If you plan to visit a temple during your trip to Orissa, then nothing else than the Konark Sun Temple would give you the religious and spiritual satisfaction. Located 35km north of Puri on the coast road, this majestic pile of oxidizing sandstone is considered as one of the finest religious buildings in the world. The temple was built by the king Narashimhadeva in the thirteenth century. Konark temple is widely known for its ambitious design. The entire temple has been conceived in the form of a colossal chariot with a team of seven galloping horses and twenty four exquisitely carved wheels carrying the Sun God Surya across the heavens. It is said to be the exact replica of the chariot of the Sun God, as if frozen in stone.

Konark, like Khajuraho is endowed with loving couples locked in ingenious amatory postures drawn from the Kama Sutra. Apart from the temple there lies a small museum that updates the tourists with the past and evokes their senses.

Konark Sun Temple- The Architectural Grandeur

The experience that a man gets here in the temple cannot be translated in to words. It was rightly said by the poet Rabindranath Tagore that “ Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man". The Konark temple is widely acclaimed for its exquisite and profusion of sculptural work. All the 24 wheels are 10 feet in diameter. The wheels are beautifully carved. Two lions guard the entrance, crushing the elephants. The carvings around the base of the temple and up the walls and roof are in an erotic style.

here are images of animals, foliage, men, warriors on horses and other interesting patterns. There are three images of the Sun God, positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon and sunset. The Konark Sun Temple has followed a Central Indian style in its making. However it does not have tall shikharas of the later temples of Orissa and Central India.

Year Of kudos

The temple is one of the most important Brahman Sanctuary and has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

Peppery Bulletin

• Konark is known by many names. To mention -Konaditya, Arkakshetra.
• Konark Sun Temple is also known as “ Golden Pagoda”.
• The ruins of this temple were excavated in the late 19th century.
• Konark is also home to an annual dance festival, held every December, devoted to classical Indian dance forms, including the traditional classical dance of Orissa, Odissi.
• It is said that the temple was not completed as conceived because the foundation was not that strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy dome.
• The Sun Temple Museum has a collection of sculptures which is run by the Archaeological Survey Of India.
• Legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, brought about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of penance, he was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built this temple.