The highly auspicious and widely anticipated Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is about to arrive. This is one of the most widely celebrated religious events in the Hindu calendar. It is also considered the oldest and largest Hindu Chariot festival in India. This festival is now known all over the world, and every year, millions of devotees travel to the hallowed temple of Jagannath in Puri, Odisha, to partake in the festivities and pull the chariots of the Gods and the Goddess. This year, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 16, 2026. If you, too, are planning to partake in the world-famous festivities, here is a guide on how to reach Puri for Jagannath Rath Yatra by air, by train, and by road.
About Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra
As mentioned, it is considered the largest and oldest Hindu Chariot festival that is celebrated annually. So much so that it is now known the world over. It begins on the second day of the fortnight of the month of Ashadha and goes on for a full nine days.
During this festival, massive chariots adorned with gold and flowers, carrying Lord Jagannath, his younger brother Lord Balabhadra, and his sister Goddess Subhadra, are drawn by millions of devotees.
They are first carried to the Gundicha Temple, where they rest for a week. After this, their return journey commences, during which they make a stop at Mausi Maa Temple before returning to their respective abodes.
Also Read: Rath Yatra In Digha Jagannath Temple – All You Need To Know
How To Reach Puri For Jagannath Rath Yatra
How To Reach By Air (Fastest)
This is the fastest way to get to Puri if budget is no bar to your journey.
Primary Airport Hub: Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar Airport sits roughly 60 km away from Puri. It serves as the primary aviation gateway, connecting to major Indian metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad) via daily direct flights.
Onward Journey from Bhubaneswar to Puri: Navigate out of BBI airport using pre-paid airport cabs, state-managed Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) buses, or special tourist shuttle vehicles running on the National Highway network.
Also Read: Rath Yatra In Puri Vs Rath Yatra In Digha – See The Difference
By Train (Most Popular)
This is the most popular and most cost-effective way to travel to Puri.
Puri Railway Station (PUI): Puri is a major terminal railway station. It has direct, well-connected express links to major cities like Kolkata (Howrah/Sealdah), New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Khurda Road Junction (KUR): Many long-distance trains bypass Puri and stop at Khurda Road Junction (approx. 44 km from Puri). Detail how to transition seamlessly from Khurda Road to Puri via local passenger shuttle trains or shared cabs.
Rath Yatra Special Trains: Indian Railways (East Coast Railway zone) traditionally operates hundreds of unreserved and reserved Rath Yatra Special Trains from neighboring states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh) and internal Odisha districts to accommodate the immense surge of travelers.
Tip: It is advised that travelers keep checking the IRCTC portal at least 120 days in advance for standard train tickets.
By Road (Pilgrim Buses And Road Trips)
If pilgrim buses or road travel is a more convenient option for you, here’s the route you can take:
National Highway Network: NH-316: The Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway (NH-316) is a pristine, wide four-lane highway that makes driving a highly attractive option. Driving from Bhubaneswar takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours under normal conditions.
Interstate and Intrastate Bus Services: OSRTC and private luxury bus operators run frequent daily trips from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, and Kolkata.
Overview Of Route
Route 1 (From Kolkata): NH-16 (Kolkata to Bhubaneswar) ➔ NH-316 (Bhubaneswar to Puri).
Route 2 (From Visakhapatnam): NH-16 (towards Ichchapuram/Brahmapur) ➔ State highways via Ganjam ➔ Puri.
Also Read: Rath Yatra 2026 Puri: Complete Guide & Date, Significance, Travel & Where to Stay
Insider Tips For The Journey
- Vehicle Restrictions & Parking Zones: On the main festival day (July 16, 2026) and during the return festival (Bahuda Yatra), standard private cars and outstation buses are completely barred from entering central Puri town or approaching the Grand Road (Bada Danda), so plan your journey accordingly.
- Dedicated Fringe Parking Lots: The traffic is diverted to massive designated parking fields on the outskirts of the town (such as Talabania, Malatipatpur, or Mangalaghat).
- Pilgrims must walk or utilize free government-run e-rickshaws, shuttle mini-buses, or autorickshaws to bridge the 2 to 4 km distance between the parking checkpoints and the main temple zone.
- Book Everything Months in Advance: Hotel tariffs and flight tickets to Bhubaneswar/Puri skyrocket up to 300% as July approaches.
- Carry Cash and Physical ID Proofs: While digital payments are popular across India, mobile networks get highly congested or experience temporary outages due to the millions of active phones concentrated in one small coastal town. Keep physical paper currency handy for local transport.
- Pack Smart for Monsoon Weather: Since July is the peak of the monsoon in Odisha, highlight the absolute necessity of carrying high-quality umbrellas, heavy-duty ponchos, and completely waterproof footwear.
Also Read: Top 11 Biggest Rath Yatra In India To Attend
Summing Up
So, if you’re ready to have a blessed Rath Yatra experience, get ready and pack your bags! This unstumbled guide will help you navigate your way to Puri so that you can receive the more important and much-needed spiritual guidance from the Gods for whom this festival is observed!
