Puri Jagannath Temple is a Vaishnavite Pilgrimage site located in Puri, Odisha. Lord Vishnu is worshipped here. It is part of the holy Char Dham Yatra. Our guide explains Puri Jagannath temple timings, history, poojas list, significance and how to travel to Puri Jagannath.
Planning to visit this temple? Have look at our Bhubaneswar Puri Konark Temple Tour.
Puri Jagannath Temple remains open daily between 05:00 am to 11:30 pm. There is an afternoon break in darshan from 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm. Prasadam timings of the temple are from 11:00 am to 01:00 pm. Required Time: 1 to 2 hours.
Puri Jagannath Temple – Facts
Deity | Lord Jagannath (Lord Vishnu) |
Location | Puri, Orissa |
Tours | Bhubaneswar Puri Konark Temple Tour |
Dress Code | Men: Formal dress. Women: Saree or Salwar |
Entry Fee | Free |
Darshan Timings | 5:00 AM to 11:30 PM |
Poojas | Gopala Ballava Pooja, Sahanamela |
Best Time to Visit | October to February |
Festivals | Rath Yatra |
Puri Jagannath Temple Timings
Puri Jagannath Temple remains open daily between 05:00 am to 11:30 pm. There is an afternoon break in darshan from 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm. Prasadam timings of the temple are from 11:00 am to 01:00 pm. Required Time: 1 to 2 hours.
The timings of the Puri Jagannath Temple are as follows:
Day | Timing |
---|---|
Monday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Tuesday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Wednesday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Thursday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Friday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Saturday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Sunday | 5:00 am – 1:00 pm 4:00 pm – 11:30 pm |
Rituals | Timings |
Darshan | 5:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
Morning Darshan | 5:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Afternoon Break (Temple closed) | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Evening Darshan | 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM |
Prasadam | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Mangala Aarti | 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM |
Mailam | 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM |
Sahanamela | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM |
Sandhya Dhupa | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Puri Jagannath Temple Flag Changing Time
Puri Jagannath Temple flag changing happens at 6 PM during summers and at 5 PM during winters. Every day, a new flag is tied to the wheel on the top of the temple for the devotees to witness.
Puri Jagannath Temple Dress Code
As per the Jagannath Temple dress code, men should wear formal pants and shirt. Women devotees should wear a sari or salwar kameez. Devotees will not be allowed to enter the Puri Jagannath temple wearing informal attire like jeans, shorts or T-shirts.
What is the significance of the Puri Jagannath temple?
The significance of Puri Jagannath temple lies in its idol. Unlike most idols located in other parts of the country, which are usually made of stone or metal, the idol of Lord Jagannath is made of wood. It is a popular belief that Goddess Mahalakshmi herself supervises cooking in the temple’s kitchen.
A ritual unique to the Puri Jagannath temple is the Nabakalebara process. A Neem tree is selected, cut, and an exact replica of the original idols are made out of it. Then the old idols are buried under a place called Koili Vaikuntha.
In ancient times, the Puri Jagannath temple was iconic as it gave equal importance to Vaisnavism (devotees of Vishnu), Saktism (devotees of Bhadra Kali) as well as Saivism (devotees of Shiva). Lord Jagannath represents Lord Vishnu, Balabhadra is Lord Shiva while Subhadra represents Goddess Durga.

What is the history of the Puri Jagannath Temple?
The history of Puri Jagannath dates back to many centuries. The copper plates of the Puri Jagannath Temple which were discovered belongs to the Ganga Dynasty which was then under the rule of Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev of Kalinga. In 1174E, the King Ananga Bhima Dev built the Puri Jagannath temple in its present form.
According to a story, King Indradyumna of the Malwa had a dream that one can see Lord Vishnu in his true form in Utkala (ancient name of Orissa).
He appointed a person named Vidyapati to search for this form. Vidyapati came upon the tribal community and found out about the worshipping of the Nila Madhava and he married the daughter of the chief of the tribe. The tribals showed him the way to the place housing the Nila Madhava.
Vidyapati informed the king about the place of worship but when the King went there by himself, the Nila Madhava disappeared. Lord Vishnu, taking pity, issued a divine message to him that he should go to the shores of Puri and create the image of Lord Jagannath from a log of wood that will be floating on the waves.
Lord Vishnu appeared as a carpenter and asked to leave him undisturbed for 21 days in a room so that he could prepare the image. However, on the insistence of the Queen, the room was opened early and only the unfinished images of the three gods and the Sudarsana Chakra were present.
What is the architecture of this temple?

