Hilgiri, Niladri, Hilachal Purushottam, Sankhakshetra, Srikehetra, Jagannath Dham, Jagannath Puri, Puri is a place with many names over the centuries. Two great forces dominate puri: the sea (Bay of Bengal) and the great temple of Lord Jagannath. One of the four celebrated religious centers (Char Dhams) of India, Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath needs no introduction.
According to tradition Puri was once a thickly wooded hill inhabited by the Sabaras (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribes of the Austric linguistic family). Very few cities are so dominated by a single factor in so many diverse ways as Puri is, influenced by Lord Jagannath. A very large part of Puri's population is connected with the temple in one way or the other. Some are involved in the service of Lord Jagannath (the Pandas and Purohits), others have gainful employment indirectly generated because of the deity. Apart from Jagannath temple, the other two most important temples around are Lokanath Temple and Gundicha Temple.
Most people go to Puri for religious reasons - it being one of the four most holy Hindu 'Dhams' (meaning a holy place). But a very large number also go for both adventure as well as restful holidays. Drawing the maximum number of visitors as compared to any other place in Orissa, Puri not only has scores of hotels, but also hundreds of holiday homes owned by various organisations and business houses. The sunny beach at Puri is one of the finest in the world. Watching the sunrise in a symphony of colours is a wonderful experience. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts where visitors from any part of the globe can comfortably relax. There is the added attraction of one of the few remaining relies of the British period - the South Eastern Railway Hotel. There must be very few places left in India with such spacious rooms and so much living space. The lifestyle at this hotel can be an experience of a lifetime for those coming from crowded cities.
Puri being a coastal district of Orissa is famous for its Historic antiquities, Religious sanctuaries, Architectural Grandeur, beautiful sea and moderate climate. It holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from the 3rd Century B.C. to the present day and its unique monuments like those of Lord Jagannath at Puri, the Sun God at Konark are the famous in the world. It has the Chilika Lake, one of the largest brackish water lakes in India, which holds a picturesque Seascape beauty. It offers an ideal resort for birds that migrate from different parts of the continent. By virtue of Geographical location , the climate of Puri is equable through out the year.
Puri the abode of Vishnu as Jagannath, which contributed the word "Juggernaut" to the English language, represents its integrated individuality as its cultural heritage, a unique blend of claims of time and eternity with a power answerable only to wisdom. Puri's compendious heritage has been representing that spark of immortality that the Oriyas and the Indians have own against the powers of negation, through a spirit of university, adaptability, and an astute mixture of the present which no other culture can aspire to explain as its self justification. The name of the Lord as Purusottama (perfection personified) or as Jagannath (Lord of Universe) represents a universality in true with the familiar faternity of mankind (Vasudheiva Kutumbakam). Adi Shankaracharya visited Puri, set up the Gobardhan matha (monastery) as the exception from his other three mathas as a vaishnavite, defined Jagannath as the Supreme one. It is thus not only one of the four Dhams (Holy Places) for Hindus but the most pious and sacred place.
The Quintessential characteristic of its culture and philosophy has made it from Pan-Indian to Pan-Continental. The Car-Festival of Shri Lord Jagannath now not limited to Puri or Orissa rather it is celebrated in global scale, the reverberation echoes of which are heard from Los Angeles to Piccadilly from Heidelberg to Tokyo. The Jagannath culture is not only pre-dominated in Puri but it is global. Its Universal affirmation is secular diffusion of such an attitude is futuristic. It calls for unity in diversity is an age of diverse perversity.
The evolution of Odissi Dance and music out of the Devadasi-institution still enchants all with its mystic rhythm. The Orissan School of architecture emerging from here is a poetry frozen in stone. The Patta-paintings and appliqué work are a craze in the west, particularly in U.S.A. The Shell-craft of Puri have a major appeal. It is thus here at puri that the pattern of a Pan-Indian, culture of tomorrow is on the anvil. People are individual atoms ever contributing their properties to the "matter" of Jagannath Dharma without consciousness of mutual distinctions. Puri belongs to humanity, the seat of an eternal education, the bridge that gulfs the past and the future and the blending of diverse impulses for a single embodiment in the march of all fulfilling time. Temples and sanctuaries, beaches and glorious lakes, colourful, vibrant and the numerous festivals for every reason and for every season that can take on a"Jagannath-like momentum". Puri has then all and much more for all. Excellently connected by air, rail,and road , Puri invites you to its hospitable environs and promises you an experience you will never forget .When others talk of taking you down memory lane. Puri will take you back to your ancient linkages. When others talk of romancing with the stones, her ancient architects and sculptors will show you what it really means.
