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The
holy city of Puri, 60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the four holiest points of
pilgrimage for Hindus.
The
reigning deity of the city, Lord Jagannath, whose temple was built way back in
the 12th century, is not only of great religious significance to the people of
Orissa but is revered by thousands of pilgrims who
seek His blessings from every part of the country. This intense veneration of
Jagannath, or the Lord of the Universe, reaches its zenith during the annual
rites of the Rath Yatra in the months of June July, when the images of Lord
Jagannath, His sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are transported through the
Grand Road (Bada Danda) of Puri in traditionally decorated massive chariots that
are dragged by thousands of devotees to the Gundicha Ghar where they sojourn for
a week. The process is repeated when they are returned amidst intense religious
fervor to the temple. Though the temple is closed to non-Hindus, the activities
of the Jagannath Temple are so immense that they create enough colour and
interest for tourists to participate in the bazar element of the proceedings
outside the temple precincts.
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Jagannath Temple (above) and
sea beach
(below)
at Puri |
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How to reach there
The
nearest airport is Bhubaneswar which is 60 kms from Puri.
Puri has a
railway station and is connected by the South East (SE) railways. Refer to
Indian Railway website
www.indianrail.gov.in to plan your visit,
online booking of tickets and other information. Apart from that,
Puri is well-connected by buses from all the major parts of the state. From
Bhubaneswar, the state bus normally takes around three to four hours to reach
Puri.
Climate
The climate of Puri in February is dry and pleasant with temperature
ranging between 20-30 Celsius
Language
Local language is Oriya. Hindi and English is commonly used in all business
transactions.
Currency
The currency of India is the Rupee, which has 100 paise to it. The Indian rupee
(INR) comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. The
money can be exchanged in bank, at the hotels and even at the venue. It is
advisable that the local transactions be done only in INR. The import &
export of the INR is not allowed. Exchanging of foreign currency other than
at banks or authorized money changers is an offence under Foreign Exchange
Regulations Act 1973.
Vaccination
Foreign tourists should be in possession of their Yellow Fever Vaccination
Certificate conforming to International Health Regulation, if they are
originating or transiting through Yellow Fever endemic countries. Any person
(including infants) arriving by air or sea without a certificate is detained in
isolation for a period up to 6 days if arriving from an endemic area.
Electric
Supply
The standard electric supply in India is 230 volts AC , 50 Hz, single phase for
all domestic lighting. Most hotels also provide 110 volts electric point for use
of electric shavers, hair dryers etc. Foreigners are advised to carry suitable
adapter for their laptop or other electrical appliances. The common types of
electrical plugs in India are as shown below.
Common electrical
plugs in India
Insurance
The Conference Organizers cannot accept any responsibility for personal losses,
accidents, and damages to participants or accompanying persons. Nor do the
Conference Organizers accept any responsibility for any unforeseen, unrelated
events, which prevent a participant or accompanying persons from attending the
conference. Participants are therefore strongly advised to take personal
insurance to cover any eventuality that might visit one before, during or after
the Conference has taken place.
Foreign currency
regulations:
A person
may send into India without
limit foreign exchange in any form other than currency notes, bank notes and
travellers cheques, where the aggregate value of the foreign exchange in the
form of currency notes, bank notes or traveller’s cheques brought in by such
person at any one time does not exceed US$10,000 ( US Dollars ten thousands) or
its equivalent and/or the aggregate value of foreign currency notes brought in
by such person at any one time does not exceed US$ 5,000 or its equivalent.
Banks, hotels, and authorized money changers can exchange foreign money for
rupees. Receipts (called "encashment certificates") should be retained,
as these will enable the traveler to reconvert the balance into dollars at the
time of departure from the country, if the last receipt is not more than 30 days
old. Dealing on the black market is illegal and also involves a high risk of
being cheated or robbed. Also, counterfeit bills are frequently passed by black
market dealers. Foreigners, except for prepaid tour groups, are required to pay
hotel bills and purchase airline tickets with foreign exchange. Payment may also
be made in Indian rupees on production of an encashment certificate. For more
information on currency regulations, contact the Reserve Bank of India Tel:
011-23710538, 23710540 (website:
http://www.rbi.org.in/home.aspx
Business hours
The normal business hours are from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on weekdays for all
business establishments and government offices. Many offices have working hour
from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm and remain closed on
Saturdays and Sundays.
Passport and VISA requirements
Citizens of all countries, (except Nepal and Bhutan), require a valid
national passport or valid travel documents and a valid visa granted by Indian
Missions / Consulates abroad for entering India. Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens
need no passport or visa but should possess suitable documents for their
identification when proceeding from their respective countries.
Conference Visa : It is recommended that the Delegates coming to attend
international conferences in India should opt for Conference Visa to cover the
conference as well as for tourism in India. Delegates are advised to apply to
Indian Embassies well in advance, with an invitation letter from the
secretariat.
Tourist Visa : Usually for spouses and accompanying persons, a visa valid for a
period of 90 to 180 days, is granted for the purpose of tourism. The visa is
valid from the date of issue.
Customs
formalities and regulations
Arrival
Formalities : Visitors are generally required to make an oral
baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their
possession. They are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from
the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by
the airline during the course of the flight.
Departure from India : All persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal, leaving
by air, road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of
departure.
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Chilka lake
The Chilka Lake
in Orissa is India's largest salt-water lagoon, separated from the Bay of
Bengal by a narrow spit. It is 40 miles (65 km) long, 5–13 miles (8–20 km)
wide, and about 6 feet (2 m) deep. The Daya and Bhargavi rivers feed the
lake except during the dry months from December to June, when saline ocean
water enters through a small passage. Studded with small islands- including
the picturesquely-named Honeymoon Island and Breakfast Island- the lake is
separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sandy ridge. The lake has a unique
ecosystem with a range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its
brackish waters.
The lake is an
important habitat and breeding ground for both resident and migratory and
aquatic birds, most notably flamingoes. Migratory birds arrive in October
from as far away as Siberia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Himalaya, and
generally stay until March. Part of the lake is protected by the Chilka Lake
Bird Sanctuary, which harbors over 150 migratory and resident species of
birds. The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is classified as a Bird
Sanctuary under the wildlife protection act. The lake is also home to a
diverse range of aquatic life, including 225 species of fish and the
Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). The rare limbless lizard Barkudia
insularis is endemic to one of the lake's small islands
Chilka is
approximately 160 km from Puri and 120 km from Bhubaneshwar-- the nearest
airport. State transport, OTDC tour buses and private operators ply the
roads between Chilka, Puri, Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack. |
Satellite image of Chilka lake
Chilka Lake |
