KONARK SUN TEMPLE

About:

• Location: It is located on the coastline of Odisha in Puri district. The temple was originally constructed at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then.
  
  
• History: It was built in the 13th century. The temple is attributed to king Narasingha deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty about 1250 CE.
  
  
• Features:
  • Also called the Surya Devalaya, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya.
    
    
  • The temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot high solar chariot, with 24 wheels and pulled by six horses, all carved from stone.
    
    
  • It is a classic example of the Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga Architecture.
    
    
  • It is oriented towards the east so that the first rays of the sunrise strike the main entrance. The wheels of the temple are sundials, which can be used to calculate time accurately to a minute.
    
    
  • The temple, built from Khondalite rocks, was also known as 'BLACK PAGODA' due to its dark colour.
    
    
  
  
  
• It was given the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984 by UNESCO.
  
  
• The temple remains a site of contemporary worship for Hindus, during the annual Chandrabhaga Festival, around the month of February.