Access
Air : Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport - 60 km . Indian Airlines offers excellent connections to Bhubaneswar from Delhi, Calcutta, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur,Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Rail :-A terminus on the S.E. Railway having fast and superfast train links with New Mumbai, Delhi,Guwahati , Hyderabad ,Thiruvanantapuram Calcutta and Baidyanath Dham & etc.Puri has good rail connections with Delhi , Calcutta, Tirupati, Okha and Ahmedabad.
Road : 60 km by State Highway from Bhubaneswar. One can also approach by road via Konark and then through the Marine Drive covering about 100 km. OTDC provides luxury coaches and cars from Bhubaneswar and puri.
Places of Interest In Puri:
The Temple of Lord Jagannath built during the 12th century A.D. by Chodaganga Deva dominates the landscape for kilometers around. Being the tallest temple (65 metres) in Orissa, it is one of the most magnificent pieces of monuments of India. In front of the main gate stands a 16-sided monolithic pillar (11 metres high), called Aruna Stambha, which formally stood in front of the Sun Temple and was brought to Puri during the 18th century A.D. Some of the other important temples are Gundicha, Sunaragauranga, Lokanath, Daria Mahabir and Tota Gopinatt. There are also a number of holy tanks like Narendra, Markandeya, Sweta Ganga and Indradyumna. There are many Monasteries locally known as Mathas also of tourist interest.
Sea Beach - The golden beach of Puri is one of the best in the country for Sun, Surf and Sand. The beach area has been a popular seaside resort for decades, and some of the old hotels capture the charm of bygone days. For this shining beach, Puri has got its dual importance of a relaxed seaside resort and of an important pilgrimage centre. A stroll along the beach or a much-desired bath here in the sea is very much refreshing. The beach goes festive on occasions like "Kartik Purnima" i.e. the full moon day of the lunar month of Kartik when Hindus gather here in the early morning to take a holy deep and pray sea God. The five days long Beach Festival in the months of February is now very popular in the Festival calendar. Beach clothes are appropriate for this seaside resort
Places of Interest around Puri:
Balighai -8 km
The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable.
Brahmagiri - 25 km
Brahmagiri is known for the living shrine of Alarnath. Streams of pilgrims visit Alarnath during Anabasara of Lord Jagannath. Nearby is the shrine of Baliharachandi on the solitary sand dunes.
Satyabadi - 20 km
Satyabadi or Sakshigopal is known for the shrine of Lord Sakshigopal. It is believed that the visit to Puri is incomplete without a visit to Sakshigopal. The temple is only 2 km away from the main road leading to Puri and is convenient to visit.
Baliharachandi - 27 km
27 km to the south-west of Puri is the temple of Baliharachandi. Situated on a sandy hill near the sea and adjacent to the mouth of the river Bhargavi, Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Baliharachandi. The scenic beauty of this place is ideal for group picnic.
Raghurajpur - 16 km
One of the most famous artists village in Orissa, the village of Raghurajpur boasts not only of the exquisite pattachitra's and talapattachitra's, but also of being the native place of Guru kelucharan Mohapatra, the famed Odissi dancer. Even today, under the tutelage of renowned Guru's, young boys can be seen practicing the Gotipua dance here. A visit to Orissa would definitely be incomplete without a visit to this little village.
Satapara - 52 km
Satapara, a retreat in nature on Chilika Lake, has been thrown open to visitors. Its location near the confluence of the Lake with the Bay of Bengal, and proximity to Puri (52 km), makes it an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika. The thrilling sight of dolphins round the year and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred place for a vacation with nature.
Sakshigopal:
Sakhigopal is 20 km from puri is famous for Radha Krishna temple. It is also famous for Satyabadi bana vidyalaya and bakulabana.
