The temple is a significant pilgrimage site, attracting devotees from all over the country. The main deities of the temple are Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.

Puri is famous for the world famous  Shri Jagannath Temple & Longest Golden Beach. It is one of the Dhamas (Holiest of the holy place) out of four Dhamas i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar, in India. Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath alomg with sister Devi Subhadra and elder brother Mahaprabhu Shri Balabhadra are being worshipped in Puri (The Purusottama Kshetra). The deities are seated on the Bejeweled Pedestal (Ratna Simhassana). Shri Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the most impressing monuments of the Indian State Odisha, was constructed by a famous king of Ganga Dynasty Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva dating back to 12th century at the seashore Puri. The main temple of Shri Jagannath is an impressing and amazing structure constructed in Kalinga architecture, with a height of 65 meters placed on an elevated platform. There are so many festivals of Sri Jagannath during the year observed in Puri. Which are Snana Yatra, Netrotsava, Ratha Yatra (car festival), Sayan Ekadasi, Chitalagi Amabasya, Srikrushna Janma, Dussehra etc. The most important festival is the World famous Rath Yatra (Car Festival) & Bahuda Yatra. A large crowd is gathered to witness Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath durig this festival.

Jagannath Puri dham is addressed by various names. Some of these names are Sri Kshetra, Purushottama kshetra, Nilachala dham, Jagannath dham, Samanik tirtha, Uddiyan pith, Marta-Vaikuntha, Nilgiri, Niladri, Sankha kshetra, Bhu-svarga, and Nrsimha kshetra. Jagannath Puri is one of the most prominent spiritual sites of India (Bharat). It is said that the Supreme Lord bathes at Badrinath (situated in North India), changes His clothes at Dwarka (situated in West India), accepts His food at Jagannath Puri (situated in East India) and then proceeds to take rest at Rameshwaram (situated in South India). Here at Jagannath Puri, the Supreme Lord resides in His deity form. Anyone who takes His darsana attains liberation from this material world. By visiting Jagannath Puri, one attains the pious credit of visiting all the other holy places of pilgrimage. Below are listed some of the unending glories of Jagannath Puri dham.

GAMBHIRA (RADHA KANTA MATH), PURI

Gambhira is the house of Kasi Misra where Lord Chaitanya resided for the last twelve years of His manifested pastime. Gambhira is situated at Balisahi, to the southeast of Jagannath temple in Puri. The place has also come to be referred to as the `Radha Kanta Math' because `Radha Kanta', a beautiful deity of Sri Krishna, is also worshiped at this place. After accepting His sannyasa, Lord Chaitanya shifted from Bengal to Jagannath Puri. He initially stayed at the residence of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. But later, after He returned from His tour of South India, He accepted the Gambhira, the house of Kasi Misra, as His residence. It is described in Chaitanya Charitamrita, how the house of Kasi Misra became the residence for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya requested the King for a nice, peaceful and solitary place for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that would also not be far from the Jagannath temple, King Pratap Rudra deva considered and replied that Kasi Misra's house would be the ideal place for the Lord's stay.

Shree Gundicha Temple Puri

Gundicha Temple, nestled in the spiritually vibrant city of Puri, Odisha, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. Puri is renowned for the Lord Jagannath Temple, also known locally as Shree Mandira, which is a major pilgrimage site.

Gundicha Temple, located just 1.5 km from Puri Junction and 3 km from Sri Jagannath Temple, is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Puri. It plays a central role in the annual Ratha Yatra festivities and is a must-visit destination in Puri.

Gundicha Temple is situated at the end of the Bada Danda or Grand Road, a significant thoroughfare that links it to the Lord Jagannath Temple. Connection is not just physical but also deeply symbolic, as the Gundicha Temple is affectionately referred to as the aunt’s house of Lord Jagannath. Endearing term highlights its importance during the annual Rath Yatra festival, when Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, travels from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple, symbolizing a visit to their aunt’s home.

Gundicha Temple History

Gundicha Mandir Temple, also known as Gundicha Ghar, was built by Gundicha Maharani, the queen of King Indradyumna, who founded the first Jagannath Temple. Situated next to the Jagannath Temple, it is affectionately referred to as the aunt’s house of Lord Jagannath. During the Rath Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings, is moved to Gundicha Temple for a seven-day stay.Temple is also called the Garden House of Lord Jagannath due to its beautiful garden setting.

Gundicha Temple is steeped in fascinating legends. One legend tells of Gundicha, the queen of King Indradyumna, who was a devout follower of Lord Jagannath. Her deep devotion led Lord Jagannath to promise her a visit during the Ratha Yatra. Another legend suggests that Gundicha Ghar is the home of Lord Krishna’s adoring aunt, Gundicha, who welcomes the deities with a special rice delicacy called padoapitha.

