Konark Sun Temple Most Popular Tourist Destination of Odisha 2024

Konark Sun Temple Most Popular Tourist Destination of Odisha 2024: India is often called the land of temples. From the pages of history to today, these grand structures touching the sky have always been a source of pride for the country. People from all over the world have been visiting India for a long time to see their grandeur. One of these is the Konark Sun Temple located in Odisha. Famous for its historical importance, unique craftsmanship, and archaeological artifacts, the Konark Sun Temple is famous all over the world.

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This temple is known for its distinctive architecture and intricately carved structure. It is believed that one can have a direct darshan of the divine from here. The 52-ton magnet, unique sculptures, and countless stories related to the temple make it really special. Located in Konark, about 35 km northeast of Jagannath Puri in Odisha, this temple is an 800-year-old invaluable heritage dedicated to Lord Surya, which is one of the iconic Sun Temples of India.

In 1984, the Sun Temple of Konark was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is also counted among the seven wonders of India. The name ‘Konark’ is derived from Sanskrit, with ‘kona’, meaning corner or edge, and ‘ark’, meaning sun – hence, it is called the Konark Sun Temple or Sun’s Corner.

It is also said that the Konark Sun Temple was initially built on the seashore, but due to the decreasing of the sea level over time, the temple is now a little away from the coast. Built out of red sandstone and black granite, the temple was designed in such a way that the first rays of the rising sun would fall directly on the idol of the Sun God, illuminating the entire temple.

Present Day

Locals know this temple as Biranchi-Narayan. According to the Puranas, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, suffered from leprosy. For a cure, Samba performed penance for twelve years at Konark near the confluence of the Chandrabhaga River at Mitravan and pleased the Sun God. The Sun, the god who destroys all diseases, relieved Samba of his suffering. In gratitude, Samba vowed to build a temple dedicated to the Sun God. One day, while bathing in the Chandrabhaga river after his recovery, Samba found an idol of the Sun in the water. He installed this idol at the place where the world-famous Konark Sun Temple now stands.

On the other hand, historian Abul Fazal mentions in his Ain-i-Akbari that the temple was originally built in the ninth century by a king of the Kesari dynasty. Later, in the 13th century, the ruler of the Ganga dynasty, Narasimha Deva, renovated the temple. It took 12 years and the hard work of 1,200 artisans to complete this monumental structure. Since the rulers of the Ganga dynasty worshipped the Sun, the temple was built in the form of a chariot in the Kalinga architectural style.

This chariot has 12 huge wheels, each about 10 feet in diameter, and is shown being pulled by seven powerful horses. Surya, the Sun God, is shown sitting on this chariot, although only one of the seven horses remains today. The twelve wheels symbolize the twelve months of the year, and each wheel has eight spokes, representing the eight parts of the day. The temple is spread over an area of 26 acres, and on its southern side are statues of two horses, which have been adopted as the symbol of Odisha by the state government.

At the entrance to the temple, there are stone statues of lions trampling elephants, which in turn trample human figures. The lions symbolize pride, and the elephants symbolize wealth, which reflects the idea that when a person is overcome with pride and wealth, his downfall is inevitable. There is also a Nat Mandir near the entrance, where the temple dancers once danced to please the Sun God. Locals believe that the sound of anklets can still be heard from the mandapam, although the truth of this claim remains a mystery.

Inside the temple, one can see exquisite carvings of floral designs, geometric patterns, and depictions of humans, gods, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras. This temple is a unique example of ancient Oriya architecture. The temple also houses three idols of the Sun God: the rising sun, which is 8 feet high; the noon sun, which is 9.5 feet high; and the setting sun, which is 3.5 feet high, representing the various stages of the sun’s journey across the sky.

Black Pagoda

The main temple is built with three mandapas, though two of them have collapsed. The most fascinating aspect of this temple is that the shadows cast on its wheels (chakras) can be used to tell the time accurately, acting as a natural sun clock. There are many interesting stories surrounding this temple. According to one, the temple was built like a sandwich, with an iron plate placed between the stones to strengthen the massive walls. It is also said that a 52-ton magnet was installed on top of the temple, which not only kept the walls stable but also made the idol of Lord Surya float in mid-air, amazed everyone who saw it.

However, this powerful magnet caused problems for ships passing through the Konark Sea, as it disrupted their compass and pulled them towards the temple. For this reason, the temple came to be known as the “Black Pagoda”. To solve this problem, Portuguese sailors allegedly stole the magnetic stone, although no historical documents confirm this incident. Indian history records that in the 15th century, Muslim invaders looted and damaged the temple. In response, the temple priests removed the idol of the presiding deity, buried it in sand and kept it hidden for years. Later, the idol was moved to Puri and placed in the Indra temple within the Jagannath temple complex. However, some believe that the idol of the Sun God currently kept in the National Museum in New Delhi is the original revered idol of Konark.

Konark Sun Temple

After the idols were hidden, worship at the temple stopped and the temple slowly got buried in sand due to neglect. By the end of the 18th century, the Konark area had turned into a dense forest. Around 1900, when British officer Lord Curzon visited Odisha for business under British rule, he came to know about the mystery of this 300-year-old buried temple. Under his direction, British explorers began excavating the temple from the sand and the 229-foot-high structure astonished them. As they removed the sand, they found the remains of the temple’s magnificent artifacts. After the excavation, the temple was found to be 857 feet long and 540 feet wide.

Impressed by its grandeur, the British made efforts to repair the temple. However, due to the continuous disappearance of the temple ruins and damage caused by natural calamities, Governor John Woodburn ordered in 1901 to build walls around the four gates of the Jagmohan Mandapa and fill it with sand to prevent further damage. This work continued till 1903. Over time, about 80 percent of the temple has been destroyed, leaving only the dance hall and parts of the main temple, which still house some idols. Despite its ruined state, the temple is a beautiful and grand structure, attracting tourists from far and wide.

Recognizing the historical importance of Konark, the state government organizes a five-day cultural dance festival every December. The festival features artists not only from South India but also from the North-eastern states who showcase their cultural heritage. Tourists from all over India and the world come to witness this vibrant festival. Additionally, devotees take a holy dip in the Chandrabhaga River during the month of Magha and a grand fair is organized in the region.

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