Atharanala Bridge

Atharanala is a historic 18-arch bridge at the entrance to Puri. It is a short heritage stop among the places to visit in Puri.

Atharanala, meaning 'eighteen passages' in Odia, is a historic bridge on the Puri–Bhubaneswar road at the entrance to Puri. It crosses the Madhupur stream and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a Monument of National Importance, number N-OR-64.

According to Wikipedia, construction began in the 13th century under the Eastern Ganga rulers Bhanu Deva I and was continued by Narasimha Deva II; the present structure was rebuilt in the second half of the 18th century during Maratha rule. It is about 85 m long and 12 m wide, built of laterite stone with lime mortar and ashlar masonry in a pillar-and-arch design, with decorative reliefs of deities and mythological scenes.

Legend credits Indradyumna with building it, and it features in Jagannath Temple traditions. Because of safety concerns the bridge is now limited to light vehicles and pedestrians. A beautification project in 2014 addressed siltation and overgrowth. It is a quick stop of 20–30 minutes on the way into Puri, best photographed in daylight from the banks.