Here is a list of the famous Hindu temples in Puri, Orissa. We believe this Puri travel guide will help pilgrims planning for a religious tour to Puri, during the Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival 2012 as well as devotees visiting Puri Jagannath on other occasions.
Puri, also known to many as Jagannath Puri, after the world famous Sree Jagannath Temple, is one of the oldest cities in Orissa, India. Situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the holy city of Puri is referred in Skanda Purana as the resting place of Lord Maha Vishnu, and is considered as one of the four sacred pilgrimage centers for Hindus .
Hindu Temples in and around Puri - Pilgrimage Places in Orissa
Sree Jagannath Temple
Shree Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned and the biggest temples of Orissa. Located about 60 km from Bhubaneswar, Puri Jagannath Temple is one of the most popular attractions of Puri. The temple was established in the 12th century, representing the Kalinga style of architecture and is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna). Rath Yatra is an important festival of the temple, organized every year. Ratha Yatra is a chariot festival where the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are taken to the Gundicha temple in beautifully decorated chariots.
Read a detailed article about Puri Jagannath Temple, its architecture, and how to reach Jagannath Temple here
Read More about Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Festival Here
Gundicha Temple in Puri
Located on the north-eastern side of the Jagannath temple, the Gundicha Temple is considered to be the home of the aunt of Lord Krishna. Dated back to the sixteenth century, the temple is named after the King Indradyumna (Surya Dynasty), who laid the foundation for the formation of this temple. He was also known by the name ‘Gundicha’. An important feature of the temple is a huge dome that is adorned with the wheel of Lord Vishnu.
It is said that the Lord Jagannath stays here for 9 days during the time of the Rath Yatra and on the day of the Ratha Jatra, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are ceremoniously taken in wooden Rath (chariot) from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple.
Goddess Lakshmi Temple
This temple is devoted to Goddess Lakshmi and is situated near the Lord Jagannath Temple. It is said that, when the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati takes place, Goddess Lakshmi invites them to this shrine. Lakshmi Temple has an important part in the annual Jagannath Puri Rath Yathra.
Loknath Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Loknath Temple was built in the 11th century by Lord Rama. A distinctive feature of the temple is that the Shivalinga is always seen under water. This feature confirms the legend that Goddess Ganga flows through the top of the Shiva Linga as a river. Devotees believe that this Shivling has the power to cure diseases. Saranti Somobar Fair (Saranti Samobar Fair) is an important festival celebrated here with great splendor.
Markandesvara Temple
Markandesvara Temple, also spelled Markandeshwara Temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built in the 13th century. The statue of Natraj with ten arms seen in the front of the temple is a notable feature here.
Sakshi Gopal Temple
Sakshi Gopal Temple, located about 20 km from Puri, resembles the Jagannath Temple and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha. It is said that these idols were brought to this shrine by King Pratapruda Deva (the greatest Ruler of the Ganga Dynasty). Devotees pay homage to this temple after visiting the Jagannath Temple, without which the worship is considered incomplete.
Vimala Temple
Vimala Temple is a 10th century temple built by the Somavamsi Kings. Vimala Temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti who is the incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The seven incarnations of Goddess Parvati, namely, Varahi, Chamundi, Kaumari, Andri, Vaishnavi, Brahmi and Maheshwari, are seen within the premises of the temple. Markanda is the holy pond near the temple.
Ardhasani Temple in Puri
Ardhasani Temple, situated just 3 km from Lord Jagannath Temple, is dedicated to Subhadra, the sister of Lord Krishna and Lord Balram. Legend has it that Subhadra saved the entire town by drinking half of the flood water. Hence the temple is important during the grand Puri Rathyatra festival.
Astachandi Temple in Puri
Astachandi Temple enshrines the images of eight Chandis – Dakshinakalika, Bata Mangala, Ardhasani, Marichika Sarvamangal, Harachandi, Bimala, and Alamba. The eight Chandis are the different forms of Mother Goddesses.
Dashavatar Temple in Puri
Dashavatara Temple is a 12th century temple situated in front of the Gundicha Temple in Puri. The 12th century Sanskrit poet, Jayadeva, who wrote the epic poem Gita Govinda (Gita Govindam), stayed here. Jayadeva also wrote the Dashavatara Stotra, being inspired with the ten incarnations of Vishnu - Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Sree Rama, Krishna, Balarama, Kalki.
Jameswara Temple in Puri
Jameswara Temple, also known as Yamanaka Tirth or Jambeswar Temple, is a 12th century shrine dedicated to Jameswara Shiva - the protector of Puri from the influence of Lord Yama. Jameswara Temple is situated to the south of Harichandi Street.
Chaitanya Temple in Puri
Chaitanya Temple, also known as Sunar Gouranga Temple, is located southeast of Jagannath Temple. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple enshrines a Golden idol of Lord Krishna.
Daksina Kali Temple
Daksinakalika Temple, situated on the south-east of Jagannath Temple, enshrines a four-armed idol of Goddess Kali.
Chakranarayan Temple
Chakranarayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. The temple is situated on the northern side of Sunar Gouranga Temple.
Siddha Mahavir Temple
Siddha Mahavir Temple is situated to the west of Gundicha Temple and is dedicated to Siddha Hanuman.
