Puri: The three chariots on which the deities of Shree Jagannath temple in Puri made a trip to Gundicha temple and returned during the Ratha Jatra this year will be preserved in a museum at Jagannath Ballav in the pilgrim city. This was informed by Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Krishan Kumar today.

Every year the chariots are dismantled after the Ratha Jatra festival and the wood is used in the temple kitchen. But this year, after a discussion with Biswakarma and Bhoi servitors, the SJTA decided to conserve the three chariots at the museum being constructed at Jagannath Ballav.

The SJTA Chief Administrator added a directive has already been issued to shift the chariots to the premises of Jagannath Ballav.

''Nandighosh'', the chariot of Lord Jagannath, is the tallest at 45-feet with 16 wheels, while Lord Balabhadra''s ''Taladhwaja'' is 44-feet high with 14 wheels. Their sister Devi Subhadra''s chariot ''Darpadalana'' is 43-feet high and has two wheels.