Started the day relatively early at 6.30 am with a short drive to Puri, just 55 kms from Bhubaneshwar and a visit to the famous Jagannath Temple. Though we were keen on a darshan of the main idols, we were reluctant to hire one of the pandas who hang around the temple. One attempt was not fruitful, so we caved in and paid one over enthusiastic panda Rs 150 to take us close to the dieties. He literally hugged and draged us through the immense crowd. The attitude of 'almost' all the priests in the temple were so utterly crass and commercial and would have succeded in spoiling a good pleasant day, if not for the fact that we decided to keep our tempers in check and just take in the architecture and grandeur of the historic structures. Some of the priests even shoved devotees who refused to pay them and denied them even a spoonful of the thirtham. Then we did the unthinkable ( 'for us') and actually went shopping. Picked up a few miniature replicas of the temple idols and had breakfast at Grand Hotel which served up large portions of tasty idlies, vadas and dosas at minimal cost.
On our way to Korark we came across the Balukhand Sanctury which seemed interesting but unfortunately remains closed on Sunday. Checked into the surprisingly clean and well maintained Yathri Nivas, near the Konark Sun Temple, run by the Orissa State Development Corporation and caught a quick nap before proceeding to the Sun temple. We reached the temple just as the sun was setting at around 5.15 pm. Too early for sunset? Yes the sun sets at around 5 in these parts during the winter months. The magnificient structure is beautiful and well worth a visit. We are planning to get up at sunrise to get another look ar this beautiful structure. Retired after dinner at the 'Original Marwadi Hotel'.
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