Visit
Orissa,
Calcutta and The East
A day trip from Bhubaneswar can take you to Puri, one of the four holiest Hindu cities in India and the site of the Jagannath Temple. The temple, though thronged with devotees at any time of year, is the epicentre of a huge annual festival which is reputed to attract more than half a million pilgrims. Only Hindus can enter the temple itself but the outside is impressive enough, with a tower reaching 65 metres into the air and topped with a giant wheel carved from stone. Surrounding the main temple are 30 small shrines attended by around 6,000 priests, and a visit here will immerse you in the rituals and ceremonies of this region’s spiritual heritage.