Where Is The Konark Sun Temple?
A temple famous for its marvellous architecture and historical wealth, the Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century temple located in Konark in the Orissa state of India. The temple has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of India. The temple site is 65 km from the capital city of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar, and 35 km away from the famous beach town of Puri.
History Of The Konark Sun Temple
Several myths, legends, and historical accounts tell the tale of the origin of the Konark Sun Temple. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, a sun temple already existed in the 9th centurty at the site prior to the 13th century construction of the temple we see today.
According to legend, the son of Krishna, Samba was suffering from leprosy and was advised to built a sun temple to please the Sun God to cure him of the disease. He is believed to have undergone penance for 12 years on the shores of the present day Chandrabhaga beach. The original sun temple at the site was possibly commissioned by Samba.
The temple that we see today has been attributed to Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. He reigned in the region from 1238 to 1264 CE. It is believed that the king established the temple to celebrate his victory over Tughral Tughan Khan, a Muslim ruler trying to annex his territories.
Several stories are related to the construction of the temple including the popular tale of Dharmapada who committed suicide to save his father and other workers of the temple who would suffer death penalty if unable to complete the temple construction within the stipulated time period. Also, there is the story of the magnet that Dharmapada suggested to be used in the crown of the temple to hold the iron ore laden rocks of the temple in place. However, our guide (who appeared quite knowledgeable) did not believe any of these tales are historically correct.
Today, the main sanctum of the Konark Sun Temple is in ruins. Several theories have also been linked to the collapse of the same. According to historical accounts, the temple was operational at least till early 16th century.
According to legend, the temple was damaged by Kalapahad who invaded the region in 1568. According to another story, the Portuguese shipmen removed the main magnet holding the sanctum in place.
Later, in 1627, the sun idol of the Sun Temple was removed by the Raja of Khurda and placed for worship in Puri’s Jagannath temple.
According to James Fergusson, the temple collapsed due to instability in its marshy foundation. Lightning, earthquake, etc., are other suggested theories behind the collapse of the Konark Sun Temple’s main sanctum.
Recognizing the importance of the heritage site, the Indian Government arranged for the preservation, repair and reconstruction of the Konark Sun Temple soon after independence. The temple was granted the prestigious title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Architecture Of The Konark Sun Temple
The Konark Sun Temple has been built in the form of a giant chariot of the Sun god, Surya. The architecture of the temple displays the Kalinga architectural style and the temple is built using Khondalite rocks. The chariot has twelve pairs of elaborately carved wheels. The 3 meter wide wheels are pulled by seven horses with four on the right and three on the left.
The temple is so positioned that the first rays of the sun would always strike the principal entrance of the temple. The main sanctum of the temple, originally believed to be 229 feet collapsed completely by 1837. The audience hall of the temple still stands along with the dance and the dining hall.
The temple’s facade bears several intricate sculptures carved out in the rocks and is heavily ornamented. Erotic sculptures called maithunas are a special attraction here. The site also has two smaller ruined temples nearby.
Wonders Of The Konark Sun Temple
The entire complex of the Konark Sun Temple makes you feel like you have travelled back in time or it will definitely make you feel like you could go back in time. As your guide explains the details of the architecture and the way of life of the Indian people in the ancient age, you will be amazed of how advanced life was so many centuries back.
You will learn to differentiate the truth from the myth. You will learn about the significant and respectable roles women played in the society back then. Your guide will show you sculptures representing women participating in warfare. You will be amazed at how open Indian society was at that time. Erotic sculptures all over the temple facade describes various erotic positions. You also learn about the lifestyle of ancient Indians during the prosperous times.
Of course, the most attractive feature of the Sun Temple will be the wheels of the temple which act as excellent sun-dials giving you accurate time with the help of shadow. Ask your guide to teach you to calculate time on the wheels and be prepared to exclaim in awe about your observations.
The Konark Sun Temple offers plenty of opportunities to photographers who wish to capture architectural grandeur and historical wonder all at once.
Best Time To Visit The Konark Sun Temple
November to January is the best time to visit the Konark Sun Temple. Summer time is best avoided as it is difficult to explore the heritage site in the scorching heat.
How To Visit The Konark Sun Temple
For those who are staying at Puri, a half-day tour from Puri to Konark (9am to 5 pm) would cost around Rs.1500 if you hire an AC car seating four adults and one child excluding the driver.
Where To Stay At The Konark Sun Temple
There are only a few hotels in Konark since most prefer to stay at the Puri Sea Beach and visit Konark on a day trip. In Konark, there is a government hotel that is good for a budget traveller. In Puri, one can find hotels that range from highly luxurious resorts to small budget hotels. For luxury-seekers, the Mayfair hotel at Puri would be an excellent choice.
Expert Guide At The Konark Sun Temple
Be careful about your choice of guides at the Konark Sun Temple. Our cab driver had informed us that we can get a guide for only Rs. 80/-. However, upon entering the temple grounds we realized that for that price, we will not get any government-licensed guide as their minimum charge is Rs. 200/- per hour. Realizing the significance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, we decided to go for a two hour tour for Rs. 400/- using a government-licensed guide. I am sharing the contact number of the guide here:
We were highly satisfied with his knowledge about the Sun Temple and the way he explained everything in details that captured our attention all the while. He speaks good English and Hindi and you will definitely enjoy a tour of the temple with his expert guidance.
Here is his contact number:
Mr. Dilip Panda
Konark Sun Temple Guide
Phone Number: +91 9938137413
Places In And Around The Konark Sun Temple
There are numerous tourist spots in and around the Konark Sun Temple.
Konark Museum: A small museum is located outside the temple compound that is run by the Archaelogical Survey of India. The museum houses a grand collection of sculptures excavated from the temple ruins. It remains closed in Fridays and open from 9 am to 5 pm on other days.
Konark Sea Beach: One of the pristine beaches of Orissa, the Konark Sea Beach, about 3.1 km away from the Sun Temple offers serenity and spectacular sunset and sunrise.
Puri Sea Beach: The Puri Sea Beach, a famous sea holiday destination in India is located only 34.5 km away from the site of the Sun Temple. The beach is excellent in terms of having an excellent and extensive sandy beach and great waves suitable for bathing in the sea. Several beach hotels and resorts, excellent restaurants, and handicraft stores dot the entire Puri beach. Puri is also famous for hosting the Jagannath Temple, an important Hindu pilgrimage site in the region. The beach and the town is always thriving with tourists and pilgrims is a lively place to spend your extended vacation.
Ramachandi Temple: One can visit the Ramachandi Temple on the banks of the Kusabhadra River that joins the Bay of Bengal near the temple. It is about 34.5 km away from the Konark Sun Temple. The place provides pleasing views and opportunities for birding activities.
Raghurajpur: Also you can visit this unique heritage arts village of Orissa with its colorful pattachitra paintings and handicrafts sold by the village artists in their beautifully decorated homes. Find details about this destination here:
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