wildlife !

Battleground of Mewar - Haldi Ghati

 

In memory of Maharana Pratap of Mewar

Indian History had witnessed the reign of many rulers, many warriors, with some rulers who focused on ethical rule, some rulers focused on heavy warfare to increase dominance, some rulers were known for civil well-being but there are many who are known only for cruelty and destruction. Folklore and local stories carried forward many stories of siege, sacrifice, friendship and many colors of life.The place I will be taking you to have witnessed the battle of two of the greatest rulers our motherland has seen. 

Haldi-Ghati is a hill pass in the Aravali Range in the state of Rajasthan, which is 40 km from Udaipur. The access to the pass has a good road connectivity but the roads are slim. The name is derived from the yellowish tint of the soil in the area. The place got its name inscribed in history due to the ferocious Battle of Haldighati of 1576 which was fought between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and army of Mughal emperor Akbar which was commanded by Man Singh I of Amer. During this tour, I will recite certain parts of the battle and stories related to it, based on the monument we will be visiting. 

 

Let's take this beautiful journey into our history.

Things to Explore

I. Main Attraction

1. The Narrow pass of Haldighati

Presently it is a small hill pass through which road is built connecting Khamnor and Haldighati. The soil around the area has a yellow tinge like turmeric giving a golden feel, and reason for the name. A picture in that area is must have in your collection. 

The rocks around Haldighati pass

2. Roses of Haldighati

The valley of Haldighati is known for "Chaitri Roses". As per folklore, it is said that the breed of rose was brought in by Mughal soldiers in the area, and it adapted well in that soil. These roses have a pink tinge, bloom in plenty in the month of March-April, corresponding to Hindu month "Chaitra", which falls in April, giving the name. There are many rose product industries in the area which makes Rose Water, Gulkand (rose jams), and perfumes. 

It is said that the blooms of Chaitra Roses and Sandalwood trees around the area is nature's way to give respect to the brave soldiers, whose blood got mixed in this heroic land.

II. Monuments and Gardens

1. Rakht-Talai 

It is a garden memorial dedicated to all the lost lives in the war irrespective of which side they were. It is said that around 25000 members of Mewar army was standing against colossal army of 2.5 Lakhs Mughals. Being a hilly terrain, Maharana took help from archers and cavalry of local tribes and villages in the battle. Maharana Pratap was supported by Hakim Khan of Suri Dynasty, Bhim Singh of Dodia, Ramdas Rathore, Bida Mana and his men of Jhala clan of Rajputs. 

Taking advantage of the hilly battleground, the army of Maharana was dominant over Mughal army as they struggled in hilly passes. The battle saw huge bloodshed with bodies scrambled all around the area. It is said in folklore that it rained heavily, which washed all the blood and a lake of blood was formed, so the name Rakht-Talai is given to the place. The garden memorial is constructed around the area. 

Garden of Rakht Talai

 

2. Chetak Smarak

Chetak, the name of the loyal war horse used by Maharana Pratap, and supported him in all battles, till Haldighati. As per folklore, in Battle of Haldighati, when Maharana Pratap got heavily wounded, Bida Mana, with permission of Maharana wears the royal crown and flag of Rajputs claiming to be Rana himself, attacked the enemy so give time, to help Maharana Pratap escape. It is said that a wounded Chetak carried the wounded Maharana, jumped across 21 feet wide river and escaped out of the battle field saving Rana's life. But unfortunately, Chetak lost his life. The memorial is supposed to be at the site, where Chetak took his last breathe. 

The memorial of Chetak

3. Maharana Pratap Gufa

It is said that Maharana Pratap, pledged to free Mewar from the Mughals, and he left the comfort of palaces and stayed in forest. He converted a cave into his training area and performed all war practices with the help of local tribes. The cave is said to have three entry paths, which are confusing and not properly visible from outside. During his stay here, his wife and children and his loyal Chetak was also there with him. The cave was used for religious prayers, stock piling all arsenals, lived on simple forest foods and practiced war training. 

4. Maharana Pratap Memorial and Museum

The museum is built by Mohan Lal Shrimali, who was born in Haldi-ghati and was a teacher by profession. His desires to showcase the story, learning from the life of Maharana, his sacrifice and bravery led to the creation of this amazing setup. It is a must visit in Haldighati as here you can easily learn the complete history of Mewar and life lessons of Maharana Pratap. The museum hosts a show on Maharana's Life through a video and audio journey using idol in a very enchanting way. 

