Puri Beach gets most of the attention, and it deserves some of it—but building an entire trip around it means missing what actually makes Puri one of India’s most significant temple towns. The genuinely interesting things to visit in Puri are largely inland and a short drive out of town: a 900-year-old temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage chariot carved from stone, and a village where an ancient painting tradition is still taught house to house.
Things to Visit in Puri: Temples & Sacred Sites
Puri’s identity is built almost entirely around its temples, and this cluster covers the ones worth prioritizing.
1. Jagannath Temple
The centerpiece of Puri and one of Hinduism’s four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Jagannath Temple’s present structure dates to the early 12th century, commissioned by King Anantavarman Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Built in the Kalinga architectural style, its main tower rises roughly 65 meters above the inner sanctum, making it the tallest temple in Odisha. The temple is also the origin point of the globally recognized Rath Yatra chariot festival, held each June or July.
- Non-Hindu visitors (Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists excepted) are not permitted inside—a genuinely important detail to know before planning
- Even without entry, the temple’s exterior, surrounding lanes, and daily rhythm around it are worth experiencing
2. Gundicha Temple
Roughly 3 km from the main temple, Gundicha Temple is where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra “reside” for several days during Rath Yatra, having been pulled here along the Grand Road in three massive chariots. Outside festival season, it’s a quieter, less crowded stop with real significance to the same religious tradition.
3. Narendra Tank
A historic temple tank about 2 km from the center, Narendra Tank becomes a genuine spectacle during the Chandan Yatra festival, when decorated boats carrying temple deities float across the water. Outside festival dates, it’s a peaceful, photogenic stop that most beach-focused itineraries skip entirely. The tank’s wide, tree-lined banks also make it one of the more relaxed corners of Puri to simply sit for a while, away from the crowds that build up around the main temple complex.
Also read: Tourist Places In Odisha: Temples, Beaches, Wildlife, And Hidden Gems
4. Lokanath Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple’s defining quirk is its sacred lingam, which stays naturally submerged in water for most of the year. It’s one of the more unusual “sightseeing in puri” stops precisely because it doesn’t look like anything else on this list. The temple’s small, unhurried courtyard also makes for a nice contrast to the scale of Jagannath Temple, and it’s rarely crowded even during peak pilgrimage season.
5. Alarnath Temple
A short drive from central Puri, Alarnath Temple takes on special importance during the “Anasara” period, when Jagannath Temple’s main deities are traditionally out of public view following Snana Yatra—devotees historically visit Alarnath as an alternative during this window. It’s a good example of how Puri’s smaller temples are tied into the same religious calendar as the main one, rather than standing apart from it.
Things to Visit in Puri for Art, Craft & Culture
Beyond temples, Puri and its surrounding villages hold some of Odisha’s most distinctive living crafts.
6. Sudarsan Sand Art Institute
Located along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive, this gallery, workshop, and training center is dedicated to sand sculpture—a craft closely associated with Puri thanks to internationally recognized, Padma Shri-awarded sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. Exhibits typically depict mythological stories, social messages, and Odisha’s cultural heritage, all rendered in a medium that by nature won’t last, which gives the whole visit an interesting philosophical undertone most museums don’t have.
7. Raghurajpur Heritage Crafts Village
About 14–15 km from Puri, Raghurajpur is home to more than 120 households practicing Pattachitra painting, a tradition tracing back centuries, alongside palm-leaf engraving, mask-making, and wooden toy crafting. Designated Odisha’s first heritage village in 2000 following an INTACH research project, it’s one of the only places where visitors can watch this specific art form being made rather than just displayed.
8. Grand Road (Bada Danda) & Local Markets
The road connecting Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple isn’t just a festival route—on ordinary days, it’s lined with shops, food stalls, and everyday Puri life. It’s one of the better places to buy Odisha handicrafts, try local street food, and get a sense of the town outside its two headline attractions. Vendors along the stretch typically sell Odisha sweets like khaja and malpua, fresh coconut water, and simple vegetarian thalis, alongside shell crafts, puja items, and small Pattachitra-style souvenirs—a good option for travelers who want a taste of local life without a formal restaurant sit-down.
Things to Visit in Puri: The Best Day Trips Near Puri
Some of the most compelling places to visit near Puri aren’t in Puri at all — they’re a short drive away.
9. Konark Sun Temple
About 35 km from Puri and one of India’s most recognizable UNESCO World Heritage Sites (inscribed in 1984), the Konark Sun Temple was built in 1250 CE under King Narasimhadeva I. Designed as a colossal stone chariot dedicated to the sun god Surya, it features 24 intricately carved wheels, each roughly 3.7 meters in diameter, originally meant to be drawn by seven stone horses. Much of the main tower has been lost to time, but the surviving structures remain genuinely striking.
