The stay in Puri by Puneet Rajhans

The stay in Puri

With a stay spread over two days, the foremost task was to gain entry to the Jagannath temple when rush was less. On the first day even before depositing bag in the lodge i visited the temple amidst a gathering that was fairly less. Post temple visit i took a room and here the search for a laundrywallah was important given the load of unwashed clothes i was carrying. First this search took me to Gopal Ballav road and from there to Mochi Shahi road. With no success, Sangram club (Kumbar Poda) and the laundry store run by one Jai Ram Shetty was the obvious choice. His efforts were laudable as he returned the clothes the same evening.

Coming to the temple stint, free darshan begins at half  past 8 in the morning and continues till 10. The day i went for a free darshan it continued beyond 10. Free darshan of Lord Jagannath is the most desirable and if one is cautious enough one can step out with not much of a pushing and shoving. Volunteers are there to man the crowd and if priests seek some favours you can politely refuse them. A free darshan that enables you to gain access to sanctum sanctorum has varying timings depending on the season you are in. If one is unable to gain access to sanctum sanctorum, the sight of the Lord few metres away is equally appealing. Meals from the temple is mandatory and here bhath (rice) with dal and one vegetable comes for 30rs. A cup of lime water comes for 10. As for the second day, soon after the  visit to the temple, the task beforehand was to take a train to Howrah. Before reaching station i  tried to gain final view of the temple which seem to convey howsoever big the rush may be the Lord has enough heart to take all on board.

As for life drops, the mineral water for 12rs, was hard to find in the town, probably made possible by new brands displacing the old trusted brand. There are fewer options as far as laundry work goes. One has to trudge miles before getting any one of them. Even Gopal Ballav Road laundrywallah was hard to find.   

Sightings in  Puri

From temple road as you turn left there is mochi sahi and amidst the cacophony is anna tiffin centre. A right turn takes you to chandan hajiri road (probably this is the name i got after making enquiries) and following  a left and a right turn you are on rama ballav road.

On rama ballav road
- sri khetra youth cultural association
- ayurshree ayurvedic heath care centre spa
- swaraj hostel no 4
- xotic snax wildgrass @goodfood pocket friendly
- sight a fiat car OSP 3700. Other car sighted had  OR - 10G 2718

Other sightings in the town
- Jay Maa Kali Mistanna Bhandar ( closed when i went at 5 in the evening)

On a hoarding
Today's Special dahi vada 10,  rasgulla 5,  paan 1

Etched a message near Sangram Club: A  prayer for well being of all.  Oh lord grant me."

On Grand Road some sightings were:
- satya sai lodge
- narayani hotel
- pick & speak (muti brand mobile store)
- annapurna restaurant
- auto mech
- shree jagannath ballav math, puri
- bihar atithi bhawan
- bhakta niwas
-  sri vinayak bhojanalaya (marwadi basa)
- narayan cold bar
- panda watch co
- sree chaitanya gaudiya math
- digital color xerox
- maa kalita restaurant
- shree mandir
- indian bank puri branch
- gopinath lodging
- ramakrishna ashram puri.  Main branch belur math howrah
- postal holiday home puri
- shree jagannath computer centre