The bronze model of Haldighati was scene

5. Maharana Pratap Monument

A site well developed by Rajasthan tourism to celebrate the victories and honor of the great ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. The statue of Maharana Pratap riding Chetak is decorated on small hill which can be accessed easily through a well built stairs. The place gives a beautiful sight for visitors and photographers to enjoy the scenes of surrounding area.  

The memorial of the great Mewar King "Maharana Pratap"

6. Shahi Bagh or Badshah Bagh

A beautiful garden which is a good place for children and picnic. The story of the area is that during battle of Haldighati, the pass was small, so only a small troop can pass through it. So, on the other side, the large Mughal army settled in this area, that is why it is also named as Badshah Bagh. This is the area where the first encounter between Rana's army and Mughals took place leading to stampede and death of many Mughal men. The area around the garden is really beautiful and well maintained by tourism department. 

The gardens in Shahi Bagh

7. Rajtilak Sthal (Place where Maharana was Crowned as King)

Gogunda was former capitol of Mewar. Rajtilak of Maharana Pratap was completed by Masaliya Rawal, who was the Rajpurohit of Jhala Rajput.The place is presently marked with a small mast of Maharana and a small Mahadev temple is built. 

The place where Maharana Pratap was declared as King of Mewar

How to Reach

The place is hill pass is near Nathdwar, in Rajasamand District. The nearest railway station is Udaipur, which is at a distance of 40km. It is well connected to most part of India. The roads are very good around the area, except for the hilly passes of Haldighati in Aravali, which is good but thin.  The nearest airport is also at Udaipur. 

Road through Haldighati Pass

Where to Stay

I will not suggest any stay options at Haldighati. Instead you can opt for either Udaipur or Nathdwar. If you want a scenic stay, select Udaipur, else if you want to have a religious visit to Shrinathji Temple, then stay at Nathdwar.

Who Should Visit

Strictly for history lovers and those who appreciate bravery of Indian rulers . Others, Stay away.

No. of Days

Haldighati can be covered in day drive through the ghat.

Battle scene of Haldighati - Oil painting by Chaturbhuj and Sons, Udaipur (1935)

The Battle of Haldighati witnessed massive killing of men from both sides. The battle was so brutally fought that the land was eroded by bloody waters. The history of this area is made famous through tales and folklore. The result of the war is unclear, with most references telling that Akbar won the battle, but the heavy loss of Mughal army made it pretty clear that the dominance of Mughals in the area weakened, with many proofs showing an established Mewar activities. It is very clear that, post the battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap, reinforced his military and made the lands of Mewar free from of dominance of Mughals. 

 

War scene painting - Maharana Pratap attacking enemy (Maharana Pratap Museum, Haldighati)

India has many stories of leadership and bravery spread across the land, but as a traveler you need to take the difficult roads to reach these places and learn about the stories and create a picture of the reality with believes on the tales and folklore, which still remains as a major form of information exchange regarding the history. The magical resemblance of the stories with the real world landmarks and monuments, makes you appreciate the ways these historic happenings have traveled from tribal songs to books and finally to the articles in google. 

Here, I would like to drop my point of view for all travelers, "Don't believe in my story, Go the distance, Witness yourself and Tell your story", because History is True and Unchangeable, and there is nothing that can change it. 

Happy Traveling !

Dawn of Indian Coffee - Chikkamagaluru

 

The idol of Chikkamaglur - Mother Earth at Siri Coffee

There are some lovely incidents that happened in the history of India, and the some of the most interesting stories are linked with the culinary history of that country. Thankfully, India is a country that offers a different heritage and culinary culture in every district, ranging from different food choices, different preparations, varied spices and much more. However, this story is for all those people who gets their energy for work from a very special drink that traveled from a distant country and now it is flowing in the veins of many. 

You might have guessed it right .... 

This story is about Coffee, its journey to India and the traveling around.

Chikkamagaluru is a beautiful hill station lying in southern Karnataka. It is said that, coffee came to India from Yamen around 1600 AD, and it was the first coffee plantation in India. The roots of well known cafe chain, Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) grows from Chikkamagaluru. The cultivation got its spreads to other south Indian mountains in times to come. The place has a nicely developed base town which serves as the district capital. The part of the district that attracts travelers is the mountainous region of western ghats which provide every visitors with a green escape and a walk through amazing coffee plantations. The place offers a nice package of activities that a visitor can do. 

Serene Valley of Chikkamagaluru

 

Let us have a walk through with this place.

Places to Visit

1. Baba Budangiri Peak:

At a height of 1895m, this place got is name from sufi saint "Baba Budan". Who is he ? Wait and watch. The hill is a place of devotion for both Hindus and Muslims equally.  Both the shrine of Baba Budan and temple of Dattatray are placed close to each other. Though this place was part of religious fights, but believe me, this place has blessing for every human being, the blessings of nature. Depending on the season you visit, the landscape will vary, the volume of waterfalls around will differ. This place receives heavy rainfalls during seasons.

