Puri is known in early literature as Srikshetra, Nilachala and Sankha Kshetra, has been one of the main religious centres of India, being one of the four Dhamas, from very early times. While Bhubaneswar is a Saiva Centre, Puri is a centre of Vaisnavism. The centre of attraction in the town is the towering temple of Jagannatha, the lord of Universe, and his annual Rathayatra or car festival. The temple, set amidst cluster of smaller shrines within two rows of boundary walls with four gateways on four cardinal directions, rises to a height of about 215 feet from the road level and has a four chambered complex with deula, Jagamohana, natmandira and bhogamandapa.
The soaring tower of the sanctum with its still plastered surface was known as the White Pagoda to the early European sailors navigating on the waters of the Bay of Bengal near Puri Town. The temple (circa A.D.1150) was built during the early Ganga rule in Orissa and has a pancharatha plan.
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