Jagannath Temple, Puri

The Jagannath Temple is Puri's main pilgrimage site and one of the four Char Dham. The temple administration states that only Hindus may enter, so this guide also explains what other visitors can do.

The Shree Jagannath Temple stands at the centre of Puri on a raised stone platform of about ten acres. Its main tower rises roughly 65 m (about 214 ft), and the temple administration dates the present structure to the 12th century. It is the home of Jagannath, worshipped here with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, and Puri is counted among the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites.

The annual Ratha Yatra, held in June or July, takes the three deities in giant wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple about 3 km away. ENTRY RULE: the temple administration's FAQ states that only Hindus are allowed inside the temple. Non-Hindus, including foreign visitors, cannot enter the complex, so plan to see it from the outside and from the street.

The administration also states that shoes, sandals, leather articles, cameras and mobile phones are not allowed inside, with free shoe and mobile stands at the Lion's Gate (Singhadwara) on the east, which is the main entrance; the other gates are for exit. Darshan follows a daily ritual schedule with breaks, and after the Snana Yatra on the full moon of Jyestha the deities are not available for darshan for about 15 days.

Hindu visitors should check current queue and darshan arrangements with the administration before travelling.