Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra Tour

Kathmandu → Odisha

Highlights

• Witness the world's largest chariot festival where Lord Jagannath rides through the streets of Puri on giant temple cars.
• Pilgrimage · 4 days / 3 nights
• Small group, guide-led

Day-by-day itinerary

1. D1

   Arrival at Puri & Temple Orientation

   Arrive at Puri and check into accommodation near the temple. Visit the temple's outer precincts — only Hindus are permitted inside the main sanctum, but all visitors can view the towering spire from the market area. Walk along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) where the Rath Yatra chariots will roll. Visit the Gundicha Temple, 3km away — the destination of the chariot procession, representing Jagannath's aunt's house. Evening: Watch the sunset over the Bay of Bengal from Puri Beach.

   Odisha As per plan

2. D2

   Rath Yatra Day (or Temple Darshan)

   If visiting during Rath Yatra (June-July): Rise at 4:00 AM to secure a spot along the Grand Road. Witness the Pahandi Bije — the rhythmic swaying movement of the massive wooden deities as they are carried from the temple to their chariots. Feel the ground shake as thousands pull the 45-foot tall Nandighosa chariot with 16 wheels, chanting 'Jai Jagannath!' Join the pulling of the sacred ropes — one touch is believed to grant liberation. Non-Rath Yatra period: Visit the temple's outer areas, the Sudarshan Crafts Museum, and Raghurajpur artist village.

   Odisha As per plan

3. D3

   Konark Sun Temple Excursion

   Drive 35km to the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th century. Shaped like a giant stone chariot with 24 stone wheels and drawn by seven stone horses, it represents Surya's chariot. The temple's intricate sculptures and maritime stone carvings are among the finest in Indian art. Visit the Archaeological Museum for recovered sculptures. Return to Puri for the evening. Cultural learning: The temple's wheels function as sundials — each spoke casts a shadow that tells the time precisely.

   Odisha As per plan

4. D4

   Chilika Lake & Departure

   Take a morning boat ride on Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish water lagoon. Spot Irrawaddy dolphins and thousands of migratory birds. Visit the Kalijai Temple on an island in the lake. Return to Puri for shopping of Pattachitra paintings, applique work, and sea-shell crafts. Collect Mahaprasad (sacred food cooked in the temple's massive kitchens, the largest in the world) before departure.

   Odisha As per plan

Price includes

• Local storyteller guide
• Stays as per itinerary
• Daily breakfast
• All ground transfers

Make it yours (upsells)

Everything apart from the trip itself is an upsell — tick what you want.