[ Edit ] Pancha Tirtha

It is believed that the visit to Puri is incomplete till one bathes in the Pancha Tirtha .The Pancha Tirtha or five sacred bathing places are the Indradyumna Tank, Markandesvara Tank, Swetaganga, Rohini Kunda and Mahodadhi (sea). It is believed that bathing in the Pancha tirtha along with visiting Lord Jagannath is the path to salvation.

Indradyumna Tank
Located to the north west of Gundicha temple, the Indradyumna tank is 396 feet wide and 485 feet long and covers an area of 4.5 acres. A temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is located near the tank. There is also a small shrine dedicated to King Indradyumna.

Swetaganga Tank
Swetaganga tank is situated to the west of the Jagannath temple, between the Lions gate and Swargadwar.  Swetaganga is believed to have been created from the nail of Lord Vishnu. Two small temples, dedicated to Sweta Madhava and Matsya Madhava are located near this tank.

Rohini Kunda
Rohini Kunda is located inside Lord Jagannath Temple in front of the Vimala temple. The water of this Kunda is known as “Karana Water” and is sprinkled by devotees as a form of purification. Behind the Rohini Kunda there is an image of a crow, Bhusanda Kaka. According to legend, Bhusanda fell into this tank and got transformed into the form of Vishnu.

Markandesvara Tank
Markandesvara tank is located at the place where Lord Vishnu is believed to have once rested. A temple dedicated to Vishnu lies buried in the sand dunes. Another legend associates the tank with Sage Markandeya who meditated here after he was saved by the Lord.

Mahodadhi (Sea)
The golden beach of Puri is considered very holy because of the fact that the sacred Daru or log from which the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra were made, came floating in the sea.

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