A chariot with 24 wheels and 7 horses carrying Surya, the Sun god, to Heavens! Yes, that's what the giant structure of the Konark Temple depicts. Raja Narasimhadeva, after a military victory, decided upon erecting such a gigantic edifice. Since, the ruler was a worshipper of the Sun god, the temple was made to stand in dedication of Surya, the Sun god. The word Konark is a combination of two words - Kona (corner) and Arka (Sun). Konark had the distinction of being one of the earliest centres for worshipping Sun god. The antiquity of the temple may be proved by the fact that it has references in the Puranas as Mundira or Mundirasvamin that was later replaced by Konaditya or Konarka.


History says that Konark was once a thriving port of Kalinga and had trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. Built during 1238 and 1264 AD, the temple fell upon bad times during the 17th century after being profaned by an envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. The temple is now in a state of desertion. Its wheels and horses as they draw the chariot also symbolise the passage of time. Exquisite carvings, beautifully carved sculptures, bas reliefs and thousands of images render the Sun Temple of Konark a much desirable destination to visit.



Myths and legends impregnate the whole city of Konark. There could be cited a number of reasons for the emergence of the temple. According to a legend, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna took great pride in his beauty. So much that he once committed a mistake of ridiculing a sage called Narada. The sage, bursting with rage, hit upon an idea to teach Samba a lesson. Somehow, the sage lured the boy to a pool where his step mothers, the consorts of Lord Krishna, were having bath. As Krishna got to learn of this immoral activity, he was inflamed and cursed his son with leprosy. However, before long, lord Krishna came to know that it was all a premeditated plan of the mischievous Narada. He suggested to his son that he go and worship the Sun god, the healer of all diseases. Samba followed the advise and spent 12 long years of penance and worship. Eventually, Surya instructed Samba to go and take a dip into the sea at Konark. So did the afflicted boy and surprisingly enough his leprosy was cured. Elated Samba made up his mind to built a temple in honour of Surya at the very spot. And that was how the temple came into being.

Representing Orissa's medieval architecture, the colossal structure of the Sun Temple is mostly dilapidated. Each of the 24 wheels of the chariot measures 10 m in diameter, covered with intricate carvings. Interesting to know is the fact that the spokes of the wheels serve as sun dials. The shadows of the spokes show the different times of the day. The walls of the temple are embellished with carvings, sculptures and bas reliefs. Hundreds of thousands of images of gods and goddesses along with social life scenes from the 13th century are displayed on the walls and interiors of the temple. Curved towers with cupolas are worth watching. Besides, the pyramidal roof built in sandstone are also to be noticed. The temple has an east west alignment and its location close to Bay of Bengal lends much enchantment to the overall view.

The Sun Temple complex is also the venue for the Konark Dance Festival. The festival is held in the Natya Mandi or the Dance Hall. If you could plan a trip during the first week of February, you can be witness to the splendid performances of Indian art forms like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chau. The grand festival sees a huge influx of art connoisseurs and vacationers from across the country and the world. Far famed classical dancers put up performances enlivening the cultural spirit of the country.

The Sun Temple lies in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. The Biji Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar provides regular links with places like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Bhubaneswar and Puri are the nearest railways stations. Private buses link the city of Konark with all the major cities and towns of the state.

It's time now for you to embark on a trip that brings to you the ancient medieval temple architecture of Orissa. Load yourself with interesting legends, know the Hindu mythology and explore the telling ruins of the Konark Sun Temple.