Konark Sun Temple

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About Konark Sun Temple:

Location: It is located on the coastline of Odisha in Puri district.
Also called the Surya Devalaya, the temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Surya.
Textual evidence indicates that Narasimha I (who reigned between 1238 and 1264) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty built the temple in 1250.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Features:
- It is a classic example of the Odisha style of architecture or Kalinga architecture.
- 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 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.
- Around the base of the temple, there are images of animals, foliage, warriors on horses, and other interesting structures.
- The temple also features elaborate stone carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.
- The temple, built from Khondalite rocks, is also known as ‘BLACK PAGODA’ due to its dark colour.
- The temple remains a site of contemporary worship for Hindus, during the annual Chandrabhaga Festival, around the month of February.

Q1: What is the Chandrabhaga Festival?

The Chandrabhaga Mela is a very popular festival for the people of Odisha. It is celebrated on the seventh day of the month of Magha and that is why it is also called the Magha Saptami Mela. It usually falls in the month of February.

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