Remuna and the Khirachora Gopinath Temple

Remuna, about 10 kilometres north of Balasore, is an important Vaishnava pilgrimage site centred on the Khirachora Gopinath temple. The main deity here is Krishna as Gopinath, and the temple is particularly significant within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition — it is closely associated with Madhavendra Puri, whose disciple was the reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whose movement later evolved into ISKCON. Pilgrims come from across Odisha and beyond.

The temple complex is active and well-maintained. The deity is elaborately dressed and decorated, and the daily rituals are conducted with considerable care. The prasad (offered food) at Remuna, particularly the kheer, is considered especially auspicious and is distributed to pilgrims. The surrounding area has several dharamshalas (pilgrim lodges) and is busy during major Vaishnava festivals.

things to do sight
A story
The Khirachora Gopinath temple gets its name — "thief of condensed milk" — from a legend in which the deity Gopinath stole kheer (rice pudding with milk) from the kitchen and hid it in his idol to give to the saint Madhavendra Puri. The image of a god stealing food to feed a devotee is one of the more charming miracle stories in the Vaishnava tradition, and the temple is considered especially sacred by followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage that traces back through Chaitanya.