Understand a religion of a country or region, and you understand a major portion of the people's culture.

India is home to one of the many complex cultures in the world.  This may be due to the fact that it also houses more than just one major religion.  What makes things so spectacular is that they are able to live peacefully with each other.  A visit to Puri may show tourists how this is able to happen.

History of Puri

There is not much conflict written in the history of the city of Puri, but it has always maintained one specific function.  It has always contained a port that was used for trade between East India and the rest of South East Asia.  The place was given attention when the Hindu reformer Shankaracharya declared the city as one of the four holy Hindu centers.  Since then, people have been flocking to the place in order to pray and pay homage.  Now, millions of travelers, both pilgrims and tourists, visit the city every year.

Tourism in Puri

Puri is known for its religious importance, so it's not a surprise that its main tourist attraction would be the same thing that attracts pilgrims as well.  This would be the Jagganath Temple, which is one of the four towns of the divine.  The present temple was built around the 12^th century, which was done to replace the previous temple that was constructed during the 10^th century.  The temple tower is 65 meters high and is seen from most of the places within the town and even outside of it.  The temple has 6,000 servants and a kitchen that is able to feed 10,000 people on a daily basis.  This number can reach up to 25,000 during festivals.  The temple is not just an attraction for tourism, but an institution as well.

Then there is the Gundicha Mandir temple.  This temple is visited by the lord Jagganath during the Ratha Yatra festival, and he makes it his home for seven days, after which he goes back to his original home in the Jagganath temple.  The gardens here are exquisite since it is said that it belongs to the lord's own aunt, although others say that the name Gundicha was also bestowed upon the wife of the King who established the Jagganath temple.  Non-Hindus may tour the temple grounds and garden, but they are not allowed within the temple.

After seeing the temples and walking through the city, a time of relaxation at Puri Beach would be in order.  The white sands and the smell of the saltwater would definitely whet one's appetite, and prepare any tourist for a good dinner.  Tourism in this area increases due to the Puri Beach Festival, held annually, which showcases both local and international talents in the world of sand art.

A lot of things may definitely be done in the city of Puri, and this makes the city not just an ideal spot for a pilgrimage, but even a vacation.  With so much to offer, it is no surprise that Puri has tours so frequently, and that it attracts more visitors every year.  If a tour of India is scheduled, Puri should definitely be part of your tour to India.