2. Mullayangiri Hills

At a height of 1930m, this is the highest point of Karnataka. It is a grassy trekking destination. You can drive upto certain height, but the later section is only for trekking enthusiasts. Post monsoon, the place can give you amazing experience. At the top, there is a small shrine of "Mulapa Swamy", a sage who meditated at that height. Both the journey and the destination is very alluring.

Summit of Baba Budan Giri hills

 

3. Jhari Waterfall

Around 12km from Budangiri hills, the waterfall is situated on a steep road down the valley through coffee plantations. It is a rough drive of 4km, so you are advised to either walk or take a jeep ride down the hill which will cost around INR 600-800 for a maximum of 6 people. 

4. Coffee Plantations

If you are at Chikkamagluru, the coffee cup of India, it is a must to have a walk through any coffee plantation. Mostly, if you are staying in any coffee form resort, so this activity will be automatically included.

Coffee Plantation

 

5. Manikyadhara Falls

A beautiful waterfall literally means "String of Pearls", is located in a forested area on the other side of Baba budangiri. 

6.  Hirekolale lake 

 The place is picturesque, a beautiful lake surrounded by lush green hills. After monsoon, the place is completely full. It is basically a man-made lake constructed for water storage. There are many home-stays and resorts around the area for a serene stay.

Hirekolale Lake's serene view

7. Honnammana Halla Waterfalls

The place in an on the road spot, and is basically a man made construction. This is quite close to the parking spot of Jhari falls. The coloration is completely colored in yellow-red giving a attractive picture location. 

8. Coffee Museum

This museum is located at the Chikmagluru town. It is an initiative by the Coffee board of India, which gives a beautiful explanation about the intricacies of the coffee plantation and brewing process. It is open from 10am to 6pm. (Note: Closed on weekends)

 

Wildlife Destinations

1. Kudremukh National Park

This wildlife hot-spot is marked by its natural beauty, alluring hills, lush grasslands which houses amazing collection of wildlife and plant species. The Kudremukh peak is at a height of 1894km, is blessed with evergreen forest. Being a national park, the place prohibits camping but allows  trekking of 9km trail. Government permission and entry pass can be purchased from entry town. The charges of entry pass are Rs 200 for entry. 

Entry charges to Kudremukh

2. Bhadra National Park

This wildlife hot-spot is developed as a Tiger reserve, which is 38km from the district town. It is a hilly terrain, having a beautiful landscape, housing a massive collection of wildlife and plant species. A beautiful, "Hebbe Falls", having a drop height of 551ft. The wildlife park is well drained by serene rivers and connected tributaries like Bhadra River. Facility of Jeep Safari is available at the park.

The gorgeous Hanuman Langurs, residence of the hills

How to Reach

Chikkamagaluru is a hill station is at close proximity to Mangaluru (150km) and Hassan (61km), which are two important cities of Karnataka. The road connectivity is very good with good quality roads. Chikkamagaluru also has a railway station but few trains ply through it. So, if you are traveling from far of places, I will suggest you to reach either Mangaluru or Hassan, and then enjoy the journey through a road trip. 

Visit Schedule

For a family visit, post monsoon season, i.e. August to February is pretty good option. For trekkers, monsoon can give you a lot of adventure options.

Where to Stay

Being a well defined tourist destination, the place has a nice collection of stay options ranging from small stays, resorts, home stays, farm stays and others. Stay options are available in city area as well as on the hilly terrains. It is always suggested to opt for stay options on hills to enjoy the serenity of the destination. Also, i will suggest to pre-book the stay option while planning your journey. If you are using online booking portals like MMT, Oyo etc, do a cross confirm through call with the hotel person to confirm booking. 

During my stay, I stayed at Greenwood Resort. While booking, it showed listed as an Oyo property, so we booked it through Oyo. Once at resort, it came to our notice that they don't accept Oyo bookings. But we continued our stay by paying the regular resort charges, which is INR 3000-4000 depending on type of room. But the stay was good. 

 

Greenwood Resort

Who should Visit

Anyone who can relax their minds and eyes within nature, far from any metro city intervention. The place has network issues also, so it is quite a relaxed feeling. 

Who should not visit

This place may fail to satisfy those who like more of a developed hill stations. For those, i would suggest to visit nearby beautiful place, Coorg instead of it.

No of Days Required

To complete all activities leisurely, a 2 day visit is recommended. 

