Situated in the Eastern state of Orissa at a distance
of around 65 km from the capital Bhubaneswar, the city
of Konark is known for its world famous temple, The Sun
temple.
Crowned as the Black Pagoda, the Sun temple was built
in the 13th century AD by Narsinhadeva I of Ganga dynasty
to commemorate his victory over the Mughals.
UNESCO has declared the Sun Temple as a World Heritage
Site. The structure of the temple resembles the Sun God's
chariot, with 24 wheels, pulled by the seven horses. It
also has a three-tiered pyramidal roof topped off by a
fine spire. It is said that the Sun God's chariot represent
the seven days of the week and the 24 hours of the day.
The Temple, with its impressive sculptures reflects the
zenith of architecture of its time. Each minute detail
of every scripture has been taken care off. Erotic imagery
suggesting the human love of man and woman in various
forms, scenes from court, civic life and war are depicted,
representing every emotion and aspect of human life. The
theme of these sculptures is celebration of life.
A famous legend also goes with the temple that Samba,
the son of Lord Krishna, was afflicted by leprosy, brought
about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of
penance, Surya, the Sun God cured him and in whose honor
he built the temple.
The museum of the Archeological Survey of India, outside
the temple enclosure, is another place that attracts
tourists. The carvings from ruins of the Sun Temple,
the stone images of nine planet deities, the Navagrahas,
and many other sculptures are kept in the museum.
The other tourist spot in this ancient city is its
beach. Situated around 3 km from the temple, the sight
of sunrise and sunset here is very pleasing.
Kuruma, famous for images of Buddha seated in Bhumisparsa
Mudra, Chaurasi shrines, dating back to the 9th century
AD, Pipli, famous for its exquisite appliqué
work and Kakatapur, famous for its shrines of Goddess
Mangala and Banadurga are other famous places in the
region.
The famous Konark festival offers the travelers to
feel the ethnicity of this ancient city.
Recommended Itineraries
Temple Tour of India
East India Tour Packages
India Tours and packages offer tour packages, tour
itineraries and tours for Konark, India.
For details about the tour packages for Konark, please
fill in the query form below.
|
