Puri Sri Gundicha Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sri Gundicha Temple is the final destination of the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra. The Jagannath temple is the starting point, there is a three kilometer long path that connects these two temples. Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhai Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra stay here for 9 days. The temple has two main doors. The west entrance to the temple is the main entrance through which Lord Jagannath enters the temple during Rath Yatra. And the eastern door is used to leave. Gundicha Devi is the aunt of Lord Jagannath he comes to visit with family every year in three chariots and stays here for a week.
The temple is built with light gray sandstone and the architecture is similar to other Puri temples. The temple operates under the administration of the Shri Jagannath temple Puri, Odisha. Apart from the nine days of rath yatra, there is no permanent deity in this temple, that is, the temple is empty for the rest of the year. The main attraction of the temple is its huge and beautiful garden which extends around the main temple, which is why it is also called The Garden House of Jagannath.
According to mythology, the Gundicha temple is based on the name of Queen Gundicha of Indradyumna. Rani Gundicha took a look at the divine image of Jagannath created by the celestial architect Vishwakarma. Impressed by the image, she insisted that her husband build the temple for the deity and start the Ratha Yatra. Another variation suggests that Sri Jagannath was happy with her temple and promised to visit her house, and is also known as the birthplace of these three deities.
***Sri Gundicha Temple is Popularly known as the Garden House of Jagannath, and Jagannath Bhagwan`s Birth Place.
Lord Jagannath Stays for 9 days in Sri Gundicha Temple.
