The Konark Sun Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site Situated on the northeastern corner of Puri, Odisha. There is a dedicated archaeological museum inside the temple complex. The temple is built in the form of a “Rath” (chariot) being pulled by seven horses. It houses three deities dedicated to the Sun God each on three different sides of the temple which catch the direct rays of sun in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The idol in the temple was believed to float mid-air due to the arrangement of the magnets at the top of the temple. These magnets were later removed due to the disturbance they caused to coastal voyages. An interesting aspect of this site is its presence on the ₹10 note.
By air: The nearest airport is the Bhubaneshwar Airport, 60 km away.
By rail: Puri is the nearest railway junction to Konark, 35 km away.
By road: Konark is well connected to the national highway. Tourists can charter public or private vehicles to reach there with ease.
Odisha
The Sun Temple was constructed by Narsimhadeva, a ruler of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple commemorated the victory over Tughral Tughan Khan in 1255 CE. According to a local legend, a massive magnetic rod is present at the center of the temple which interfered with the compasses of traveling ships causing wrecks that ultimately led to its collapse. The Sun temple is also known as the 'Black Pagoda' because of its color. The Konark Temple was merely an entrance to the main temple back then. The main temple collapsed due to the magnetic rod previously present at the center of the temple. Another legend says the cause of the demolition was a result of an invasion by a Muslim Invader named Kala-Pahad in 1568 AD. He removed vital structural supports of the monument and damaged the idols.
Constructed in a traditional Kalinga style of architecture, The Sun Temple has been constructed in the form of a massive chariot of the Sun God. The chariot has 24 engraved stone wheels with 7 horses pulling it. The temple is slanted to the east so that the first rays of the sun hit the entrance of the temple. The entrance has 2 lions guarding it. Both the lions are crushing elephants under their weight. Interestingly, the sculptures present here are similar to the ones present at Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh. archaeologists around the main temple have also found a couple of other temples from the 11th century. One of them is the Mayadevi Temple dedicated to one of the Sun God's wives Chaaya Devi and the other is assumed to be dedicated to Lord Vishnu. An abundance of erotic statues known as the 'Mithuna' sculptures can also be found here. According to legends, these statues were placed here after the Kalinga war to promote lovemaking amongst the citizens to recover the population. Two other structures other than the Konark Sun Temple are called 'Nata Mandir' (Dancing Hall) and 'Bhoga Mandapa' (Dining Hall). The Nata Mandir was where the dancers lived inside the temple complex dedicating their entire life to dance forms like Odissi and Bharatnatyam. A Navgraha Temple (Nine Planets Temple) is also located just outside the Sun Temple. Another fascinating aspect of this temple is that the sundials still show the accurate time.
Odisha is a haven for all culinary enthusiasts. Idli, dahi bara, etc can be found plenty in the local restaurants. The local the lawala near temple serves some delicious local food.
Konark Sun Temple can be visited throughout the year but to avoid hot weather conditions tourists can visit around January- March. The entry fee for Indian citizens is INR 30 and foreign visitors are charged INR 500. No extra fees are charged for photography. During the Konark Dance Festival (1st to 5th December) individuals are charged INR 400 per person.
