Konark Sun Temple – Odisha

Address

Konark Sun Temple – Konark, Odisha 752111

Deity

Surya (Sun)

Introduction

• Located 35 km northeast of Puri, Odisha, on the coast.
• Built in the 13th century CE (1250) by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
• Dedicated to the Sun God Surya, it represents a colossal stone chariot with 12 wheels and 7 horses.
• Once stood over 200 feet high; now in ruins with the large shikara tower lost.
• Famous for intricate artwork, iconography, and themes, including erotic scenes.
• Example of Odisha or Kalinga architecture.
• Referred to as the “Black Pagoda” by European sailors as a navigational landmark.

Puranic Significance

• Surya, the Hindu Sun God, is revered in Vedic hymns and texts for bringing light and knowledge.
• Konark derives from the Sanskrit words “Kona” (corner) and “Arka” (sun).
• Surya’s chariot is depicted with 7 horses representing the seven meters of Sanskrit prosody.

Destruction Theories

• Causes are debated: natural damage, incomplete construction, or attacks by Muslim armies between the 15th and 17th centuries.
• By the 18th century, it was abandoned and overgrown.

Special Features

• 24 elaborately carved wheels (12 feet in diameter) represent the 12 months of the Hindu calendar.
• Temple layout follows square and circle geometry (mandala) as per ancient temple design texts.
• Key structures: Main sanctuary (rekha deul), assembly hall (jagamohana), dance hall (Nata mandira), and dining hall (Bhoga mandapa).
• Made from three types of stone: chlorite, laterite, and khondalite.

Century/Period/Age

13th-century CE

Managed By

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)- Odisha

Nearest Bus Station

Puri

Nearest Railway Station

Bhubaneswar

Nearest Airport

Bhubaneswar

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