Gundicha Temple in Puri reopened to devotees on Wednesday after remaining closed for more than six years, restoring year-round public access to one of the most significant sites associated with the Jagannath tradition. The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) opened the temple after a puja attended by its chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee and other officials.
The temple will be open from 6 am to 5 pm. Entry will remain free until October 2, after which devotees will be charged Rs 10 per person. Children below five years, senior citizens above 80 years and differently abled pilgrims will be exempt from the fee, according to SJTA sources.
The reopening follows the temple’s closure after the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020. Although devotees could enter the shrine briefly during the annual Rath Yatra, when Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra stay there for about seven days, the temple remained closed to the public during the rest of the year.
Located about 3 km from the Jagannath Temple, Gundicha Temple is regarded as the birthplace of the sibling deities. Its sanctum sanctorum remains vacant for most of the year because the deities reside there only during the Rath Yatra. The temple’s reopening therefore expands access to a heritage and religious site beyond the annual festival period.
Padhee said the administration had fixed the entry charge at Rs 10 after receiving complaints that private operators managing the temple had charged tourists between Rs 50 and Rs 500. The new fee is intended to replace those varying charges with a publicly specified rate, according to his statement.
The SJTA has also introduced additions and upgrades within the premises. Three wheels from the Rath Yatra chariots have been placed inside the temple complex, while air-conditioners have been installed in the Jagamohan and Nata Mandap. These measures are intended to enhance the visitor experience and improve conditions in key parts of the temple.
The reopening has also renewed access for devotees who previously had to wait for the Rath Yatra to visit the shrine. Pragati Dash, a devotee from Dhenkanal district, said the temple’s year-round opening would allow pilgrims to experience its spiritual significance outside the festival period.
The SJTA and Puri district administration did not clarify why the temple remained closed after Covid-related restrictions were lifted in 2022. Some officials attributed the delay to renovation work. The administration’s next operational milestone is the introduction of the Rs 10 entry fee from October 3, with the stated exemptions continuing for eligible visitors.
