East India Yatras

East India Yatra at a glance

Our East India yatras cover Odisha and West Bengal. In Odisha the heart is Jagannath Puri, with Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar, the Konark Sun Temple and Biraja Devi Shakti Peeth at Jajpur. In Bengal we visit nine Shakti Peeths around Birbhum, Bardhaman and Murshidabad. Each yatra takes 4 to 6 days from Bhubaneswar or Durgapur, all by road with no trekking, and October to February is the most comfortable season. We plan them from Dehradun with hotels, vehicle, vegetarian meals and darshan guidance.

Which East India yatra is right for you?

For a first visit to Odisha, the five-day yatra gives two nights at Puri for Jagannath darshan and Konark, plus Biraja Devi and Lingaraj. Choose the Chilika yatra if you want three slower nights at Puri and a boat day on the lake. The six-day southern Odisha yatra suits those who want to go further. Devi bhakts should look at the West Bengal yatra. For a short Puri-only yatra, see our Jagannath Puri Dham Yatra.

Prices are per person on sharing basis and vary with group size, hotel category and season. Monument tickets, boat rides and pujas are paid directly. Check each package page for inclusions.

Jagannath Puri: darshan rules every yatri should know

• Hindus only. Entry to the Jagannath temple is restricted to Hindus. Others can view it from outside, including from the platform of the Raghunandan library opposite the temple.
• No phones. Mobile phones, cameras, leather items and umbrellas are not allowed inside. Deposit counters operate near the Lion Gate (Singhadwar).
• Mahaprasad. Food cooked in earthen pots in the temple kitchen is sold at Ananda Bazar inside the complex. Eating it together is part of the yatra.
• Crowds. Mornings are usually calmer. Rath Yatra, Kartik Purnima and Durga Puja bring the heaviest crowds.

Puri is one of the four all-India dhams. To plan the other three, see our Bada Char Dham yatras.

When is Rath Yatra 2027?

Rath Yatra 2027 is scheduled for 5 July 2027, with Bahuda Yatra (the return of the chariots) on 13 July, Suna Besha on 14 July and Niladri Bije on 16 July, as reported from the Odisha government's preparations. Lakhs of devotees gather on the Bada Danda, roads are closed, and hotels raise rates and fill early. If Rath Yatra is your sankalp, tell us several months ahead. If you prefer a calm darshan, choose October to February instead.

Odisha temples on our route

At Jajpur the Biraja temple arranges priests for pitru rites at the Nabhi Gaya well at your own cost. If you are planning shraddh, also read our Gaya pind daan guide.

West Bengal Shakti Peeth yatra

Rural Bengal holds a remarkable number of temples counted among the Shakti Peeths, where tradition says parts of Sati's body fell. Our four-day yatra from Durgapur visits Ujani, Attahas, Bahula at Ketugram, Kiriteswari, Nandikeshwari at Sainthia, Kankalitala, Nalhati, Bakreshwar and Jogadya at Khirgram. Bakreshwar also has hot springs with bathing kunds, so carry a towel. District roads are narrow and slow, hotels in Katwa and Birbhum are simple, and big fairs at Makar Sankranti, Shivaratri, Durga Puja and Kali Puja can close roads near the temples. Durgapur is on the Howrah–Delhi main line, and Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal is about 25 km away. For Kamakhya and other Devi temples, see our Shakti Peeth yatras.

What we arrange

• Pick-up and drop at Bhubaneswar or Durgapur, and a private vehicle throughout.
• Hotels near the temples, including sea-facing stays at Puri where available.
• Vegetarian meals; in Bengal villages we carry dry snacks and plan lunch at known eateries.
• A day plan that avoids festival road closures, and guidance on dress, deposits and offerings.
• Train or flight guidance from Delhi and Dehradun to Bhubaneswar or Durgapur.

Frequently asked questions

How many days are needed for a Puri and Odisha yatra?

Three days covers Puri and Konark from Bhubaneswar. Five days is better for a full Odisha yatra, adding Lingaraj and the Bhubaneswar temples and Biraja Devi at Jajpur without rushing. Six days lets you add Chilika lake or the southern route to Gopalpur and Taptapani. All our Odisha yatras start and end in Bhubaneswar.

When is Rath Yatra in 2027?

Rath Yatra 2027 falls on 5 July 2027, with the Bahuda (return) Yatra on 13 July and Suna Besha on 14 July, according to dates released during the Odisha government's preparations. Expect very large crowds, closed roads and higher hotel rates. Book early if you want to be in Puri on these days.

Can non-Hindus enter the Jagannath and Lingaraj temples?

No. Both temples admit Hindus only, and the rule is enforced at the gates. Non-Hindu members of a group can view the Jagannath temple from the Raghunandan library platform opposite it, and Lingaraj from a viewing platform beside the compound. They can visit Konark, Chilika and all other stops on the yatra.

Are mobile phones allowed inside the Jagannath temple?

No. Mobile phones, cameras, leather items and umbrellas are not allowed inside the Jagannath temple in Puri. Deposit counters operate near the Lion Gate. We suggest carrying only what you need for darshan and leaving the rest in the vehicle or hotel, so the deposit queue is quicker.

What is the best time for an East India yatra?

October to February is the most comfortable season in Odisha and Bengal. March to June is hot and humid, and the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain. Rath Yatra in June or July, Kartik Purnima and Durga Puja are special but crowded, so plan them well in advance.

Which Shakti Peeths are covered on the West Bengal yatra?

The four-day yatra from Durgapur visits Ujani, Attahas, Bahula at Ketugram, Kiriteswari, Nandikeshwari at Sainthia, Kankalitala, Nalhati, Bakreshwar and Jogadya at Khirgram. They lie across Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, and the yatra includes nights at Katwa, Murshidabad and Bakreshwar to keep daily drives manageable.

To plan your East India yatra, use the enquiry form on this page or call or WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).