Jagannath Temple -- Puri

I don't know the exact history and details about this temple so you'll have to consult Wikipedia.  It's said that this is one of the places where Jesus spent his 'lost years.'   He also spent some of that time in the northern Indian area of Kashmir.

After visiting Sri Yukteswar's ashram and burial shrine we walked and then took auto rickshaws to the library across the street from the temple.  Craig arranged for us to go up to a balcony that overlooks the market area and temple so that we could take pictures.

As we were walking up the stairs of this dilapidated building I wanted to stop about every two steps, taken by the many artistic photo opportunities of peeling paint, old books, and broken railings.  An interior courtyard full of mossy stone and runaway foliage reminded me of photos of Thailand's Angkor Watt temple complex.

For SRF devotees there's a great Daya Ma story relating to the temple.  No Westerners are allowed inside, only Indians so the temple officials refused her request. But when they looked at her face  it had morphed into Lord Jagannath's image.  Daya Ma got to see the temple.

Outside the entry is an iron column, famous for never rusting.