Origin from 1250
The Konark Sun Temple stands on the Bay of Bengal coast in Odisha, India, built around 1250 CE under King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and dedicated to the sun god Surya. The temple is shaped as a gigantic stone chariot, its base ringed with twenty four elaborately carved wheels and drawn by seven horses, so that the whole structure represents Surya crossing the sky. Its walls carry extensive relief carving, including devotional, courtly and erotic scenes in the tradition of other major Odishan and Indian temple sculpture. Much of the original superstructure has collapsed over the centuries, and the temple has not held regular worship for a long period, but it remains a major destination for visitors and for the Chandrabhaga Mela, a bathing festival held nearby each winter. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1984 for its architectural and artistic achievement.
Facts
Site
Type of SiteTemple or temple complex 1 Type of Site DetailHindu temple built in the form of a giant stone chariot dedicated to the sun god Surya. 2 PilgrimagePilgrimage gathered on a dated festival 3 PilgrimageMajor pilgrimage destination today 3 Origins
Origin Period RegionOdisha, on the Bay of Bengal coast 1 Attributions
TraditionHindu 2Tradition: Encyclopaedia Britannica Status
Status TodayStanding, but maintained as a museum or heritage monument 1 UNESCO World HeritageInscribed on the World Heritage List 1 Geography
Latitude19.9 degrees north 2Tradition: Encyclopaedia Britannica Longitude86.1 degrees east 2Tradition: Encyclopaedia Britannica Location
Connections
Associated With
This source names Konark Sun Temple directly: "jagamohana, or assembly hall, of the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, India, built in the mid-13th century under King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty as a colossal stone chariot for the sun..."
Source Surya, The Sun God (dsource.in)
This source names Konark Sun Temple directly: "A reference entry on the Konark Sun Temple, covering its construction as a colossal stone chariot for Surya, its 24 wheels symbolizing the hours and months, and the sculptural cycles on its..."
Source Konark Sun Temple, Grokipedia
This source names Konark Sun Temple directly: "of the sun god Surya from the Konark Sun Temple, Eastern Ganga dynasty, Orissa, dated 1200 to 1300 CE, held by the National Museum, New Delhi, accession 50.178."
Source Surya, 50.178, National Museum New Delhi (Google Arts and Culture)
This source names Konark Sun Temple directly: "among his consorts, and naming the Konark Sun Temple as his most famous dedicated sanctuary."
Source Surya (Wikipedia)
This source names Konark Sun Temple directly: "record for a standing Surya from the Konark Sun Temple, Eastern Ganga dynasty, Orissa, dated 1200 to 1300 CE, khondolite stone, held by the National Museum, New Delhi, accession 50.178, describing..."
Source Surya, 50.178, National Museum New Delhi (Google Arts and Culture)
Belongs to Tradition
Source UNESCO World Heritage ListUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Contained In
Stands on the Bay of Bengal coast in the state of Odisha, India.
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica (online academic reference)Encyclopaedia Britannica editors
Cult Centre Of
Surya, Deities The Konark temple was built in the 13th century as a monumental chariot dedicated to Surya, the Hindu sun god.
Source Konark Sun Temple, Grokipedia
Originated In
India, Regions Source UNESCO World Heritage ListUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
In the Other Atlases
Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Sources
1. UNESCO World Heritage List
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO World Heritage Centre- Sun Temple, Konarak, World Heritage List entry
- Originated In: India, Stored country property on this entity, cited to this source: India
View the Source 2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (online academic reference)
Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2024- Gazetteer coordinates for the temple, Puri district, Odisha
- On the temple as a thirteenth-century Hindu monument dedicated to Surya
View the Source 3. Wikidata: Konark Sun Temple
Wikidata Q752091, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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