Also read: Diamond Triangle Of Odisha: Exploring The Ancient Buddhist Heritage Circuit
10. Chandrabhaga Beach
Close to Konark, about 36 km from Puri, Chandrabhaga is a quieter alternative to Puri’s own beach, particularly known for sunrise views. It’s worth combining with a Konark visit rather than treating it as a separate trip.
11. Chilika Lake
Roughly 50 km from Puri, Chilika is Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon, known for boat rides, migratory bird sightings in winter, and a real chance of spotting Irrawaddy dolphins. It’s a full-day excursion rather than a quick stop, so plan accordingly.
12. Pipili Appliqué Village
Around 38 km away on the Puri-Bhubaneswar road, Pipili is known island-wide for its colorful appliqué work—umbrellas, lampshades, wall hangings, and bags, all hand-stitched in bright patchwork patterns. It makes a natural stop if you’re traveling between Puri and Bhubaneswar rather than a dedicated day trip on its own.
Things to Visit in Puri: Best Time & Seasonal Guide
The best time to visit Puri is between October and February, when temperatures sit comfortably between 16°C and 28°C.
- Winter (October–February): Most recommended; comfortable for temple visits, day trips, and time on the beach alike
- Summer (March–May): Temperatures can climb as high as 45°C with heavy humidity, making midday sightseeing genuinely uncomfortable
- Monsoon (June–September): Heavy rainfall makes swimming unsafe, but this window includes the Rath Yatra festival in June or July—worth the trade-off if the festival itself is your priority
Also read: Places to Visit in Dwarka: Gujarat’s Temple Town by the Arabian Sea
How to Reach Puri
Puri is unusually well-connected for a town its size, largely thanks to its religious significance.
By Air
- The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, roughly 55–65 km away (sources vary slightly on the exact figure)
- Taxis and buses run regularly from the airport into Puri
By Rail
- Puri has its own railway station, sitting directly on the Kolkata–Chennai line, with most long-distance trains on that route stopping here
- This makes Puri one of the more train-accessible pilgrimage towns in India, without needing to connect from a station further away
By Road
- Bhubaneswar is approximately 56 km away by road, with regular bus and taxi connections
- Buses also run from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, though these are considerably longer journeys better suited to travellers already in the region
Final Thoughts About Things to Visit in Puri
Puri rewards travelers who treat its beach as one attraction among many rather than the whole trip. Between a 900-year-old temple complex, a UNESCO-listed stone chariot at Konark, a living craft village at Raghurajpur, and a genuine wildlife day trip at Chilika Lake, the real things to visit in Puri go a long way past the shoreline everyone already knows about. A relaxed two- to three-day itinerary is usually enough to cover the temples in town on day one, Konark and Chandrabhaga Beach on day two, and either Chilika Lake or Raghurajpur on a third day if time allows — though even a single extra day beyond the beach is enough to see why Puri is one of Odisha’s most significant travel destinations.
Plan your Puri trip with the Explurger app—download the app today.
Start with Jagannath Temple, then build the rest of your itinerary outward from there.
FAQs About Things to Visit in Puri
2. What is Puri famous for besides the beach?
Besides its beach, Puri is best known as home to Jagannath Temple, one of Hinduism's four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, and as the starting point of the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival. It's also close to the UNESCO-listed Konark Sun Temple and the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur, both significant draws in their own right.
3. How many days are needed to see the attractions in Puri?
Two to three days are generally enough to cover Puri's main temples, a day trip to Konark and Chilika Lake, and a visit to Raghurajpur. One day alone is enough for the core temples in town, while a second or third day allows time for the surrounding day trips without rushing.
4. Is Jagannath Temple open to all visitors?
No, Jagannath Temple restricts entry to Hindus, along with Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists; non-Hindu foreign visitors are generally not permitted inside the temple. Visitors who cannot enter can still experience the temple's exterior architecture, the surrounding lanes, and the daily religious activity around it, which remains a significant part of the experience.
5. What are the best places to visit near Puri for a day trip?
The best places to visit near Puri for a day trip include the Konark Sun Temple, about 35 km away, and Chilika Lake, roughly 50 km away, both of which can be combined with a stop at Pipili's appliqué craft village along the way. Chandrabhaga Beach, near Konark, is also a popular add-on for travelers already heading in that direction.
6. What is Raghurajpur known for?
Raghurajpur is known as a heritage crafts village where more than 120 households practise Pattachitra painting, a traditional Odishan art form, alongside palm-leaf engraving, mask-making, and wooden toy crafting. It was designated Odisha's first heritage village in 2000, making it one of the few places where visitors can watch these crafts being made in real time rather than only seeing finished pieces in a shop.
