Raghurajpur Heritage Crafts Village
A village about 14 km from Puri where families paint pattachitra scrolls and carve palm-leaf manuscripts in their homes. Odisha Tourism calls it the state's heritage village.
Overview
Raghurajpur is one of the most distinctive places to visit near Puri, a village where nearly every home is a craft studio. This guide covers the crafts and practical points.
Raghurajpur is a village on the Bhargabi river, about 14 km south of Puri, where most households practise a craft. Wikipedia counts over 120 houses on two streets, many with painted murals on their walls. The best-known craft is pattachitra, painting on prepared cloth with natural colours, usually showing Jagannath and scenes from Hindu mythology. Artists also work in tussar silk painting, palm-leaf engraving, stone and wood carving and mask making.
The village is the birthplace of notable Odissi and Gotipua dance exponents, including Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. INTACH developed it around 2000 as Odisha's first heritage village, with an interpretation centre and trained local guides, and Odisha Tourism describes it as the state's declared heritage village. The Basant Utsav (Parampara) festival, first held in 1993, is held in spring.
Most visitors walk both streets, watch artists at work in their homes and buy directly from the makers. Prices are negotiated, so compare pieces and ask about materials; a painting on cloth or palm leaf takes days to finish, which is reflected in the price. It combines easily with a trip to Puri or Konark.
Entry fees
Fee information currently needs verification.
No entry fee was confirmed in any source read. Guided walks and artwork are paid for directly.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
No official hours found. A hotel page snippet suggested about 6 AM–7 PM (unverified).
Artists work at their own homes; hours vary.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to March
- Best time of day
- Morning, when artists are at work
- How long to spend
- 1–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Ask artists before photographing their work
- Prices for artwork are set by the artists
Location
Raghurajpur, Chandanpur, Puri district, Odisha 752012
Puri, Odisha, India
19.88556, 85.82639
Get directionsPhotos
A decorated village house. Photo: Sumit Surai / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 An artist working on a pattachitra. Photo: Sumit Surai / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Street in the village. Photo: Revanthv552 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 Village entrance. Photo: Rakesh09in / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 Gotipua dance performance. Photo: G41rn8 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How far is Raghurajpur from Puri?
About 14 km south of Puri, per Wikipedia; a hotel page gives about 11 km from the Puri bus station.
What is Raghurajpur famous for?
Pattachitra painting, palm-leaf engraving, mask making and Gotipua dance.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- hours (hotel page snippet)
Not available yet
- entry fee confirmation
- official hours
- Wikipedia – Raghurajpur · Encyclopedia
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