The Sun Temple at Konârak, located on the eastern shores of the Indian subcontinent, is one of the outstanding examples of temple architecture and art as revealed in its conception, scale and proportion, and in the sublime narrative strength of its sculptural embellishment. It is an outstanding testimony to the 13th-century kingdom of Orissa and a monumental example of the personification of divinity, thus forming an invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya,the Sun God.

1. SUN TEMPLEKONARK
B Y :
N A M E : N . P A V I T H R A
R O L L N O : 2 0 1 1 1 A R 0 0 5 7
B R A N C H : B A R C H
S E C A N D Y E A R : B A N D 3 R D

2. LOCATION
1.Temple is located in an eponymous village (now NAC Area) about 35 kilometres
(22 mi) northeast of puri and 65 kilometres (40 mi) southeast of Bhubaneswar on
the Bay of Bengal coastline in the Indian state of Odisha.
2.The nearest transport facility is airport Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Both Puri and Bhubaneswar are major railway connected by Indian Railways.
3. sun temple at konark about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast from puri city on the
coastline in puri district , odisha state .
4.The temple is attributed to king Narashimhadeva 1 of the Eastern ganga dynasty
about 1250 CE.
5.Dedicated to the Hindu Sun God surya, what remains of the temple complex has the
appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all
carved from stone.
6.The temple was declared as one of the world heritage site by UNESCO in 1984.
7.It is also considered as one of the seven wonders of india

3. MEANINGANDSIGNIFICANCEOFTHE KONARKTEMPLE
1.The name konark is derived from the two words kona
meaning,corne and arka meaning sun.
2.sailors one called black pagoda because it was supposed to
drawships into the shore and cause.
3.The temple is an great example of the kalinga architecture of the
ganga dynasty.
4.The temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot.
5.There are two rows of 12 wheels on the each side of the temple.
6.According to bayachkada bahi 1200 odishian artists took 12years
for the construction of this gigantic structure.
7.According to Kapila vatsyayan the sun temple of konark follows
the acient text silpasarini.

4. HISTORYOFTHEBUILDING
1.Believed to have been built in the 13th century CE the temple was
built by the King Narasimhadeva I hailing from the Eastern Ganga
dynasty between 1238-1250 CE.
2.The temple was commissioned by the king while Samantaraya
Mahapatra was the one in charge of its construction. ‘Konark’
means the sun and the four corners.
3. The temple was called Black Pagoda attributing to its dark facade
by the Europeans who used it for navigation for their ships. It is said
that the temple could draw ships to the shore due to its
magnetic powers.
4.UNESCO World Heritage Site, Konark Sun temple is a striking
model of ancient artistry, fluidity of ideas, and a pedagogic treasury.
Dedicated to the sun god, Surya, the first rays of the sun fall on the
entrance of the temple. Much of the temple has fallen into rack and
ruin but what remains still holds enough charm to captivate.

5. ARCHITECTURALSTYLE
Kalinga architecture
1.The temple is known for its impressive Kalinga architecture that includes a depiction of a 100 ft high chariot being pulled
by horses and wheels carved out of a single stone.
2.The monument portrays the imposing chariot of the sun god.
3.Built of Khondalite rocks, the original temple had 230 ft high sanctum which no longer exists, 128 ft high audience hall,
dance hall, dining hall which survive still.
4. There are 24 intricately designed wheels, 12 ft in diametre which are seen drawn by horses. These seven horses
represent the week, the wheels stand for the 12 months while the day-cycle is symbolised by the eight spokes in the
wheels. And this whole depiction tells how the time is controlled by the sun – being the very illustration of the Surya in the
Hindu mythology travelling from the east in his chariot escorted by his charioteer, Aruna.

7. MATERIALSUSEDFORCONSTRUCTION
Laterite, the greenKhondalite, and Chlorite
1.Three kinds of stone were used in the temple's construction - chlorite,
laterite and khondalite.
2. Khondalite (though of poor quality) was used throughout the
monument while chlorite was restricted to doorframes and to a few
sculptures, while laterite was used in the foundation, the (invisible) core of
the platform and in the staircases.
3.None of these stones was available near the site and so material was
brought long distances. The stone blocks were lifted possibly by the means
of pulleys, wooden wheels or rollers and then set into place.
4.The fitting and finishing were done so smoothly that the joints could not
be seen.

