Puri Temples, Tides, and the Bay of Bengal
Puri, on the coast of Odisha, is one of those places that mixes deep religious history with a laid-back beach town feel. It's best known as home to the Jagannath Temple, one of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India but the beach and the seafood are reason enough to visit on their own.
Getting there
Puri has its own railway station well connected to major cities, making it an easy weekend trip from places like Bhubaneswar (about an hour away).
Highlights
Jagannath Temple — the towering 12th-century temple complex, famous for its annual Rath Yatra chariot festival
Puri Beach — a long stretch of golden sand, good for a quiet sunrise walk or watching fishing boats come in
Konark Sun Temple — a short drive away, this 13th-century temple shaped like a chariot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site