The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Further, it has four areas – Vimana (Sanctum), Jagamohan (Porch), Natamandir (Audience Hall) and Bhogamandap. The Vimana was once popular as the tallest structure in ancient India. On the walls, several murals depict the life of Lord Krishna.
What are the sevas and poojas performed at Puri Jagannath Temple?
The sevas and poojas performed at this temple are:
- Abakash: During this ritual, the astrologer of the temple announces the specific time for the day’s rituals. Also, during this time, other activities are performed such as bathing as well as brushing the teeth of the deity.
- Mailam: Every day, at 6 AM in the morning, the temple priests change the dresses and ornaments of the deities of the temple.
- Sahanamela: Pilgrims can enter the inner sanctum to have a darshan. This takes place between 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
- Gopala Ballava Pooja: Priests offer breakfast to the deities. They offer sweet popcorn (Khai), coconut sweets, ripe banana, curd, and chipped coconuts. They also perform pooja in a brief manner with Pancha Upachar only.
- Sakala Dhupa: Three pundits sit in front of the three deities and worships each one of them. Then they offer bhog. Puri Jagannath Temple Administration bears the cost of the rituals.
- Sandhya Dhupa: The aarti takes place between 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
What are the festivals celebrated here?

Here’s a list of festivals celebrated here:
- Chandan Yatra: On Akshaya Tritiya, in the month of Vaisakha, devotees take the representative images of Lord Jagannath to a famous tank, Narendra Pokhari and immerse it.
- Snana Yatra: This is the first time in a year when devotees take the deities out of the sanctum and place them on the Snana Vedi. Moreover, they dress Jagannath and Balabhadra like Lord Ganesha with an elephant head on top. They also bathe the idols with 108 buckets of water.
- Rath Yatra: The Rath Yatra takes place in June-July every year. Devotees take the three deities to the Gundicha temple on three individual huge and magnificent raths. After 9 days, they bring back the deities to the temple in the same way. The return journey is popular as Bahuda Yatra. The three chariots are named Nandighosa for Jagannath, Taladhvaja for Balabhadra and Devadalana for Subhadra.
- Makara Sankranthi: This festival occurs in the Hindu month of Pausa. The day signifies the rich harvest of the agricultural produce. Prayers are given and varieties of food are also kept in front of the deities for them to bless it.
How to reach Puri Jagannath Temple?
Here’s how to reach Puri:
- Air – The nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar which is 53 km away.
- Train – Puri is well connected by rail. Direct trains are operated from major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai.
- Road – The state buses are available in plenty from stations like Bhubaneshwar, Vizag, Konark, and Chilka.
Where to stay near Puri?
The Jagannath Temple Administration maintains two guest houses by the names of Shri Gundicha Bhakta Nivas and the Nilachal Bhakta Yatri Nivas. One can book rooms online by visiting the site.
Private 3-star and 5-star hotels are also available in plenty for the pilgrims throughout the city of Puri.
What are some of the temples nearby?

Some of the temples near Puri Jagannath are:
- Sakshi Gopal Temple: The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. Amla Navami is the main festival celebrated here. The temple is located 17 km away from the Puri Highway.
- Vimala Temple: It is located inside the Puri Jagannath temple complex. Moreover, Goddess Vimala is the consort of Jagannath and a guardian of the temple complex. Devotees pay respects to Vimala before the worship of Jagannath in the main temple. Moreover, food becomes prasad only when devotees offer it to Vimala too.
- Gundicha Temple: It is located 3 km away from the Jagannath temple. It is the destination of the chariots during the Rath Yatra. Further, the three deities are kept here for 7 days during the Rath Yatra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Puri Jagannath Temple is open all 365 days of the year.
The entry to the Puri Jagannath Temple is free of cost.
No. There is no facility for online darshan available.
No. There is no facility for specially-abled and senior citizens.
October to February is when winter starts in Orissa. The weather is pleasant, making it an ideal time to visit the temple.
The summers at Orissa starts from March and continues until May. The summers here can be very hot and humid. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 45 º C.
In Orissa, winters start in October and continues until January. The temperatures during this time range from around 16 º C to 30 º C.
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