Narendra Sarobar Holy Lake

At a distance of 1 km from Jagannath Temple and 2.5 km from Puri Junction, Narendra Bank or Narendra Pokhari is a holy lake situated at Mauza Dandimala Sahi in Puri. This is one of the largest lakes in Orissa and also one of the must visit places in Puri.

The tank was built in 15th century AD by Narendra Dev, who shouldered the responsibility of the kingdom with Purushottama. The tank is spread over a vast area, which features an island in the middle, housing a small temple called Chandana Mandapa which is connected to the southern bank with a bridge. This lake is considered holy and has a lot of small and big temples surrounding it. The water level of the tank is 10 feet below the present road level. The tank covers 16 ghats which provide an opportunity for the pilgrims to have a holy bath. The main ghat has a flight of steps made up of Khondalite.

Also known as Chandana Pushkarini,

this is the holy Lake in which the famed Chandana Yatra of Lord Jagannath celebrated annually. During this festival all the big and small deities are taken out of their temples and floated in the pious water of this lake. The deities are applied with chandana paste and then washed with the sacred water of this Kund. This ritual is organized in the Baishaki month of Hindu calendar.

Chakra tirth

Chakratirtha or Chakra Narayana temple is an important spiritual site of jagannath Puri. Chakratirtha is situated on the Chakra Tirtha Road at the Puri beach on the east side of Jagannath temple. There are three main deities in this temple - Narasimha, Chakra Narayana, and Adi Narayana. There is also a small temple devoted to Varuna deva, who is the father of Lakshmi devi and father-in-law of Lord Jagannath. Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra are also worshiped in this temple.

It is believed that the `Daru' (divine log of wood employed for carving the deities of Lord Jagannath during Navakalevara) touched the ground for the very first time here at Chakratirtha. The tree was not ordinary. It emanated a sweet fragrance and an unusual luster. It had the four symbols of Lord Vishnu upon it. These logs of wood came floating through the sea and were subsequently used by King Indradyumna to sculpt the deities of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra in Satya Yuga.

Tota Gopinath

Sri Tota Gopinatha is exquisitely beautiful self-manifested Deity of Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Tota Gopinatha is also a most unique Deity because He is the only Krishna Deity in the world “sitting down” and playing His flute.

Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching quality that draws one to His darshana over and over again. Srila Vrindavana Thakura extols His power: “Even an extreme atheist will be changed upon seeing the Deity of Gopinatha.” At 7am during darshana time, upon request, the pujari can show a small golden streak on Gopinatha’s right knee where Mahaprabhu entered the Lord.

Gopinatha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the responsibility of Sri Tota Gopinatha’s service to His most dear Gadadhara Pandita, and also awarded Him ksetra-sannyasa.

Sri Tota Gopinatha Deity is very beautiful. Sri Vrindavana Dasa Thakura describes Sri Tota Gopinatha’s beauty in his Sri Caitanya-Bhagavat as follows-gadadhara bhavane mohana Gopinatha achene, ye hena nanda-kumara saksatapane Caitanya tare kariyachena koleati pasandi-o se vigraha dekhe bhule dekhi sri-murali mukha angera bhangima nityananda ananda asura nahi sima.

(Sri Caitanya-Bhagavat Antya 7.114)

“In the house of Gadadhara there is most attractive Gopinatha. This Deity looks exactly like son of Nanda Himself is sitting there. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself had held Him in His lap. Even most atheistic person will be changed to see this Deity. By seeing the posture of the body and face with flute Lord Nityananda sheds tears of bliss limitlessly.”

Alarnath Temple

The history of Alarnath Temple in Brahmagiri near Puri dates back to the 12th century. According to ancient legends, Lord Brahma worshipped Lord Vishnu on the top of this hill during Satya Yuga. Pleased with the devotion of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu appeared and instructed him to carve an idol of the four-armed deity out of black stone. The present temple was built by King Madan Mahadeva about eleven hundred years ago. Earlier the worship was performed by South Indian Brahmins who were in the disciple tradition of the great spiritual masters known as Alvars. This is why the deity came to be known as Alvarnath ("Lord of the Alvars"), which later became Alarnath. The temple is associated with the visit of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Odisha during the 16th century. During the Anavas period when darshan of Lord Jagannath is not permitted, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to visit the Alarnath temple. It is believed that Lord Jagannath directed him to come to this temple. This temple is considered as one of the 108 Abhimana Kshetras of the Vaishnava tradition. Many historians believe that the Alvars once visited this place, but there is no mention of it in the Divyaprabandham.

