Narendra Pokhari Puri Entry Fee
- No Entry Fee
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Narendra Pokhari Puri Address: Puri, Odisha, 752002, India
Narendra Pokhari, considered to be the biggest artificial pond in Odisha, lies in Puri close to the sacred Jagannath Temple. This holy tank is visited by a number of tourists and devotees across the year. Spread over a large area, Narendra Pokhari has an island in the middle, where a small shrine called Chandana Mandapa has been built. The temple is connected by a stable bridge to the southern bank of the tank.
The tank is considered as a holy site because there are a number of small and big temples in its vicinity. It covers about 16 ghats, providing a place for pilgrims to take holy baths. The place comes alive during the celebration of festivals, especially Chandan Yatra. The laser show conducted at the site in the evenings is another attraction that draws a lot of visitors.
History of Narendra Pokhari Puri
In the 15th century AD, this tank was built by Narendra Dev, brother of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva, who was the king of Puri at that time. Another name of this tank is Chandana Pushkarini, due to its association with the Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath.
During the Chandan Yatra festival, which is celebrated during the Baisakhi month of the Hindu calendar – June and July, idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are taken to the pond with a procession, and there, these idols are cleansed with sandalwood paste. After which, the idols are taken for a boat ride in the pond. This boat ride is called Chapa Khela.
Architecture of Narendra Pokhari Puri
The water level of the pond is about 10 feet below from the current road level. The flight steps of the main ghat of Narendra Pokhari are made up of Khondalite stones.
Image Gallery of Narendra Pokhari Puri
Things to do in Narendra Pokhari Puri
Visitors to Narendra Pokhari can sit and relax on the steps and enjoy the serene views of it. The cool breeze experienced at this place is sure to calm the senses. Visitors can also pay a visit to the Chandana Mandapa Temple. In addition, they can feed the school of fishes in the pond with Fried Paddy, sold at this spot.
Besides Narendra Pokhari, tourists in Puri can visit many other important attractions in the city including the must-visit Jagannath Temple and other popular shrines like Loknath Temple, Gundicha Temple and Markandeshwar Temple.
Narendra Pokhari Puri Timings and Entry fee
There is no entry fee to visit Narendra Pokhari. It remains open on all days from 6 am to 8 pm.
How to reach Narendra Pokhari Puri
Narendra Pokhari lies at a short distance of 1.6 km from the Puri Bus Stand and about 2.7 km from the Puri Railway Station. Auto rickshaws, battery-operated rickshaws and private taxis can be availed easily to travel till Narendra Pokhari from the bus stand or the railway station.
The nearest airport to this place is the Biju Patnaik International Airport, located at an approximate distance of 58 km, in Bhubaneswar. Tourists can hire a private taxi from the list of top car rental companies in Bhubaneswar to travel to Puri after arriving at the airport. Alternatively, they can board a bus or train to Puri. It takes about an hour or so to cover the distance between the two cities.
Things to keep in mind while Narendra Pokhari Puri
- Tourists should take extra care near the pond as the steps leading down to it might be slippery.
- Throwing litter in the premises should be avoided.
- Photography is allowed at Narendra Pokhari.
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