Raghurajpur itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Raghurajpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Studios and a Puri evening

   Leave Puri after breakfast and aim to reach the village by mid-morning. Walk the street end to end once, then stop at two or three studios to watch pattachitra and palm-leaf work. Visit the small temples in the middle of the village and ask about the birthplace of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Buy directly from an artist if something suits you, and agree any packing arrangements. Return to Puri for lunch and rest, and spend the evening on the beach or at the Jagannath temple area as energy allows.

Plan 02

2 days around Raghurajpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Puri and the village

   Spend the morning in Puri, then head to Raghurajpur in the late afternoon for softer light and cooler air. Use the time to compare studios and learn what the artists work in. Return to Puri for dinner.

2. 02

   Day 2: Konark or a lesson

   Either take a day trip to Konark Sun Temple along the coast road, or return to Raghurajpur to arrange a short painting or palm-leaf lesson and, if possible, a Gotipua demonstration.

Plan 03

3 days around Raghurajpur

1. 01

   Day 1: Puri

   Settle in Puri, visit the temple area and the beach, and rest in the afternoon.

2. 02

   Day 2: Raghurajpur

   Go to the village in the morning. Walk the street, watch pattachitra and palm-leaf artists, visit the temples and the birthplace, and buy only after comparing. Return to Puri for lunch.

3. 03

   Day 3: Konark or Chilika

   Choose Konark for the Sun Temple, or Chilika Lake for a boat ride, depending on interests and the season.

Pacing

Pacing a Raghurajpur trip for parents and children

• Go in the morning, carry water and keep the visit to two hours or so; there is little shade on the village street.
• The street is flat with no stairs, but seating and toilets are limited. Use a hotel stop in Puri before you go.
• Studios have verandahs where you can sit. Ask for a chair rather than standing for long.
• Hire a car or auto for the round trip so you are not waiting for transport on a hot afternoon.
• Fragile purchases, such as masks and palm-leaf pieces, should be packed carefully. Ask the artist for advice, and carry them in hand luggage.
• Avoid the monsoon months if mobility is a concern; lanes can be wet and muddy.

Raghurajpur with elderly parents: the full guide →