8. SUNTEMPLEKONARK
CULUTURAL IMPORTANCE:
It serves as an example of a typical Pidha Deul architecture in Orissa. The temple was actually conceived to
symbolize the emergence of Sun-god with twelve pairs of wheels and seven horses (representing seven days
of a week and twelve months of a year). This was in-line with the Hindu mythological traditions.

9. CONSTRUCTIONOFTHEKONARKTEMPLE
1.The massive Konark Sun Temple of India was built by the emperor
NarasimhaDeva1 of the Eastern Ganga empire. He intended to rejoice in his
victory over the Muslim troops and he dedicated this Konark mandir to the
Sun God as he considered himself as a great disciple of the Sun god.
2. The whole of Konark mandir is artistically fabricated, representing the
Sun God riding on a celestial chariot driven by 24 large helms (12 on one
side) pulled by 7 mighty horses.
3.It is believed that it took altogether 12 years and 12 years of the empire’s
revenue to construct such a massive Surya temple. Interesting to note that,
it is believed that 7 horses denote the 7 weekdays and 24 helms symbolize
24 hours in a day and 12helms on one side epitomizes 12 months in a year.
4.The temple stands tall at 100 feet elevation at present which is half of its
original height when the shikhara was at an altitude of 200 feet.

10. PLANOFSUNTEMPLEKONARK
Elements of temple:
1.Deula(sanctum)
2.jagamohana
3.Nat-mandap
4.bhogamandapa
Jagmohan is bigger than duela
The base was in square shape
The units lie east west axis surrounded with a
compound wall

11. VIEWOFSUNTEMPLEKONARK
1.The temple compound measures 857ft(261m) by
540ft(160m).
2.The aligment of the sun temple is on east-west
direction.
3.Estimated height of vimana could have been
229feet(70m)
4.The mandapa (jagamohana),is about 128feet(39m)tall.
5.Temple was constructed on a high intricately carved
platform.
6.Temple is surrounded by enclosed wall area 856ft by
540ft

13. SUNTEMPLEKONARK
1.Sanctum(duel) was surroynded by subsidiary shrines containing niches depicing surya.
2.The east facing jagamohana has a huge pyramidal roof,three entrances.
3.The natamandira stand as separate structure in front of the main temple.it had approachable flight of-steps on four sides.
4.The kalinga style of art reached the pinnacle of perfection with the erection of the sun temple at konarka.
5.Natya mandapa: At the front of Jagmohan,on the east side of the temple is nata mandira,mandapa flat form is highly
decorated.
6.Jagmohana:30m high,the only surviving structure right now,pyramidal roof,has three tiers of six pidas each.
7.The suntemple konark is remarkable for its variety of sculputures.
8.Main sculptures of temple are surya,sub:shiv,Vishnu,Narsimha,durga,gajlakkshmi,Parvathi,kuber,agni,varuna,aaditya

14. TOURISTFOOTBALLDATA
1.There is a sharp decline in the number of Indian and foreign tourists visiting the
famous Konark Sun Temple in Puri.According to a report by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI), responsible for the upkeep of the protected monuments in
India, there has been a steep decline in total domestic as well as international
tourist footfall in last one year.
2.Around 6,443 foreign tourists visited the sun temple during the year 2017-2018.
But only 5,477 paid their visits to the site in 2018-19. Similarly, the domestic tourists
visiting the site also saw a downfall.
3.While a total of 28,46,092 domestic travellers visited in 2017-2018, this year saw a
downfall of 3,84,733 with only 24,61,359 people visiting the UNESCO
world heritage site.
4.REVENUE: 2.75 crores per year
5.EMPLOYEMENT:1200 workers

15. RESTORATIONANDRECONSTRUCTION:
1.In 2018, it was alleged that ASI replaced the stone carvings on the outer
surface with plain blocks of stones. It was allegedly reported in the regional
news reports that 40% of the artistic stone carvings were replaced with plain
stones. ASI did not follow the UNESCO guidelines on the restoration of World
Heritage Sites, which mandates in case of an original stone carving is lost, it
cannot be replicated. However, ASI denied the allegations
2.In 2014, a new conservation policy was brought by the ASI. The policy
allowed for restoration and recreation of destroyed elements of the structure
only if it is in keeping with the history and authenticity
3.The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is restoring the Sun Temple in
Konark, Odisha and is likely to be completed within a month. The restoration
work was started in 2021. The Jagmohan or the assembly hall of the temple is
restored with newly-carved stones

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