The Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya section of the Skanda Purana gives a detailed description of Puri. According to the Purana, this region has long been regarded as the beloved dwelling place of Lord Vishnu.
The Purana tells of an ancient king named Indradyumna. He was a devoted bhakta (devotee) of Vishnu and deeply wished for a deity image of Vishnu to be installed in his kingdom.
According to the Purana, Vishwakarma — the divine craftsman — took on the task of fashioning the deity images for this temple. The condition was that no one should look in until the work was complete. The king's patience gave way and he opened the door before the work was done. This is why the images remained unfinished — and it is this that tradition offers as the reason for the distinctive appearance of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
In the 8th century CE, Adi Shankaracharya established Puri as one of the four Char Dhams. He also founded the Purvaamnaya Govardhan Peeth here.
The Skanda Purana describes the Puri region as Purushottama Kshetra — the sacred field of the Supreme Being.
Jagannath Puri is the Eastern Dham among the four Char Dhams. The temple has three principal deities — Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra. All three images are made of wood (kashtha), and their distinctive form has become one of Puri's most recognisable features. The temple's architecture is in the Kalinga style.
One of Puri's most ancient traditions is the Rath Yatra (chariot procession). It takes place on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha. On this day, all three deities are placed on enormous wooden chariots and carried through the streets. The procession covers approximately 3 kilometres — from the main temple to the Gundicha temple. This tradition has been alive for centuries.
- The temple remains open through the year. Devotees have been coming here daily for darshan.
- The temple complex is very large, with many smaller shrines and mandaps (pavilions) inside.
- The Rath Yatra season draws especially large numbers of devotees who come to see all three chariots.
- Just beside the temple lies the Puri beach — one of the more well-known stretches of coastline in eastern India.