Last Updated on September 11, 2018 by admin
Having spent the early sun hours at Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, considered as one of the cardinal pilgrimage sites for Hindus i asked my taxi driver if a quick sun salutation to Konark Sun temple was possible before i catch a flight back home. After calculating the time he nodded with affirmation.
He drives me along the coast to reach the Konark – the magnificent sun temple which is the epitome of orissan architecture and the state’s sculptural finesse . Built in 13th century by the king Narasimhadeva, it derives its name from the presiding deity Konarka meaning orka – the sun and kona – corner. It was dedicated to the sun god Surya. Konark Sun Temple is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I make my way to the entrance after going past rows of shops selling souvenirs, hats and accessories made from shells. I get the first glace amidst the selfie taking tourists – a portion of temple covered with bamboo sticks for restoration work. While thinking how my photos would turn out with those bamboos everywhere i suddenly get a overwhelming number of guides asking me to hire them. They go to the length by saying you will not understand anything if you don’t take a guide along with you. I recall my guide experience at Angkor Wat, and decided not to hire one and figure out myself.
After crossing the porch, I came across the main section of sun temple which was planned to look like a massive chariot with 12 pairs of ornamented wheels. These wheels signify 12 months of a year. On a closer look of these wheels, they are lavishly crafted with incredible details of deities, birds, sculptures, motifs from everyday life. The fact that it has stood for over 7 centuries is the testament of the amazing engineering and artistry of the by gone era.
How to reach Konark sun temple?
By air: Bhubaneswar city is the closest with airport about 64 km away.
By train: The railway stations nearest to Konark are located in Puri and Bhubaneswar. These stations are linked with almost all the major destinations in India by train.
By road: The National and State Highways link Konark with Puri and Bhubaneswar. Hiring a taxi is the best way of travel between Puri and Konark. There are good number of transport buses as well as private coaches plying from both the cities.
Entry fees:
For Indians: Rs. 30 and for foreigners: Rs. 500
Timing: 6am to 8pm
Where to stay: Since Konark and Puri are close to each other and can be covered within a day trip from Bhubaneswar, it is ideal to stay to be in the city. I stayed in Ginger Hotel.
Table of Contents
Sustainable travel tips for Konark Sun temple
- Being an ancient world heritage site which is already dwindling with age, respect the structures by not sitting on them. Sit outside the temple in the garden.
- Do not harm the structures by carving or writing on it
- Do not enter places which are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.
- Throw your garbage in the dustbins located at the entrance of each temple.
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.
11 comments
It is always great as a traveller to squeeze in just that last temple ( or another sight)! I love how you discovered how intricate and gorgeous the wheels ( months) were. I could spend ages studying those carvings!
I am starting to think why are all the facades on the temples in this region are so fantastic. The detail to the smallest touch is totally amazing. And this temple was built in the 13th century. Holy molly! There were sure a lot of skilled people back then!
Lots of great tips for visiting Konark Sun Temple. It looks very busy, but I can see why. It’s ancient and gorgeous. How lucky you were able to squeeze a sun salutation in before your flight. I agree with respecting the property and not sitting on it or touching the structure to help preserve it for many years to come.
Konark Sun Temple looks really beautiful. I love the giant and ornate calendar wheels. For some reason, they remind me of a steam punk engine or something of that ilk.
What an incredible place, I just love the atmosphere here that you managed to capture in your photos. I reminds me a lot of Borobudur up close with the carvings and the details. We really love visited temples when we travel, there is something mystical about them and also so engrained in the culture too.
I’m thinking I should know the answer to this, but what is a sun salutation? The temple is beautiful and I’m glad you got a chance to see it. I’m also glad to see that I’m not alone in liking to do things like this on my own. I also tend to not hire a guide if there’s a choice. I’m not a big audio guide person either.
What an interesting place! To my shame I had never heard of it before reading your article. You seem to have had unsatisfactory experiences with guides? That is a shame. We must have been lucky as we have always found that hiring a guide has been very worth while. Still you appear to have managed wonderfully here!
We are so fascinated with the Konark Sun Temple, its architecture and the mysteries that it holds close to its bosom, that we have been there multiple times. Still, we would love to go back again. The Temple is a paean in stone to the genius of the architects and engineers of ancient India.
I have visited this magnificent temple twice and was both times mesmerized by the intricate carvings and the sheer grandeur of the temple. We had an awkward moment when our guide started pointed at some of the erotic sculptures and explaining their historical and artistic significance and my dad was so flustered, he just shut him up with a hurried gesture!
We love visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites when we travel, so Konark Sun Temple seems like right up our alley. The intricate carvings and reliefs look so amazing. Thanks for the sustainable travel tips too!
“Wow, visiting the Konark Sun Temple must have been an incredible experience! Such a masterpiece of ancient architecture and history. Hope you soaked in the beauty and positive vibes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Share more pictures if you can!”