PURI
The Abode of Lord Jagannath

THE MAIN TEMPLE - SRI MANDIR

This imposing shrine dominating the landscape for miles around, beckons the attention of the pilgrims with its architectural grandeur and sculptural beauty at a mere glance. It is erected on an elevated place, called the Nilagiri-the Blue hill and in is in the, heart of the city. It is one of the best specimens of Kalinga school of architecture, in its finished form, built by Chodaganga in the 12th century with a view to commemorating the shifting of his capital from southern to central part of Orissa. It is a supreme specimen of the richness and plasticity of the Kalinga style of architecture. This Srimandir, as it is popularly known has four well-marked out Mandapas. They are Boga Mandap, Naata Mandap, Mukha Mandap and the Bada deula-Main Mandap; and all the four stand in a line with entrances opening one into another. The Main temple is 210 feet high and it is the highest of the temples in Orissa then, or now. There is a blue disc over the tower and it is called the Sudarsan Chakra, the divine weapon adorning the right hand of Lord Krishna of Dwaparayuga. These four Mandapas are surrounded by two compound walls; the outer one is called Meganath pacheri and the inner one Bahar veda.

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