KONARK SUN TEMPLE, ODISHA | INDIA TRAVEL DIARY

December 05, 2017

Hey guys, Hope you guys having a great time.
Konark sun temple has long been one of those places I’ve had a real obsession with because of the architecture and intricate carving. It is in Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) is a state located on the eastern coast of India. The Konark temple is designed as a giant chariot on 12 pairs of wheels. Built facing east so as to make sure the first rays of the sun hit the entrance, the wheels themselves are designed as sundials which are accurate enough to predict the time of the day to the minute. That’s some massive architectural precision undertaking for the 13th century, don’t you think?

Yes, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Although partly in ruins, its colossal size and intricate stone artwork, executed with the masterly touch, not to mention the diversity of themes expressed, simply takes one’s breath away. Little wonder, Rabindranath Tagore described it as “poetry in stone”.

The Konark Sun Temple,(also known as the Konark Surya Mandir) is about three km from the sea, and is heavily decorated with stone carving. The entire temple complex takes the form of the Sun God’s towering chariot drawn by seven horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated wheels at its base.