Estimates Expense

For a family travel scenario, an estimated expense of INR 3000-4000 per person is expected.

Must Do's:

Have ample cup of coffee and purchase some for journey back home.

 

Siri Coffee - an iconic cafe of Chikkamagaluru

Stories of Folklore

Many stories buzz around these mountains. One of them links with the start of Hoyshala Kingdom. It is said that, it was at Sosevur (presently Angadi), that King Sala, the founder of the Hoysala dynasty, killed the legendary tiger, which got immortalised in the Hoysala emblem and can be seen as a symbol of Hoyshalas in all its architechtures. 

Another important story, tells you the origin of Coffee in India. It is said that coffee beans were planted at Chikmagaluru, by sufi saint, "Baba Budan" during 1670 AD. He went for pilgrimage to Mecca, while returing he traveled through the seaport of Mocha, Yemen where he came across coffee. He wrapped seven coffee beans around his belly and got them here in India and planted the beans in the hills of Chikmagalur, and the rest of the history is known to all.

A point of General Knowledge

1. Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) of Coffee Day Enterprise, is an internationally acclaimed cafe chain is based at Chikkamagaluru and they grow their coffee at their coffee estates, which is said to have a cover of 20000 Hectares. It was started by V.G. Siddhartha in year 1996. You can see the industry's roasting plant as you enter the area white traveling from Mangalore side. 

2. In India, the two celebrated varieties of coffee are "Arabica" and "Robusta". Arabica is known for its mild strength and aromatic charm, so it is commercially more valuable. However, Robusta is known for its higher strength and so it suits making various blends. Arabica is grown in higher altitudes than Robusta. The cool temperature of 15-25 C, is suitable for Arabica while for Robusta needs hot and humid climate with temperature of 20-30 C. This information is available from Coffee Museum, Chikkamagalur.

A visit is not just site seeing, its an experience of the fine details of the place, its history, its culinary habits and every possible details. Then and then only, you can call yourself and explorer, and this habit enriches your mind and soul.

Happy Traveling !

 

Puri - Realm of Sri Jagannatha

 

  The grand Carnival of Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri (Pic: PTI)

In our country, Tourism is driven by some underlying objectives, like Summer relaxation in Hills, Weekend fun on beaches, Picnic fun at some garden or lakes but an objective which dominates all of these are Religious Visits. These visits are performed with a greater objective of getting close to the almighty. In India, we have Char Dham Yatra, Shirdi Yatra, Vaishno Devi, Astvinayak Yatra, Dwadash Jyotirling Yatra, Ajmer Shariff and many more which have great importance in the life of people. 

 

In this travel, We will take you to one such Destination !  

 

PURI, a small town on the east coast state of Orissa, India. The place is better known as Sri Jagannatha Dhama as it is home of one of the most applauded religious hot-spots, the 12th-century Jagannath Temple. Being a coastal town and its vicinity to metro cities like Kolkata and Bhubaneswar, it attracts huge travelers who may visit Puri for a relaxation opportunity. It is said that around 70-80% of economy of Puri is dependent on the temple and activities around it. Puri is famous for many folklore, many miracle stories and it also can be visited for a gastronomical experience. 

 

 

Places to Visit

 

Jagannath Temple: An ancient temple, whose origin can be traced to 10th century Ganga Dynasty, but it is said the real story dates back far in history, as far as Mahabharat. The idol of the temple is made of wood which is replaced every 12th year in a grand ceremony. The temple opens at 5am and closes at midnight. From 7-8pm, the visitors are allowed close to the idol, so during this period you can experience massive crowd. In front of the main entrance, the "Singhdwar", there is a 16 sided monolithic pillar, known as Arun Stambh which was earlier at Konark Temple. You can find family of macaques around the temple. So, keep some precaution with kids. Please note, Non hindus are not allowed to enter the temple. 

 

Warning:

Unless you are planning to perform some religious procedure in the temple, keep your distance from the priests or so called Pandas. There are many experiences of visitors, stating that the pandas will not miss an opportunity to squeeze out some money from you in the name of taking you close to the idol, VIP visit, etc. So, do what i did. Just follow the line. 

 

Jagannath Temple "Singhdwar",with 16 sided monolithic pillar (Arun Stambh)

 

Gundicha Temple: The more famed name in folklore is Masi maa temple. It is at the end of Grand avenue road of Rath Yatra. Mostly not visited by many, this temple gets all the attention only during Rath yatra days. I will suggest a few minute at this spot, may be just for photography from outside

 

Swargodwar Beach or simply Puri Beach: Swargodwar means Gateway to heavens. One of the most beautiful coastlines in eastern India. The beach is quite sandy and has a golden tinge. I would suggest an early morning visit. When you are at beach, after you are done with all bathing activity, try the Tea in earthen pots and most importantly, with Samosa. You will find many vendors on cycle selling Samosa( local name "Singara") and Sweets like Rosogolla . A must try. In the evening, you can find fish fry of your selected fish on the coastline. 