Sakshi Gopal Mandir

When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu  reached the town of Cuttack, He went to visit the temple of Sakshi Gopal. While there, Nityananda  Prabhu narrated to Him the story of the enchanting deity. Once, there were two brahmanas who were residents of the town of Vidyanagar. One of them was elderly while the other was young. The two brahmanas made an extensive tour to see different places of pilgrimage. After visiting Gaya, Kasi and Prayag, they finally reached Mathura. Thereafter they saw Govardhan hill, the twelve forests, and finally arrived at Vrindavan. In the village of Panchakroshi in Vrindavan, there was a great temple where gorgeous worship of Gopal was conducted. After taking baths at the different bathing places across the Yamuna, such as Kesi Ghat, Kaliya Ghat, the two pilgrims visited the temple of Gopal. The beauty of Gopal enchanted their minds. They stayed for a few days. Later the older brahmana, being impressed with services rendered by the young one, promised to give him his daughter in marriage. The young brahmana was taken by surprise and exclaimed that such an arrangement was unusual as the elderly brahmana belonged to a rich aristocratic family while he, on the other hand, was without a decent education or wealth. Hence he requested the elderly brahmana to reconsider his words as the young brahmana was not a suitable bridegroom for his daughter. The young brahmana also warned the elderly brahmana that he had a large circle of family and relatives whom he should discuss before concluding. However, the elderly brahmana remained stubborn. He insisted that the young brahmana should accept his proposal. Thereafter, at the request of the young brahmana, the elderly brahmana promised in front of the deity of Sakshi Gopal, that he would give him his daughter in charity.

Alarnath

temple, Near Jagannath Puri

After concluding their pilgrimage, the brahmanas returned to their respective homes in Vidyanagar. After some time, the elderly brahmana felt worried. He called a gathering of his family and relatives and recounted the promise he had made to the young brahmana. His family was shocked to learn that the elderly brahmana had promised to give away his daughter in marriage to an unsuitable person who neither had wealth nor nobility. They threatened to cut off their ties with the elderly brahmana if he sought this marriage. Some of the family members even exclaimed that they would drink poison and die. The elderly brahmana was in a fix. He did not want to break the promise he had made before Gopal. On the other hand, he was also frightened of his kinsmen. He prayed to Gopal so that the situation could be settled.

Indradyumna Sarobar

Millions of years ago during Satya-yuga, King Indradyumna had performed ashvamedha-yajna (horse sacrifice) here at Indradyumna Sarovar. At that time he honored the assembled Brahmins by donating thousands of cows. While all those cows were standing here, their hooves made a deep depression upon the earth; creating a large lake. This Lake subsequently became filled with water and cow urine. Since then it has become a tirtha, a purifying place of pilgrimage. Skanda Purana says that this is the best of all tirthas. Chandana Yatra and Sitala-sthali festival are pompously celebrated here. There are 3 main temples here: Indradyumna Maharaja's temple on the left side near the tank, a large Saksi Gopala temple on right side and Nilakantesvara Mahadeva Shiva temple mid-way down the stairs leading to Indradyumna sarovar.

Indradyumna Sarovar is half a kilometer away from the Gundicha temple. Lord Chaitanya had used water from Indradyumna Sarovar to cleanse the Gundicha temple and the Nrsimhadeva temple in Puri, a day before the Rath Yatra festival. The Lord and His associates had also performed their sporting water pastimes here at Indradyumna Sarovar.

Siddha Bakul

After Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had accepted His sannyasa, and shifted to Jagannatha Puri, Srila Haridas Thakur followed Him as well. Despite being a stalwart Vaishnava, Srila Haridas had always considered himself to be low-born and exceedingly abominable. Hence, out of his sheer humility, he never entered the premises of the Jagannatha Puri temple. At Puri, Lord Chaitanya had arranged a place for Haridas's stay, positioned just behind His own residence at Gambhira. The residence of Srila Haridas is renowned today as `Siddha Bakula' (Siddha means perfect). The sacred place has derived its name from a Bakula tree that grows over here. This fortunate tree is over 500 years old and it used to provide its cooling shade under which the Thakur chanted his rounds peacefully. Lord Chaitanya had personally planted a used tooth-stick of Lord Jagannatha into the ground at this place, which immediately grew up and blossomed into this Siddha Bakul tree. To this day, anyone visiting this place can take darsana of this sacred Bakula tree. The tree looks like it has exploded or it appears to be completely dead. The tree has no marrows but only survives through its skin. Yet it is wonderfully thriving with lush green leaves and fragrant flowers.

