The Konark Sun Temple is one of the many temples in India dedicated to the Sun God, but it is by far the finest. The main temple is embellished with intricate carvings both on the inside and outside. However, the high point of this temple is that it is said to be an exact replica of the chariot of the Sun God, as if frozen in stone.

Architecture

The basic structure of temples in India is a room or the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) where the idol of the main deity is kept. The temple is approached by a flight of steps and is often built on a platform. A porch covers the entrance to the temples, which is supported by carved pillars. A prominent roof called the shikhara surmounts the top of the Garbhagriha, and dominates the surroundings.

Temple architecture in India is broadly divided into the northern and southern styles. The form and shape of the shikhara and the distinctiveness of its decoration have let to this classification of temple architecture. The shikhara of the temples in south India tend to be made up of distinct horizontal levels that diminish to form a rough pyramid. Each level is decorated with miniature temple rooftops. The shikharas of the temples in north and central India, in contrast, resemble an upturned cone that is decorated with miniature conical shikharas.

The temples of Orissa and Central India have their own distinct style, which began to resemble a range of mountains with columns of subsidiary halls also rising up towards the central column. The Konark Sun Temple belongs to the Central Indian style of Temple architecture, though it does not have tall shikharas of the later temples of Orissa and Central India.

Konark Sun Temple

The Sun Temple at Konark is a World Heritage Site. Konark was once a bustling port at the time of the erstwhile kingdom of Kalinga (as the present day Orissa was known in the old days) and had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. King Narasimhadeo (AD 1238-64) was the chief patron of the Konark Sun Temple. He wanted to build a shrine dedicated to the Sun God.

Though the Sun Temple had been abandoned since long, it presently forms the backdrop for the annual Konark Dance Festival. The audio-visual effects of the dance festival combined with the dazzling spectacle of the floodlit architectural marvel of the temple leaves an indelible mark on the minds of the spectators. The three-day cultural extravaganza, held every year in the month of December, captivates the audience as leading Indian exponents of various Indian classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odisi, Kathakali etc perform here. Apart from the classical dance forms, Chau-Orissa's own folk dance form is also performed during the festival, as are folk forms of some of the other states.

Facts File

Built in : 13th century AD

Built by : King Narasimhadeo

Location : Konark (Orissa)

How to Reach

Konark does not have an airport and the nearest airports are at Bhubaneshwar 65 km away and Puri 35 km away. The railheads nearest to Konark are again at Puri and Bhubaneswar. These two stations are connected to all the major cities in India through long-distance trains. Konark is well connected with other parts of the country through a good network of roads. Travelers can make use of taxis, private cars, and mini buses to move around the city and to reach the Sun Temple.