13th-century temple built as a giant stone chariot of the Sun God; UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
Built around 1250 CE by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple is designed as the chariot of Surya with 24 carved stone wheels pulled by seven horses. The main sanctum tower collapsed centuries ago; the surviving jagamohana (audience hall) was filled with sand and sealed by the British in 1903 to keep it standing. European sailors called it the Black Pagoda. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and its wheel appears on the Indian ₹10 note.
Architecture
Kalinga architecture; the wheels work as sundials, walls carry detailed sculptures of daily life, music and dance.
Festivals
- Konark Dance Festival (December)
- Chandrabhaga Mela
Videos
Photos
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Plan your visit
Weather at the temple
Directions to Konark Sun Temple
How to reach
- By air
- Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar, about 65 km
- By train
- Puri, about 35 km
- By road
- Marine Drive from Puri; buses from Bhubaneswar.
Near the temple
Rooms, food, bus stands, railway stations, ATMs, hospitals, parkingPlaces come from OpenStreetMap and may be incomplete. Each list has a Google Maps link for more.