Puri combines its dual identities of a relaxed seaside resort and of an important pilgrimage centre with great ease, and the visitor will enjoy both aspects equally. Puri is one of the four holiest places in India for Hindus, and the presence of the Jagannath Temple (see Directory: Sacred Places) has dominated life there since at least the twelfth century.
Throughout the year, the temple is a pulsating centre of pilgrimage. The pulsations turn to electricity each summer, when the temple idols are taken on an annual pilgrimage themselves, carried from the temple in immense 40 ft chariots, in the spectacular Rath Yatra festival. Although the temple precincts are off-limits to non-Hindus, everyone can enjoy the lively bazaar area surrounding the temple, and can peer into the temple from the roof of the opposite Raghunandan Library.
In addition to the bazaar area near the temple, superb shopping can be done in and around Puri by visiting the area's traditional painters and stone carvers (see Arts and Crafts Listing). The beach area has been a popular seaside resort for decades, and some of the older hotels capture the charm of bygone days.
There are also new hotels of great style and comfort, and it is quite possible to spend an entire vacation based at one of these lovely places, using Puri as a base for excursions to other parts of the state and returning to the solace of the sea in between.
