Gundicha Temple - Hindu temple in Bhubaneswar - Khordha, India

During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, leave Jagannath Mandira for nine days- one day for traveling to Gundicha temple, seven days spent here, and one day to return home. This Journey is known as Gundicha Yatra, Nava Dina Yatra, or Ghosa Yatra. It is most auspicious to have darshan of Lord during this time known as Adapa Darshana. Every year the Ratha Yatra culminates at this temple which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall cooling coconut trees.

Gundicha temple is a Hindu temple. It is located in Puri and it is famous because this temple is the house of Jagannath's aunt. Rath Yatra comes to Jagannath's aunt's house. When you come to visit the temple, you must visit the temple of his aunt's house. Here are some pictures for you guys

Gundicha Temple (Odia: gunnddicaa mndir), is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri.[1] While it remains vacant most of the year, the temple is occupied by images of the deities of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra for seven complete days (total 9 days including the start and concluding day of Ratha Yatra) every year during the annual Rath Yatra festival. Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the Shrimandira, the main temple of Jagannath. The two temples 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 architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture[2] 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). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage.[3] The temple is set within a garden,[2] and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath.[4] The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall. 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.[3] 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.[3] Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when Jagannath is worshipped in Gundicha temple, the temple remains empty the rest of the year. Tourists don't have to pay any fee to enter the temple, it's considered that Lord Jagannath ensures all of his devotees equally. There is no rich or poor inside the temple.All have to follow the same rule either it be a common man or a president. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period.[5] The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri - the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.[3]

Heavenly place

Amazing ambience during Rath Yatra

Gundicha Temple (Odia: gunnddicaa mndir), is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri. While it remains vacant most of the year, the temple is occupied by images of the deities of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra for seven complete days (total 9 days including the start and concluding day of Ratha Yatra) every year during the annual Rath Yatra festival. A particular feature in the worship of the deities at Gundicha Temple is that Brahmin temple servants offer the puja instead of daitas, the traditional non-Brahmin servitors of Jagannath who are excluded from worship. Though devadasis generally function as agents of Lakshmi, they offer worship in the Gundicha Temple in the same manner as in the main temple, while Lakshmi is left behind in a storeroom in the main temple. This connotes a different context to the role of the devadasis in the Gundicha Temple. Another unusual feature is that the images are smeared with larger quantities of sandalwood paste, twice a day, as a "cooling agent" (as is commonly done to the goddess Gundicha). Every day of their stay in the temple, the deities are decorated with new dresses.

About to go after 1 week

As the temple gates are closed throughout the year except for 9days of Rath Yatra, not able to visit