When you hear the name Puri Jagannath, the first thing that comes to mind is the majestic Rath
Yatra, right? We had planned this trip months in advance, marking it as the final spiritual
journey of the year 2024. Everything was perfectly arranged — tickets booked, itinerary set — and
one more thing made it special: it was my first ever vlogging trip.
I was super nervous and confused about which language to use. I finally decided to vlog in
English… and honestly, the vlog turned out to be terrible! 😅 But I learned a lot. It made me
realize that English vlogging isn’t my cup of tea — my emotions felt forced. Never mind though,
experiences are the best teachers.
Coming to the journey — we left Bangalore by Prashanthi Express, a 29-hour train ride to
Bhubaneswar. After a long journey, we were almost there, but from Bhubaneswar, we still had to
take another train or bus to Puri, which is about 1.5 hours away.
Luckily, a fellow passenger suggested we deboard at Khurda Road Junction to save time since all
Puri-bound trains pass through there. Best decision ever — saved almost 3 hours! Though the
general coach was crowded, we managed somehow.
We reached Puri around 8 PM. Electric rickshaws are everywhere nowadays — the best way to commute.
Our rickshaw driver dropped us about a kilometer away from our stay, so we walked. On the way, I
caught my first glimpse of the majestic temple — huge, beautifully lit, and the orange flag waving
high. The streets near the temple were clean, organized, and filled with the sound of temple bells
and the warm aroma of street food.
We checked into our room, freshened up, and went out for dinner. Tired but happy, we decided to
call it a night early.
We woke up at 4 AM for the darshan of Lord Jagannath. I carried my GoPro, but unfortunately,
cameras aren’t allowed inside. The temple has four main gates, and the queue had already formed.
We joined in, chanting “Jai Jagannath!” as the morning sky turned orange with the first rays of
sunlight.
After waiting for nearly 1.5 hours, we entered the temple complex — it was massive and filled with
smaller shrines everywhere. We got slightly lost trying to find the main queue again, but finally,
we made it near the sanctum.
There were 4–5 lines running parallel with railings. As we moved closer, all the lines merged into
one — people started pushing, and it got a bit chaotic. But in that moment, when I finally saw
Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in front of me — oh my God! The idols were enormous,
unlike anything I had seen before. Those large, expressive eyes of Lord Jagannath were
mesmerizing. Despite the rush and pushing, I found complete peace for a few seconds — pure
divinity. The temple campus itself is huge and incredibly beautiful. After darshan, we stepped out
to try the local street food. People here love using potatoes — aloo is in everything! 😄
We had Upma Aloo Vada and Dahi Bara Aloo Dum — simple, tasty, and absolutely satisfying.
Our next destination was the famous Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This time, we
took a hand-pulled rickshaw — the guy pedaled like a charioteer, and it felt like riding through
history while the whole town watched.
We caught a bus under the scorching sun — it took about 1.5 hours to reach. The temple was
crowded, probably because of the holiday season. The structure was incredible — a giant stone
chariot pulled by seven horses, symbolizing the Sun God’s journey from east to west.
The architecture was stunning, though personally, I’d rate it 6/10 — maybe because I’m not much
into architectural details. But one thing that did excite me — the chariot wheel design is the
same as the one on our ₹10 note!
In the evening, we headed out to explore the local markets of Puri, which came alive with lights,
laughter, and the aroma of freshly cooked food. The streets near the temple were packed with
vendors selling everything from souvenirs and seashell crafts to steaming plates of aloo chop and
pakoras. The energy was infectious — simple, local, and full of life.
But what truly stole the show were the famous Puri desserts — Chhena Poda, Rabdi, and Khaja. Each
one was pure bliss! Chhena Poda, the iconic “burnt cheesecake of Odisha,” had a rich caramelized
crust and a soft, sweet core. Rabdi was thick, creamy, and full of that comforting cardamom
flavor, while Khaja was crisp, flaky, and soaked in syrup — a perfect balance of crunch and
sweetness. Watching locals prepare these sweets fresh on the streets made it even more special —
truly, a delicious glimpse into Puri’s heart and tradition.
The next morning, we headed to Puri Golden Beach, a certified Blue Flag Beach — clean, peaceful,
and incredibly well-maintained. The air was cool and salty, the sound of waves gentle yet
powerful, and the horizon slowly started glowing orange as the first rays of sunlight touched the
sea. Watching the sunrise over the Bay of Bengal was pure bliss — one of those rare moments where
everything just feels still and perfect. The reflection of the golden sun over the waves truly
justified its name — Golden Beach. We sat there quietly, feet buried in the soft sand, sipping hot
tea from a local vendor, just watching life begin again with the rising sun. The beach was calm,
not crowded at all, and had that early-morning charm where you could hear the sea whisper to your
soul.
After spending a while capturing some shots and soaking in the peace, we decided to walk along the
shoreline, collecting shells and laughing at how small crabs rushed back into their holes as the
waves came closer. It was one of those mornings that reminded me why traveling feels so alive — no
worries, no rush, just you, the ocean, and time that doesn’t matter.
Later, we began our journey towards Chilika Lake, one of the largest brackish water lagoons in the
world and famous for dolphin sightings. The route from Puri to Chilika was scenic — long coastal
roads with paddy fields on both sides, small villages waking up to their daily rhythm, and
fishermen preparing their nets for the day.
We hired an auto, but noticed chilika boat package prices fluctuated a lot — felt like a bit of a
tourist scam. We finally took a small private boat with a diesel engine thudding away.
The best part? Seagulls everywhere! We fed them chips and biscuits as they flew alongside.
Our first stop was the Red Crab Island. A guy there showed us red crabs and sea shells — he even
cracked open some corals to reveal real pearls and gemstones! It was like watching Thanos’
gauntlet come alive with all those colorful stones. We even bought a black pearl for ₹1200.
Then came the dolphin-spotting point… but sadly, no dolphins that day. The fishermen said there’s
usually just one around this season. Still, we reached the sea mouth, where the Bay of Bengal
meets Chilika Lake — walking barefoot on the sandy island surrounded by pine trees was magical.
These were the moments that made our Puri trip unforgettable — a blend of faith, adventure, and
learning. The energy of the temple, the serenity of the sea, and the warmth of the people left a
mark on my heart.
To travel is to feel alive — and to Puri, I bow with gratitude.
Until next time —
TravAmogh 🌍✨
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