 

Swargodwar Beach

 

Narendra Pokhari: A beautiful location, basically a lake which is considered holy. So, most visit the place for a touch of the water. A number of ghats are constructed to access the lake.

Walk on the Marine Drive Road: If you are staying by the beach, in the evening or may be after dinner, you can have a gentle walk here. The cool breeze will soothe your body. Also, Enjoy the street foods like Jhaal Muri, Ice creams, Fish Fry, Egg Rolls etc. 

 

 

How to Reach here

 

Being in Love with Indian Railways, my primary suggestion is always Train. Puri has its own station and many cities are well connected with trains. In case, there is no direct train or you don't want to use train, then reach Bhubaneswar, the capital city of State of Orissa. You can reach Bhubaneswar by train or flight. 

From Bhubaneswar, you can have a wonderful road trip of around 65km to reach Puri. The roads are beautiful and comfortable. For a cheaper option, State transport(OSRTC) buses are available that can cost you around Rs 80-100/-.

Once in Puri, you can cover most of the town by Walk or by Auto rickshaws. So, no expenses there.

Puri Railway Station

Where to Stay

 

Being a busy tourist destination, all range of stay options are available. There are royal stay options like Mayfair and Chariot. The stay options on the Marine drive, which are sea facing can have a good price tag. During, my visit i opted for Hotel Pushpa of Berries group. It was light on the pocket, very good rooms, good hospitality but it has no sea views or beautification, but the beach was 50 steps from hotel, so that was adjustable. So, select the stay as per your budget, but it is recommended to stay close to beach for a good vacation experience.

Entrance of Hotel Pushpa

 

Who should Visit ?

 

Puri is open for everyone. Though the temple is only open for Hindu believers, but the city is open for anyone who finds relaxation on beach and yes you are supported by good and pocket friendly food. 

No. of Days:  1 Night, 2 days minimum is sufficient

Expected Expense:  Rs 3000/- per person minimum can give you a comfortable visit

 

 

Must Try

Dalma Puri at any local restaurant at the non-commercial areas or outer Puri. These eateries may look not so neat, but taste will make you ignore that. If you are a cleanliness freak, in that case, try the same dish at multi-cuisines in city area.   

Singara, Tea and Sweets from Cycle vendors on Puri Beach. I can bet, the taste of these Samosa and Rosogolla can easily beat the taste of same sweet in nearby Sweet shop.

 

Sweets of Puri Temple: There is a section attached to temple, named Ananda Bazaar, where they sell all kinds of Mahaprasad, sweet items that are offered to the lord. This includes the Khaja, a kind of fried layers of flour coated with suger and jaggery. You can try the Khichhdi as well. Frankly, i will not assure that you will like it but it is a thing about devotion. So, do try and share your opinion.

 

 

The Sweets and Samosa at Puri beach 

Experience of Lifetime:

 

The Rath Yatra, which draws nearly a million people from across the world and sees frenzied devotees pull the raths (chariots) of the three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra takes place every year in the month of June. The english word "Juggernaut" is derived out of the name "Jagannath". If you can bear a gathering of that level (refer the 1st picture), then this is the dare task for you !

 

The Folklore:

There are many cultural folklore and miracles associated with the temple of Lord Jagannath. The most famous of the stories connects Shri Krishna from Dwarka and Jagannath Idols of Puri.  It is said that Shri Krishna and Yadavas were cursed due to the massacre of Mahabharat. It is said that Shri Krishna was killed by a hunter, who took him as a deer. Seeking forgiveness, he did all the last rites on the coastal side of Dwarka . It is said that the Heart of Shri Krishna got washed away in sea and reached Puri as a log of wood. This was collected by King Indradyumna. The maker of the world, Vishwakarma visited the king as an old Artisan and offered the king that he will make a beautiful idol using the log under condition that he should be given a closed room and no one should disturb him until he finish in 21 days. But on 14th day, there was complete silence in the room. The queen got worried and pressurized the king to open the door. As the door opened, the Artisan got angry and he vanished leaving the idols incomplete with no arms. But, accepting his mistake, the king placed the same idols in the temple and rest of the history is known to all.

 

If you have different story, or another detailed folklore. Do comment.

Until then, Happy Exploring !