Jagannath, Konark and the Temple City
Odisha (formerly Orissa) is one of India's great temple states, defined by the Kalinga architectural tradition — a distinctive style characterised by the curvilinear deul (sanctuary tower), the jagamohana (audience hall) and richly carved exterior surfaces. The Jagannath Temple at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark and the Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar are three of the finest examples of this tradition and together represent one of India's most remarkable sacred landscapes.
The Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri — the chariot festival held annually in June–July — is the largest and most famous public religious procession in India, drawing over a million pilgrims to a single event. The English word "juggernaut" is itself a colonial-era corruption of Jagannath. Odisha's spiritual character is equally shaped by the Shakta tradition — the Goddess Tara at Taratarini and the Varahi Devi at Chaurasi are important Shakti shrines that draw pilgrims from across eastern India.