Accommodation
Name
Telephone (06842)
Hotel Grand Central
Hotel Hans-Cocopalms
Hotel Holiday Resort
Hotel Mayfair Beach Resort
Hotel New Victoria Club
Hotel Nilachal Ashok
Hotel Sun-n-Sand
Hotel Toshali Sands
Hotel Vijoy International
Hotel 'Z'
Panthanivas
Puri Hotel
S.E. Railway Hotel
Sterling Holiday Resorts
Victoria Club Hotel
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Very LIttle abt CUTTACK
Cuttack
30 Km north of Bhubanewar was the medieval capital Cuttack, one of the oldest towns in Orissa. It was the capital and administrative centre until the end of the British Raj, still the year 1956. Cuttack was founded by Nripati Kesari (920-935). It occupies an important strategic position in relation to the network of canals in the region. The town is almost an island and situated at the head of the Mahanadi delta and surrounded by the great river and its tributary the Kathjuri.
Time stops in Cuttack, Katakis are a confident a lot, with thousand years of history behind them. Thousands of Katakis witness the century's worst floods in their unique style, eating Dahibaras and Aludam on the embankments of Kathjori and Mahanadi. Bhaichara, Parampara and Aitiho: these three words dominate every public discourse in Cuttack, roughly translated; these words mean brotherhood, tradition and history. We have seen all, is the predominant sentiment of Katakis. And truly so, Katakis have seen the glory of Kalinga empire, the might of Mauryan Ashoka, the Marathas and Mughals, the British and the fight for independence. Pride of thousand years of existence has an equalizing effect.
1803 is the foundation year of the Cuttack district under the Bengal Presidency of the British India. It was the capital of Orissa with Cuttack Commissioner as the head of the British Government. The district has contributed liberally to Orissa's who's who list. Cuttack district is a narrow strip of land spreading from East to West. Topographically Cuttack has two prominent divisions viz., hilly terrain on the west and Mahanadi delta plains in the East. The highly fertile and densely populated land in criss-crossed by hundreds of rivers and rivulets. These water bodies function both as tributaries of the Mahanadi river system. Large portion of the landmass is low lying and gets submerged during floods. With very limited industrialization, people of Cuttack depend upon agriculture as the primary means of livelihood. The vast network of irrigation canals established by the British after the great famine of 1866, is the backbone of agriculture. Cuttack city is still the commercial capital of Orissa with the Malgodown controlling the trade throughout the State. Following are some of the relevant facts about Cuttack district.
General Information
Geographical Area: 3932 Sq.Km. District, 59.57 Sq. Km. City
Altitude : 14.62 metres above sea-level
Major rivers : Mahanadi, Kathjori, Birupa, Debi, Kandal, Chitrotpala, Sapua, Hadua-Nallah, Rana- Sankha nallah, Genguti
Population : 23.40 Lakh
STD Code : 0671
Climate : Hot in summer, humid during monsoons and dry in winter
PLACE OF INTEREST
Stone Revetment of Cuttack
The river banks of Cuttack are protected by stone revetment, a great engineering marvel of the 11th century A.D. and a remarkable example of ancient technological skill of Orissa.
Barabati Fort
The ruins of a medieval fort with its moat and gate and the earthen mound of the nine-storied palace on the bank of the river Mahanadi are noteworthy. Adjacent to the fort is a modern stadium.
Choudwar - (10 km by road, 5 km by water)
Choudwar, a growing industrial area was once the capital of Somakuli Keshari Kings of Orissa. Eight prominent Siva pithas were established by the Keshari dynasty in the vicinity of Choudwar, which is now in ruins. Tradition records that it was the capital of Virat, the brother-in-law of Kichaka. The five Pandava brothers with their consort Draupadi took shelter in Choudwar in their secret exile.
Naraj - (15 km)
A picturesque scenic spot, Naraj was a famous seat for Buddhist culture and learning. The scenic view of the river Mahanadi at the origin of its branch Kathajodi is simply bewitching.
