Atharnala Bridge

Atharnala Bridge is an 18-arched historic stone bridge at the entrance to Puri, Odisha, spanning the Atharnala stream on the Puri-Bhubaneswar Highway (NH 316). Built in the 13th century during the Eastern Ganga dynasty using laterite stone, it served as the traditional gateway to the Jagannath Temple town. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, it is notable for its medieval engineering, approximately 88-metre length, and enduring religious and architectural significance.

Visitors can expect an ancient laterite stone bridge with 18 arches crossing a water channel at the outskirts of Puri. The structure is low and broad, with weathered stone masonry and parapets, set amid open plains and roadside vegetation. The bridge remains in use alongside the modern highway and offers views of the stream and surrounding landscape. Visitors can walk across, observe the historic arches and stonework, and take photographs of this gateway landmark to Puri.

Atharnala Bridge was constructed in the 13th century during the Eastern Ganga dynasty, attributed to the reign of King Bhanu Deva. Built of laterite stone with 18 arches, it was engineered to span the Atharnala nullah and provide a durable crossing for pilgrims and traders entering Puri. It is an early example of medieval bridge architecture in Odisha and is now a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.

The bridge is regarded as the traditional gateway to Puri Dham, the abode of Lord Jagannath. For centuries pilgrims have crossed Atharnala to enter the holy town, and the bridge remains a symbolic threshold for visitors to the Jagannath Temple. It is an important landmark in the cultural landscape of Puri and reflects the town's historic importance as a pilgrimage centre.