The Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri
The Shree Jagannath Temple is one of the most important and revered pilgrimage destinations for Hindus, located in the coastal town of Puri in the eastern state of Odisha in India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra. The temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet and comprises four main gates facing the four cardinal directions. The temple's construction dates back to the 11th century, although it has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. The temple's architecture is a fusion of Kalinga and Dravidian styles, with the main temple rising to a height of about 214 feet. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra or chariot festival, which attracts millions of devotees from all over India and the world. During the festival, the deities are taken out of the temple in procession on elaborately decorated chariots, pulled by thousands of devotees. The temple i...