Gundicha Temple, Puri – The Temple

Gundicha Temple, Puri – The Temple

Gundicha Temple is known as the Garden House of Jagannath. The temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. Gundicha Temple and Jagannath Temple are located at the two ends of the Bada Danda (Grand Avenue) which is the pathway for the Rath Yatra. The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and it follows typical Kalinga temple architecture in the Deula style.

The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), Nata Mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga Mandapa (hall of offerings). The Vimana is about 75 feet high. There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage. The temple is set within a garden and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath.

The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall. The height of the wall is 20 feet and width is 5 feet. The length of the temple is 430 feet. The sanctum features a plain raised platform (4 feet (1.2 m) high and 19 feet (5.8 m) long) made of chlorite called Ratnavedi, where the deities are placed during the annual festivities.

The temple has two gates. The western gate is the main temple gate, through which the deities enter the temple during Ratha Yatra. The eastern gate, known as Nakachana gate, is used for the departure of the deities. Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when Jagannath is worshipped in Gundicha temple, the temple remains empty the rest of the year.

Tourists can visit the temple after paying an entry fee. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period. The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri - the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.