A carved stone chariot wheel on the wall of the Konark Sun Temple, Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri: a guide to Odisha’s temple triangle

Three temple towns within a couple of hours of each other: the Lingaraj and old Bhubaneswar, the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark, and Puri’s Jagannath Temple, with entry rules and festival dates.

Mahek Jatana

31 October 2026

2 minutes

On the coast of Odisha, three towns sit close enough to visit in a few days: Bhubaneswar, the state capital and a city of temples; Konark, with its great Sun Temple; and Puri, home of the Jagannath Temple. Together they hold some of the finest examples of Odisha’s temple architecture, with its tall curved towers and carved stone.

Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar’s old town is scattered with temples, from small early shrines to the Lingaraj, whose present form dates largely from the late 11th century. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Lingaraj, but a viewing platform outside the compound gives a good look at the towers. Nearby, the Bindu Sagar tank is lined with smaller temples, and on the edge of the city are the rock-cut Jain caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri.

Konark

The Sun Temple at Konark was built in the 13th century under King Narasimha Deva I and designed as the chariot of the sun god, with 24 great carved wheels and horses drawing it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and open to all visitors. Go early in the morning, before the heat and the crowds, and allow time to look closely at the carvings.

Each December the Konark Festival brings classical dance to an open-air auditorium beside the temple. In 2026 it runs from 1 to 5 December.

Puri

Puri’s Jagannath Temple, begun in the 12th century, is one of Hinduism’s most important pilgrimage sites. Non-Hindus may not enter, but can see the precinct from the roof of the nearby Raghunandan Library. The temple’s food, Mahaprasad, is sold at the Ananda Bazaar market. Puri also has a long beach, though currents can be strong.

The Rath Yatra, held in June or July, carries the deities on huge wooden chariots to the Gundicha Temple about 3 km away. In 2026 it ran from 16 to 24 July. It draws enormous crowds.

Putting it together

Base yourself in Bhubaneswar for two nights and Puri for one or two, visiting Konark between them.
Add Raghurajpur, a painters’ village about 14 km from Puri.
Travel between October and March to avoid the worst heat; follow cyclone warnings in autumn.

For the wider region, see our Odisha guide.

Sources and image credits

Facts that can change were checked on 31 October 2026:

Photography: Ashish Kumar Senapati via Unsplash (Unsplash License); Anish Mathew Jose via Unsplash (Unsplash License); Ujjval Verma via Unsplash (Unsplash License). Stock images, not the author’s own.

Temple rules and festival arrangements are set by temple authorities and the state government. Check current details locally.