The holy city of Puri is not just famous for its magnificent temples and beaches, but it is also the home of some wonderful cultural and artistic sites. If you are fond of Indian crafts and ancient traditions associated with the origin and evolution of various art forms in Odisha, make sure you get time to visit the Sudarshan Craft Museum in Puri. It is a renowned hub of local arts and crafts, started by Padma Shri Sudarshan Sahoo in the year 1977 with the support of the State Government and provides a great platform for budding artists.
Built like a Buddhist pagoda with signature maroon red shades walls and gold details, Puri’s Sudarshan Craft Museum is a landmark located just 2 km from the Puri Junction railway station. The beautiful entrance displays a wonderful fusion of Indian and Japanese design aesthetics and hosts arty workshops for artisans and art students by master craftsmen. It is a prominent pit stop for the patrons of Oriya sculpting and installation art and is quite popular among tourists as well.
The museum has some iconic exhibits great collection of artworks done by Sudarshan Sahoo in his signature style of wood and stone carvings. Along with the stone sculptures, one can also see artists creating artworks of fiberglass, handicraft items, figurines, and handmade paintings with heritage Oriya motifs, out of which some contemporary artworks are also for sale. Within the vicinity of this museum, one can click pictures of a Buddhist temple built in Japanese style and visit a library and/or attend an art workshop for budding artists.
Timings: 8 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 8 PM, Closed on Saturdays & Sundays
Entry Fee: INR 5 for Indians and INR 50 for Foreigners
And, while you are in Puri, don’t forget to checkout the famous Yatra and Konark.