Lakshmi Temple

The Lakshmi temple is a Hindu temple located in the city of Puri, in the Indian state of Odisha. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. It is one of the major tourist attractions in the city. The temple was originally built by the Ganga dynasty kings in the 9th century, and rebuilt by the Chola dynasty kings in the 11th century. The current structure was built in the 15th century by the Gajapati dynasty kings. The temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Group of Monuments at Puri". The temple is a triple-decker structure, with the lowermost deck dedicated to Lakshmi, the middle deck dedicated to Vishnu, and the uppermost deck dedicated to Shiva. The temple has a 60-meter-high (200-foot-high) spire, and is surrounded by a large compound. The compound is entered through a gatehouse, which is flanked by two towers. The temple is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.