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Narendra
Pokhari,
considered
to
be
the
biggest
artificial
pond
in
Odisha,
lies
in
Puri
close
to
the
sacred
Jagannath
Temple.
This
holy
tank
is
visited
by
a
number
of
tourists
and
devotees
across
the
year.
Spread
over
a
large
area,
Narendra
Pokhari
has
an
island
in
the
middle,
where
a
small
shrine
called
Chandana
Mandapa
has
been
built.
The
temple
is
connected
by
a
stable
bridge
to
the
southern
bank
of
the
tank.
The
tank
is
considered
as
a
holy
site
because
there
are
a
number
of
small
and
big
temples
in
its
vicinity.
It
covers
about
16
ghats,
providing
a
place
for
pilgrims
to
take
holy
baths.
The
place
comes
alive
during
the
celebration
of
festivals,
especially
Chandan
Yatra.
The
laser
show
conducted
at
the
site
in
the
evenings
is
another
attraction
that
draws
a
lot
of
visitors.
History
of
Narendra
Pokhari
Puri
In
the
15th
century
AD,
this
tank
was
built
by
Narendra
Dev,
brother
of
Gajapati
Kapilendra
Deva,
who
was
the
king
of
Puri
at
that
time.
Another
name
of
this
tank
is
Chandana
Pushkarini,
due
to
its
association
with
the
Chandan
Yatra
of
Lord
Jagannath.
During
the
Chandan
Yatra
festival,
which
is
celebrated
during
the
Baisakhi
month
of
the
Hindu
calendar
–
June
and
July,
idols
of
Lord
Jagannath,
Lord
Balabhadra
and
Devi
Subhadra
are
taken
to
the
pond
with
a
procession,
and
there,
these
idols
are
cleansed
with
sandalwood
paste.
After
which,
the
idols
are
taken
for
a
boat
ride
in
the
pond.
This
boat
ride
is
called
Chapa
Khela.
Architecture
of
Narendra
Pokhari
Puri
The
water
level
of
the
pond
is
about
10
feet
below
from
the
current
road
level.
The
flight
steps
of
the
main
ghat
of
Narendra
Pokhari
are
made
up
of
Khondalite
stones.
