Puri is a vibrant destination where you can experience colourful festivals throughout the year. The town is renowned for the grand “Ratha Yatra,” an annual chariot festival that takes place at the beginning of the monsoon season. This age-old event has been drawing pilgrims and tourists for centuries. During the festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, embarks on a sacred journey from the main Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Mandir, where they remain for nine days. Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath (meaning “Lord of the World”), is one of the four Holy Dhams in India for Hindus, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal.

The town is also home to the Govardhana Matha, one of the four important institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya, with the others being in Sringeri, Dwaraka, and Jyotirmath. Puri is famous for its many Mathas (monasteries) belonging to different Hindu sects. The town is considered sacred, and many Hindu figures’ relics are housed here. It is traditionally believed to be a holy place for death and cremation, which has led to a higher number of widows in the area. Like other ancient religious towns in India, Puri has a deep, spiritual character that is often not immediately apparent to casual visitors.