Quadam-i-Rasool
A sacred shrine both for the Hindus and Muslims, Quadam-i-Rasool, having a compound wall and towers at each corner has inside three mosques with beautiful domes and a Nawabat Khana (music gallery). It is an object of veneration for Hindus and Muslims alike.
Temple of Cuttack Chandi
Being the shrine of the presiding deity of the city, the temple of Cuttack Chandi is normally visited by every Hindu visitor.
Excursions
Ansupa - (70 km)
Ansupa, the small but picturesque lake holds a prominent position in the tourist map of Orissa and offers an asylum to the migratory birds in winter. The play of the shadow of Saranda Mountain and surrounding bamboo and mango groves on the rippling waters of Ansupa make it a real thing of beauty. One can have a boat journey or go for fishing in the lake. Ansupa is 70 km from Cuttack and 20 km from Raja-Athagarh station, connected with regular bus service.
Bhattarika - (108 km)
This place is famous for the shrine of goddess Bhattarika, often crowded by pilgrims and picnickers.
Chandikhol - (40 km)
Chandikhol in the lap of thickly wooded hills and by the side of a perennial stream is an extremely ideal picnic spot. The Ashram of Baba Bhairavananda is an added attraction of the place. Adjacent to Chandikhol, Mahavinayak enshrines the five godheads in one Lingam. It is a place of worship for Ganapati.
Chhatia - (30 km)
Popularly known as Chhatiabata, Chhatia is a sacred place of pilgrimage. The shrine of Lord Jagannath at Chhatia is a modern piece of Orissan temple architecture. Nearby one can find the archaeological remains of Amaravati-Kataka, one of the five important forts of Chodaganga Deva. Amaravati with the backdrop of the hill "Dhania" presents an attractive sight.
Dhabaleswar - (35 km)
A small island in the Mahanadi, the temple of Dhabaleswar is situated on a hillock. Though a new structure, sculptures of 10 / 11th century A.D. are found in the temple premises.
Jajpur - (92 km)
Otherwise known as Vaitarani Tirtha, Jajpur with Goddess Viraja (Durga) as its presiding deity is one of the sacred places of pilgrimage in Orissa. The place has its unique importance in India as Navigaya Kshetra where pinda is offered for the satisfaction of the ancestors. The shrine of Sweta Varaha (the white boar incarnation of Vishnu) along with hundreds of other shrines here made Jajpur a Tirtha par excellence. The "Dasasvamedha Ghat", the flight of steps leading to the Vaitarani where the ten horse sacrifices were performed is a great sanctified spot for the Hindus.
Kendrapara - (65 km)
Known as "Tulasi Kshetra", Kendrapara is famous for the temple of Lord Baladeva. A grand car festival is held here annually which draws a mammoth crowd.
Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary
Sprawled over 672 square Kilometers, it has a variety of animals in its mangrove forests crises-crossed by rivers and creeks. Known for crocodiles, sea turtles (on the Gahirmatha beach) and water monitor lizards, it has rare white crocodiles. It is also a sanctuary for deer and migratory birds. One can also see 10th-11th century temple, sculptures, mud-forts and pottery. Accommodation is available at the forest Inspection Bungalow and Interpretation Center at Dangmal and Forest Rest house at Ekakula on Gahirmatha beach. Contact Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar, Dist, Kendrapara.
Niali-Madhava - (47 km)
Niali is famous for the shrine of Sovaneswar. There is an archaeological sculpture shed here. 8 km from Niali is Madhava, a small village where is enshrined the lovely image of Madhava. It is also a beautiful picnic spot.
Paradeep - (94 km)
Paradeep, a major sea port of India for trade activities with a fine sea beach and a marine drive is an enjoyable tourist resort attracting large number of visitors from far and wide.
Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri - (55 km - 70 km)
These three hills comprise a remarkable Buddhist complex. Hieun-T'sang, the Chinese pilgrim found it to be the seat of a flourishing Buddhist University called "Puspagiri". Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric Buddhist images testifying its ancient glory have been unearthed. Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved doorjambs of the Vihar and superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration of Buddhist sculptures of the post-Gupta period. Ratnagiri is 70 km, Lalitgiri is 55 km and Udayagiri is 60 km from Cuttack.
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