From Wikitravel Shared

Puri is a renowned city and headquarters of Puri District in the Indian state of Orissa.

[edit] Understand

Jagannath Puri or Purusottama Puri (approximately 1 and a half hours or 60 km from Bhubaneswar by bus, around Rs 15) is a pilgrimage town with a famous temple of Lord Jagannath (means Lord of the Universe). There are many hotels, most overseas tourists stay near to Chakratirtha Road (C.T. Road) for the best of star hotels like hotel holiday resort, mayfair beach resort or you can ask rickshaws for 'Sea Beach Road or Swargadwara'. Some cheaper hotels are Hotel Puri and Hotel New Sea Hawk (in Swargadwar) The Sun temple at Konark is also near by. If you go to Puri by road from Bhubaneswar you will go past Pipli with its beautiful applique handicrafts, worth a look. The beach is golden sand but the water is a bit rough (which may be good if you like to surf).

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

If you arrive by train go to the Orissan State Tourist counter at the station for advice, they are usually very helpful and speak English. The MCO Booth is also quite helpful. Hindi is also widely spoken, most locals speak bengali.

[edit] Get around

You can use cycle or auto rickshaws but agree a price before you set off. The drivers can be quite argumentative.There are places on C.T Road where you can hire an Enfield motorbike, good if you want to drive along the coast to Konark(Sun Temple).

A cycle rickshaw is in the range of 20 rupees.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Budget

• Shyama -- pure vegetarian restaurant opposite the Jagannath temple on the Grand Road above the shops on the corner. There are many restaurants in Swargadwara, New Puri and C.T. Road. *Near the ISKCON temple in Swargadwara there is a good sweet shop with a cockatoo outside. It is clean and cheap and does vegetarian snacks like samosas, aloo dum (spicy potato) and chapatis.

[edit] See

• Shree Jagannath Puri temple

[edit] Do

Enjoy the splendour of the Golden Beach of Puri. It is ideal for surfng and cool for a dip. The beach is covered in golden sand but the water is a bit rough during monsoon (which may be good if you like to surf). The waves can also be high and rough during purnima (full moon). Also, "Please try not to litter the beach".

[edit] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Puri is a popular holiday resort for people from Kolkata but they tend to stay in the hotels nearer to Swargadwar (rather than C.T Road). These hotels are often inexpensive but check they are quoting you a genuine price.

• Puri Hotel. +91-6752-222114. Excellent location. You get a full sea view straight out of balcony of most of the rooms, but the hotel is right by main thoroughfare and the majestic view is polluted with vehicle honking sound till late at night. Rooms are good when you compare it to the cost. Front office staffs are horrible, as their behaviour is rude. 400 rupees for a big 4-bed-room with balcony

[edit] Splurge

• Hotel Holiday Resort (C.T. Road) www.holidayresortpuri.com. Phone - +91 (06752) 222440
• Hans Coco Palms Resort. www.hanhotel.com.in 3600 Rupees for a double bed room. Quiet location and a swimming pool. The hotel has a private beach, although there are only two canopies for guests. There are no lifeguards (nolia), but you can hire one if you wish. Bathrooms somewhat small and dingy. Breakfast (especially the Hans Coco Palms Special) is a good value for money and very wholesome. Try the tomato shorba and 'thaali' for lunch/dinner. You won't be disappointed.

[edit] Stay safe

In chaep hotels or Guest Houses on Swargadwar or New Puri, Please try to take care of your own belongings. DO NOT try to go to the beach after 8 pm. If you get seriously ill in Puri it is better to go on to Bhubaneswar to the Kalinga Hospital as the hospitals in Puri are very, very basic and not too clean. The hotel should be able to get a local doctor for you if you need one.

There are mouthwatering foodstalls on the beach selling fish, mutton, chicken kebabs, chops and cutlets. DO NOT try these, unless you want to experience the medical system of puri. Even weather-beaten, battle-hardened, super-immuned indian stomachs can not tolerate these tasty but unhygienic attacks on your digestive system. Eat out of hotels, perfectly fine. But do NOT try the seashore roadside food stalls.

[edit] Get out

From the main bus stand in Puri you can get buses to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Bhubaneswar is a major hub, and you should be able to catch trains to other places from there. These buses can get very hot and crowded.

The temple of Konarak is nearby and worth a visit.

Satapada on Chilika Lake is nearby and good for sighting Dolphins.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!