Konark Sun Temple

The Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple on the Odisha coast, about 35 km from Puri, built around 1250 by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The Konark Sun Temple was designed as the giant chariot of Surya, the sun god, with 24 carved stone wheels along its base and seven horses pulling it, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1984.

Sailors once called the Konark Sun Temple the Black Pagoda and used it as a landmark. The great tower over the sanctum collapsed long ago, and what stands today is the jagamohana, the assembly hall, which the British filled with sand and sealed in 1903 to stop it falling. Every surface is carved: gods, musicians, dancers, hunting and battle scenes, elephants, and the erotic sculptures the temple is also known for. The wheels work as sundials, and guides still read the time from their shadows. The Konark Dance Festival is held in front of the temple each December.

What to see

• The 24 carved wheels, each with spokes that act as a sundial
• The seven horses at the front of the chariot
• The jagamohana with its tiers of sculpture
• The Natya Mandapa, the dance hall
• The three Surya statues facing sunrise, noon and sunset
• The ASI museum with fallen sculptures from the temple

What to wear

Konark is hot and humid, so wear light cotton, a hat and sunscreen, and comfortable shoes for the stone platforms. Shoulders and knees covered is respectful, though the temple is not in active worship. From June to September expect heavy showers. Odisha is known for its handwoven ikat, with Sambalpuri and Bomkai sarees worn by women, and dhoti and gamchha by men; the Pipili appliqué work sold on the Puri road is a good souvenir.

Local food to try

Along the coast try Odia seafood: prawn and fish curries in mustard, crab from nearby Chilika, and machha besara, fish in mustard paste. Vegetarian dishes include dalma and santula, a mild vegetable stew. Chhena poda, a baked cheese dessert, and rasagola, which Odisha claims as its own, are sold across the state. Stalls outside the temple sell snacks, and Chandrabhaga beach has seafood shacks.

Good to know

• Best time: October to March; the Konark Dance Festival runs in early December
• Hours: daily, roughly 6am to 8pm; the ASI museum closes on Fridays
• Entry: ASI ticket; foreign visitors pay a higher rate
• Allow 2 hours with a guide
• Getting there: about 35 km from Puri and 65 km from Bhubaneswar airport
• Hire a licensed guide at the gate to understand the carvings

Nearby places

The Jagannath Temple in Puri is about 35 km south-west, and Chilika Lake is around 90 km away by road. The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, the nearest big city, is about 500 km north.