Weekend in Puri

A modest library with a rooftop viewing platform overlooking the Jagannath Temple. The museum section houses old palm-leaf manuscripts and temple artifacts. Entry is free, but a sm

Tip: Go half an hour before sunset – you get the temple in golden light. The rooftop is quiet mid-afternoon. Ask the librarian to show you the 400-year-old palm-leaf manuscripts if you're curious about Odia script.

A 6km stretch of golden sand along the Bay of Bengal. The main beach near the temple has vendors, camels and touts. Quieter sections north of the Swargadwar cremation site are bett

Tip: Walk north past the fishing boats at dawn – you'll see the sun rise over the sea and dodge the hawkers. The light is best for photos. Avoid swimming: rip currents are common.

A Hindu cremation site where bodies are burned on open pyres beside the sea. It's considered a sacred place to die, believed to grant moksha. No photography is allowed.

Tip: Go at sunset for the atmosphere, but stay quiet and respectful. Remove your shoes before the paved area. Locals sell small clay lamps (diyas) for 5 rupees – light one and set it on the water as an offering.

A quieter, cleaner beach 8km south of Puri, near the Konark Sun Temple. The sand is finer than Puri's and there are fewer vendors. The mouth of the Chandrabhaga River meets the sea here, creating a la

Tip: Take a shared auto-rickshaw from Puri (30-40 rupees per person) – it's cheaper than a taxi. Visit at low tide to see the river join the sea safely. No swimming, but wading is fine. Bring your own water – no shops on site.

A 12th-century Hindu temple complex dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. The main tower rises 65 metres. Non-Hindus cannot enter the inner sanctum, but the view from the nearby Raghunandan L

Tip: Visit early morning around 5am to see the Mangala Aarti from the library rooftop (free). Avoid midday heat and crowds. For a small donation, priests offer guided explanations of the carvings.