Daria Mahabir Temple
Located to the west of Chakranarayan Temple, Daria Mahabir Temple is another temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Puri. Lord Hanuman is widely known here as Bedi Hanuman here.
Puri, also known to many as Jagannath Puri, after the world famous Sree Jagannath Temple, is one of the oldest cities in Orissa, India. Situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the holy city of Puri is referred in Skanda Purana as the resting place of Lord Maha Vishnu, and is considered as one of the four sacred pilgrimage centers for Hindus .
Hindu Temples in and around Puri - Pilgrimage Places in Orissa
Sree Jagannath Temple
Shree Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned and the biggest temples of Orissa. Located about 60 km from Bhubaneswar, Puri Jagannath Temple is one of the most popular attractions of Puri. The temple was established in the 12th century, representing the Kalinga style of architecture and is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna). Rath Yatra is an important festival of the temple, organized every year. Ratha Yatra is a chariot festival where the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are taken to the Gundicha temple in beautifully decorated chariots.
Read a detailed article about Puri Jagannath Temple, its architecture, and how to reach Jagannath Temple here
Read More about Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra Festival Here
Gundicha Temple in Puri
Located on the north-eastern side of the Jagannath temple, the Gundicha Temple is considered to be the home of the aunt of Lord Krishna. Dated back to the sixteenth century, the temple is named after the King Indradyumna (Surya Dynasty), who laid the foundation for the formation of this temple. He was also known by the name ‘Gundicha’. An important feature of the temple is a huge dome that is adorned with the wheel of Lord Vishnu.It is said that the Lord Jagannath stays here for 9 days during the time of the Rath Yatra and on the day of the Ratha Jatra, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are ceremoniously taken in wooden Rath (chariot) from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple.
Goddess Lakshmi Temple
This temple is devoted to Goddess Lakshmi and is situated near the Lord Jagannath Temple. It is said that, when the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati takes place, Goddess Lakshmi invites them to this shrine. Lakshmi Temple has an important part in the annual Jagannath Puri Rath Yathra.
Loknath Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Loknath Temple was built in the 11th century by Lord Rama. A distinctive feature of the temple is that the Shivalinga is always seen under water. This feature confirms the legend that Goddess Ganga flows through the top of the Shiva Linga as a river. Devotees believe that this Shivling has the power to cure diseases. Saranti Somobar Fair (Saranti Samobar Fair) is an important festival celebrated here with great splendor.
Markandesvara Temple
Markandesvara Temple, also spelled Markandeshwara Temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and was built in the 13th century. The statue of Natraj with ten arms seen in the front of the temple is a notable feature here.
Sakshi Gopal Temple
Sakshi Gopal Temple, located about 20 km from Puri, resembles the Jagannath Temple and is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha. It is said that these idols were brought to this shrine by King Pratapruda Deva (the greatest Ruler of the Ganga Dynasty). Devotees pay homage to this temple after visiting the Jagannath Temple, without which the worship is considered incomplete.
Vimala Temple
Vimala Temple is a 10th century temple built by the Somavamsi Kings. Vimala Temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti who is the incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The seven incarnations of Goddess Parvati, namely, Varahi, Chamundi, Kaumari, Andri, Vaishnavi, Brahmi and Maheshwari, are seen within the premises of the temple. Markanda is the holy pond near the temple.
Ardhasani Temple in Puri
Ardhasani Temple, situated just 3 km from Lord Jagannath Temple, is dedicated to Subhadra, the sister of Lord Krishna and Lord Balram. Legend has it that Subhadra saved the entire town by drinking half of the flood water. Hence the temple is important during the grand Puri Rathyatra festival.
Astachandi Temple in Puri
Astachandi Temple enshrines the images of eight Chandis – Dakshinakalika, Bata Mangala, Ardhasani, Marichika Sarvamangal, Harachandi, Bimala, and Alamba. The eight Chandis are the different forms of Mother Goddesses.
Dashavatar Temple in Puri
Dashavatara Temple is a 12th century temple situated in front of the Gundicha Temple in Puri. The 12th century Sanskrit poet, Jayadeva, who wrote the epic poem Gita Govinda (Gita Govindam), stayed here. Jayadeva also wrote the Dashavatara Stotra, being inspired with the ten incarnations of Vishnu - Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Sree Rama, Krishna, Balarama, Kalki.
Jameswara Temple in Puri
Jameswara Temple, also known as Yamanaka Tirth or Jambeswar Temple, is a 12th century shrine dedicated to Jameswara Shiva - the protector of Puri from the influence of Lord Yama. Jameswara Temple is situated to the south of Harichandi Street.
Chaitanya Temple in Puri
Chaitanya Temple, also known as Sunar Gouranga Temple, is located southeast of Jagannath Temple. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple enshrines a Golden idol of Lord Krishna.
Daksina Kali Temple
Daksinakalika Temple, situated on the south-east of Jagannath Temple, enshrines a four-armed idol of Goddess Kali.
Chakranarayan Temple
Chakranarayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. The temple is situated on the northern side of Sunar Gouranga Temple.
Siddha Mahavir Temple
Siddha Mahavir Temple is situated to the west of Gundicha Temple and is dedicated to Siddha Hanuman.
Daria Mahabir Temple
Located to the west of Chakranarayan Temple, Daria Mahabir Temple is another temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Puri. Lord Hanuman is widely known here as Bedi Hanuman here.
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