Affectionately known as the Black Pagoda, this is Odisha’s famous Konark Sun Temple where Surya Surya bestows his blessings on his devotees. Having laid its foundations in the 13th century, the Konark Sun Temple has been placed among the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world. This temple has a special meaning where ‘Kona’ means corner and ‘arka’ means sun, indicating that the sun is revered in the arc field. Along with the Jagannath temple, this famous temple in Odisha was used as a landmark by European sailors in the Bay of Bengal. Moreover, this temple belonged to a famous warrior, King Narasinghdev, the first of the Ganga dynasty of 1250 AD. The 61-meter high chariot-shaped temple that once stood in ruins with carved horses, pillars, walls, and wheels made of stone now stands 30 meters high. Moreover, if you are planning a trip to Konark Sun Temple then the winter season is considered the best time to visit as the famous Chandrabhaga Mela also takes place during that time.
History and Architecture of the Templars
Gifted to Odisha by King Narasinghdev in the 13th century, this temple has various stories. Starting with the shape of the temple, the structure resembles a chariot with 12 wheels representing the 12 months and 7 horses representing the 7 days of the week that carry the sun god above the sky. Besides, the 12-wheel is the sundial which can be used to calculate the exact time The temple is illuminated with the splendor of the Kalinga architectural style where it was originally built on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. However, there have been constant changes in the water line. Further, it is believed that after defeating the demons, Lord Vishnu installed Lotuses in Konark, Coaches in Puri, Maces in Jajpur, and Discs in Bhubaneswar. According to mythological references, it is said that Lord Krishna cursed his son Samba with leprosy. To get rid of this disease, Samba did penance for 12 years on the banks of the river Chandrabhaga at Mitravana; And when Surya, the god of the sun, was cured of his illness. Later Samba built a temple in his honor to praise the sun god. An image of Surya’s body was also placed in the temple by Vishwakarma which he found while taking bath the next day.
Opening/closing time
6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Best time to visit
The months of September to March are considered the best time to visit the Konark Sun Temple Travelers can visit other tourist spots in Konark during this month
Nearby tourist attractions
- Chandrababu Beach
- Ramchand Temple
- Ramchandi Beach
- Kuruma
- Astanga
You should know about Konark Sun Temple in India
The 13th century Sun Temple at Konark, India is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya It is one of the most famous monuments in India The monument is an elaborate chariot full of carvings and hidden meanings It is also a very accurate sun and can tell the time to the exact minute Built from imported stone, it took thousands of workers to complete over a decade As you will see, it is an incredible piece of architecture, both in design and execution So, if you are planning a trip to see this UNESCO heritage site or want to know more about its history, here are some interesting facts about the Konark Sun Temple in India.
1. Konark honors the Hindu Sun God
The word Konark means angle or corner (kona) and sun (ship) in Sanskrit. The temple at the corner is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God Surya. Sun is one of the five major deities of Hinduism. This monument is a representation of the chariot of the sun god Surya
2. Sailors used the temple as a sign
You will find Konark Sun Temple in East Odisha – it was earlier called Odisha – in India, Its location was once on the banks of the Bay of Bengal at the mouth of the Chandrabaga River, but the water level has receded over the years. However, sailors in those days used the temple as an important place in the Bay of Bengal. European sailors called this temple the Black Pagoda (Kala Pagoda).
3. Sun Temple at Konark from the 13th century
Experts believe that King Narasingha of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty ordered the construction of the temple in 1250 BC. He hired chief architect Bisu Maharana to design the temple. The workers {Konark Sun Temple} built three types of stone mainly chlorite, laterite, and khondalite. These stones were brought to India from other countries through the Bay of Bengal The temple was spread over 12 acres and took 12 years for 1200 workers
4. A chariot is depicted in the corner sun temple
Surya iconography shows the sun god riding in a chariot drawn by seven horses Horses represent the seven colors of visible light and the seven days of the week Elaborate carvings of stone corners, pillars and walls {Konark Sun Temple} is a huge chariot It depicts twelve pairs of wheels drawn by seven horses The twelve wheels represent the twelve months of the Hindu calendar Symbolic designs adorn wheels, some of which refer to the cycles of the seasons It is an incredible piece of architecture both in design and execution
5. {Corner Sun Temple tells the time
The wheels of the chariot tell the time Each chakra has eight faces and each spoke represents a pahahar (3 hours). Therefore, eight spokespersons represent 24 hours You can tell the time by looking at the shadow of the speaker, In fact, day or night, the wheels tell the time accurately to the minute
6. Elaborate carvings cover the temple
Many surfaces of the temple, including walls and scriptures, have elaborate carvings If you look closely, you will see amazing artwork, paintings, and sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, birds, animals, sea creatures, and mythical creatures. You will also see important Hindu scriptures and friezes depicting the sexual sculptures of Mathunas
7. The horse has a poetic name
Konark Surya Temple has the names of seven horses Those names Gayatri, Brihati, Usaniha, Jagati, Trisha, Anushka, and Pankti. They are named after the seven meters of Sanskrit poetry