Gundicha Temple Puri Entry Fee
- No Entry Fee
Gundicha Temple Puri Phone
N/A
Rating: 
| 4/5 stars
Based on total 28 reviews
Gundicha Temple Puri Address: Near Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, 752002, India
Puri Tour Packages
Gundicha Temple Puri Timings
| Day | Timing |
|---|---|
| Monday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Wedesday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Thursday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Friday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Saturday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 6:00 am – 3:00 pm 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
Gundicha Temple is located in the religiously rich city of Puri in Odisha. This holy city is quite famous for being home to the Lord Jagannath Temple or locally called Shree Mandira. The Gundicha Temple lies at the end of the Bada Danda or Grand Road (the road that connects Lord Jagannath Temple and Gundicha Temple). This temple is popularly recognized as the aunt’s house of Lord Jagannath. It is also called the Garden House of Jagannath.
During the nine-day festival of Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival), the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra Devi are taken in chariots from Shree Mandira to the Gundicha Temple. This journey is also known as Gundicha Yatra or Ghosha Yatra.
It is a belief that these deities rest at their aunt’s house and enjoy delicacies prepared by her during their seven-day stay at her house. On the ninth day, they return back to Shree Mandira, which is called Bahuda Yatra. During this occasion, a large number of devotees gather in the temple to witness the grand rituals as witnessing both the Yatras is believed to be quite auspicious.
History of Gundicha Temple Puri
There are a few legends associated with the temple. One is that when a carpenter engraved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra Devi at the Jagannath Temple, Queen Gundicha, wife of King Indrayumna, was smitten by them and requested King Indradyumna to build a temple for the deities, to where these idols can be taken to with rituals and processions undertaking a Rath Yatra. Hence, the temple has been named after Queen Gundicha, who is believed to be the deities’ aunt.
Architecture of Gundicha Temple Puri
The temple has a traditional Kalinga style of architecture. It has been built in Deula style with light gray sandstone. The shrine has four main parts: Vimana, Jagamohana, Nata Mandira and Bhoga Mandapa. Vimana is the main sanctum, Jagamohana is the assembly hall, Nata Mandira is the festival hall and Bhoga Mandapa is the hall of offering. There is a kitchen in the premises that is connected to the temple through a small passage.
The approximate length and height of the temple is 430 feet and 75 feet, respectively. It comprises a throne known as the Ratnavedi, which is made of chlorite. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Subhadra Devi are placed on this throne, when their idols are brought to this shrine as part of the rituals of the Rath Yatra festival.
The temple consists of two gates – the Western Gate, which is the main gate and Eastern Gate, which is called the Nakachana Gate. During the Rath Yatra festival, the idols of the deities are carried inside the temple through the Western Gate and carried out through the Nakachana Gate.
Image Gallery of Gundicha Temple Puri
Things to do in Gundicha Temple Puri
The best time to visit this temple is during the famous Rath Yatra, when the festival rituals are performed with great fervor. Except for those seven days, no deities are worshiped in the temple. Besides the festival period, the temple can be visited anytime to explore its architecture.
Tourists, who have plans to visit this shrine, must first visit the main highlight of the city – the sacred Jagannath Temple. Besides that there are many attractions in Puri that are worth visiting including Swargadwar Beach, Puri Beach, Blue Flag Beach, Goddess Vimala Temple and Sudarshan Crafts Museum.
Gundicha Temple Puri Timings and Entry Fee
There is no entry fee to visit the Gundicha Temple in Puri. It remains open on all days of the year, from 6 am to 9 pm; however, it is closed for an hour from 3 am to 4 pm daily.
How to reach Gundicha Temple Puri
Regular trains are available from major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru to the Puri Railway Station, which is approximately 1.4 km away from the temple. Local buses, private taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are easily accessible from the railway station till the Gundicha Temple.
The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the main airport nearest to the city of Puri. It lies at a distance of about 58.1 km. Tourists who are traveling to Bhubaneswar Airport can easily hire a private taxi from top car rental companies in Bhubaneswar to travel to Puri. Alternatively, they can board buses that ply regularly from Bhubaneswar to Puri.
Things to keep in mind while visiting Gundicha Temple Puri
- The shrine has a wheel-chair accessible entrance.
- There is a designated parking area outside the main gate.
- No footwear is allowed inside the premises.
- Any kind of leather or electronic items as well as mobile phones or food items are not allowed inside the temple.
Bhubaneswar Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA offers a variety of all-inclusive Bhubaneswar tour packages that can be customized to your specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or an adventure-filled trip, we have a package for you. Our team of experts will work with you to create a tailor-made itinerary that includes all the must-see sightseeing places of Bhubvaneswar, as well as some hidden gems that you may not have known about. We can also help with transportation, accommodation, and dining recommendations. So what are you waiting for? Contact us today to start planning your dream Bhubaneswar holiday!
