This temple is located in a town named Sakshi-gopala, 20 km from Jagannatha Puri, on the Puri-Bhubaneshwar highway. This town is near Sakshi-gopala railway station. The temple looks like a miniature version of the Puri Jagannatha temple.

The Deity of Gopala here had originally been installed by King Vajra, the grandson of Lord Krishna in Vrindavana long ago. Later the Deity walked all the way from Vrindavana to a place called Vidyanagara in South India to end a dispute between two brahmanas by being a witness. Thus, the Deity here came to be known as Sakshi (witness) Gopala. The story of this wonderful historic incident is as follows:

There lived two brahmanas, one old and one young, in a place called Vidyanagara in Odisha. Once they went to visit Vrindavana on a pilgrimage. It was a long journey with many hardships. All along the way, the young brahmana assisted the elderly brahmana during their travel. After visiting many holy places, they finally reached Vrindavana. The old man was very much pleased with the service of the young man and wanted to reward him suitably. They entered a temple and had darshan of Lord Gopala Krishna.

In front of the Deity of the Lord, the old man revealed his mind before the young man about giving him a reward. But the young brahmana did not agree to accept any reward saying that it was his duty to serve the old brahmana who was just like his own father. But the old man insisted and promised to give his young daughter to him in marriage.

As the old man was very rich, the youth who was poor thought that the marriage would not take place and so he asked the old man not to make such an incredible promise before the Deity and offend the Lord. But the old man would not give up his decision in spite of the efforts of the young man to convince him.

After returning home from Vrindavana, the old man informed his eldest son about having selected the poor brahmana youth as the husband for his sister. But when his son and wife strongly objected to this proposal, he became perplexed. After some time, the young brahmana came to the old man and reminded him of his promise before the Lord. While the old man was in a dilemma and praying to the Lord, his son came out and shouted at the youth, accusing him of plundering his father in the place of pilgrimage.

Now it was obvious to the young man that the old man was facing opposition from his family. He explained to all the people who had gathered there about the old man’s promise before the Deity. Then the eldest son, who was an atheist, said that he would agree for the marriage if the Lord came and bore witness to the promise of his father.

The young man who was confident of the Lord’s help, accepted the challenge and went to Vrindavana and prayed to Gopala Krishna to come with him.

Suddenly the Deity spoke to him: “How do you think that I can go with you? I am a statue. I can’t go anywhere.”

“Well, if a statue can speak, he can also walk,” the boy replied.

Finally, the Deity agreed to go with him on the condition that the youth should not look back while the Deity follows him. The Deity also told him, “You will know that I am following by the jingle of My anklets.”

The young man agreed, and they began their journey. Finally, when they reached the border of his village, he could no longer hear the sound of the anklets. He looked back with anxiety, and the Deity stood still without moving further. The young man then ran into the village and informed the people about Krishna’s arrival as the witness. Astonished by this uncommon pastime of the Lord, they built a temple on the spot for the Deity of Lord Krishna who came to be known as Sakshi-gopala. This pastime shows that the Deity is identical with the Lord in all respects and He responds in proportion to one’s degree of devotion.

The King of Orissa, Sri Purushottama Dev brought the Deity from Vidyanagara and installed it at his fort in Cuttack. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple on His way to Puri. Thereafter, the Deity was worshiped for some time in the Jagannatha temple. Later the King of Orissa, Prataparudra installed the Deity in the present location.

There is also a Deity of Radharani, Lord Krishna’s eternal consort, to the left of Gopala. Food items made of wheat instead of rice are offered to the Deity here. It is said that the pilgrimage to Puri is not complete unless Sakshi-gopala is visited.

The temple is reachable by taxi, bus or the Puri-Bhubaneshwar train.