Srila Haridas used to chant three lakh holy names daily sitting under Siddha Bakula. He used to see the chakra at the top of the Jagannatha temple from here and offer his obeisances from a distance. Lord Chaitanya used to meet Haridas everyday over here and discuss with him the deep secrets of the science of devotion. Mahaprabhu used to also arrange for Lord Jagannatha's Mahaprasadam to be delivered to Haridas Thakur everyday. It was here at Siddha Bakul that Haridas Thakur breathed his last and entered the eternal pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Haridas yearned to pass away while beholding the moonlike face of Lord Gauranga. Lord Gauranga, the Supreme Lord, granted the wish of Haridas, His beloved servant. Holding the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya upon his heart and drinking the nectar of the Lord's moon-like face, Haridas incessantly chanted the holy name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya in ecstasy. While chanting thus, Haridas left his body, entering the eternal abode of the Supreme Lord.

Nilamadhav Temple, Kantilo Nayagarh, Odisha

It's a significant and ancient temple dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu. It is situated on the banks of the Mahanadi River and is known for its stunning architecture, which resembles that of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The temple is one of the oldest Vaishnav temples in the region, with roots tracing back to local worship practices. It is located near the twin hills and surrounded by lush forests, providing a serene environment for devotees.

The main deity, Sri Nilamadhava, is worshipped in the form of an Indranila gem image, which is a significant aspect of the temple's history.

The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.

While many are familiar with its annual Rath Yatra festival and the heavenly deities gracing the temple, Jagannath, Baladev and Subudra. There are several interesting facts about Jagannath temple that aren’t so well known.

1. Chakra - At the top of the temple sits the Sudarshan Chakra, a massive metal structure that actually weighs tons and stands as a testament to ancient engineering marvels. It appears the same from every angle this mystery continues to baffle experts.

2. Flag - The general rule of Flag flying is that they go in the direction as that of the wind, but do you know that the Jagannath Flag, positioned on the pinnacle of the temple discards nature’s code of conduct? this flag moves against it. This peculiar phenomenon has puzzled both scientists and visitors alike.

3. Daily Climb of the Priest - Every day, a priest climbs to the top of the temple to change the flag wavering high on the dome, which is equal to climbing a 45-story building. this age-old ritual is performed without any safety or protective gear, symbolizing the temple’s deep-rooted traditions and unwavering faith. It is also believed that if this ritual is skipped even for a day, the temple will be shut down for a period of 18 years

4. Shadowless Temple - Jagannath Temple has no shadow?Regardless of the sun’s position, the temple casts no shadow, a phenomenon that defies logical explanation of shadow formation.

5. Nothing flies above it - The sky is mainly the domain of birds and you can find various birds flying above your head be it any time of the day. In a curious display of respect for the divine, no birds dare to fly over the Jagannath Temple. And not only this, even airplanes avoid flying directly above it. This unique phenomenon is still unexplained and adds to its mystique and spiritual significance, backing the belief in the temple’s sanctity. 

6. Prasadam preparations - Every day, almost 2,000 to 2,00,000 visitors visit the Jagannath temple. The numbers may vary but what’s interesting is that the Parsadam ( sanctified food) here never falls short or is ever wasted. What amount of Parsad is prepared is efficiently consumed by the devotees and not even a single bite goes to waste. 

7. Mute Water - As you step through the Singha Dwara entrance of the Jagannath temple, the sound of the ocean waves becomes completely inaudible; however, it returns back as soon as you step out of the temple. The phenomenon is mostly experienced during the evening hours. But again, there’s no scientific explanation for this. But as per the local lore, it is said that it was the Subhadra Mayi, the sister of the two presiding deities who wished for complete peace and serenity inside the temple gates. Hence, as a result of her will, the event takes place. 

8. Magical cooking Method - The temple’s kitchen employs a unique method of cooking known as the Seven Pots on top of each other. In this method, seven vessels are stacked one above the other and are cooked over the firewood. Herein, the topmost pot is cooked first and the rest of all follow the same order of cooking. This tradition, steeped in ritual and symbolism, reflects the temple’s commitment to preserving ancient practices. 

9. Deities Renewal - Every 12 years, the Jagannath Temple undergoes a sacred ritual known as Nabakalebara, during which the wooden deities are replaced with new ones. The old deities, made of neem wood, are buried, symbolizing the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution.

10. The Rath Yatra - The annual Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri wherein the deities are carried out on heavily decorated chariots. These deities are believed to emerge from the Jagannath Temple in Puri and embark on a nine-day journey to the Gundicha Temple, approximately 3 kilometers away. Every year, over thousands and thousands of devotees join the Rath Yatra to take blessings of the deities and contribute to pulling the chariot (Rath) to its destination.