Konark

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title: "Konark" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tourism-in-odisha", "cities-and-towns-in-puri-district", "hindu-holy-cities", "hindu-pilgrimage-sites-in-india", "puri-district"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konark" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Konark
settlement_type	Town
image_caption	Konark chakra
pushpin_map	India Odisha#India
pushpin_map_caption	Location in Odisha, India
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	India
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	Odisha
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Puri
unit_pref	Metric
elevation_m	2
population_total	15015
population_as_of	2001
population_density_km2	auto
demographics_type1	Languages
demographics1_title1	Official
demographics1_info1	Odia
timezone1	IST
utc_offset1	+5:30
postal_code_type
registration_plate	OD
website	http://konark.nic.in
::

Konark is a medium-sized town in the Puri district in the state of Odisha, India. It lies on the coast by the Bay of Bengal, 65 kilometres from the state capital Bhubaneswar. It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasinghadeva-I. The temple is a World Heritage Site. The temple is now mostly in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, which is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Konark is also home to an annual dance festival called Konark Dance Festival, devoted to classical Indian dance forms, including the traditional classical dance of Odisha, Odissi. In February 2019, the Konark Dance Festival (now called Konark Music and Dance Festival) will be hosting its 33rd edition. The state government is also organising annual Konark Festival and International Sand Art Festival at Chandrabhaga Beach of Konark.

On 16 February 1980, Konark lay directly on the path of a total solar eclipse.

Etymology

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Konark_Sea_Beach_In_odisha.jpg" caption="Konark beach view"] ::

The name Konârka is derived from the Sanskrit word Kona (meaning angle) and word Arka (meaning sun) in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun god Surya.

The Sun Temple

Main article: Konark Sun Temple

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Konark_Sun_temple_3.jpg" caption="[[Konark Sun Temple"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Konark_Temple.jpg" caption="Konark Sun Temple"] ::

The Sun Temple was built in the 13th century and designed as a gigantic chariot of the Sun God, Surya, with twelve pairs of ornamented wheels pulled by seven horses. Some of the wheels are 3 metres wide. Only six of the seven horse still stand today. The temple fell into disuse after an envoy of Jahangir desecrated the temple in the early 17th century.

According to folklore, there was a diamond in the centre of the idol which reflected the sun rays that passed. In 1627, the then Raja of Khurda took the Sun idol from Konark to the Jagannath temple in Puri. The Sun temple belongs to the Kalingan school of Indian temple architecture. The alignment of the Sun Temple is along the east–west direction. The inner sanctum or vimana used to be surmounted by a tower or shikara but it was razed in the 19th century. The audience hall or jagamohana still stands and comprises majority of the ruins. The roof of the dance hall or natmandir has fallen off. It stands at the eastern end of the ruins on a raised platform.

History

In 1559, Mukunda Gajapati came to throne in Cuttack. He aligned himself as an ally of Akbar and an enemy of the Sultan of Bengal, Sulaiman Khan Karrani. After a few battles, Odisha finally fell. The fall was also aided by the internal turmoil of the state. In 1568, the Konark temple was damaged by the army of Kalapahad, a general of the Sultan. Kalapahad is also said to be responsible for damages to several other temples during the conquest.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Konark had a population of 16,779. Males constitute 8,654 (52%) of the population and females 8,125 (48%).As of 2001 Census Konark has an average literacy rate of 57%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 64%, and female literacy is 49%. In Konark, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Tourism

Attractions in Konark

Konark temple: listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, the temples of Konark are the main attractions, providing a glimpse into the finest achievement of a lost masonry style.
Chandrabhaga beach: one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in Odisha, it is the place of action for a lot of the legends behind Konark.
Sun Temple Museum: run by the Archaeological Survey of India, the museum houses many of the artefacts from the temple.

Reaching Konark

Konark can be reached via a number of routes:

Reach Bhubaneswar either by Flight or Train, and then take a bus or a taxi to Konark (64 km from Bhubaneswar).
Reach Puri by Train (Puri is well-connected to the rest of India), and then take a bus or a taxi to Konark (34 km from Puri).

Photo gallery

File:Plan-temple-konarak.png|Original structure. Existing structure is in the dark. File:Sun temple - 12.jpg|Image of Lord Surya, riding a horse File:Konark3.jpg|Temple Arts File:Konark4.jpg|Temple Arts File:Konark5.jpg|Temple Arts File:Konark6.jpg|Temple Arts File:Konark7.jpg|Temple Arts ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Konark_Temple_at_Night.jpg" caption="Konark Sun Temple at night"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Konark_Temple_at_Night.jpg" caption="Konark Sun Temple at night"] ::

References

"Konark, Official Website (Approach)".
UNESCO. (1984). "World Heritage List: Sun Temple, Konârak".
"Konark Dance & Music Festival".
(August 2024). "Konark Festival and International Sand Art Festival}}{{dead link".
(13 August 1981). "Solar Eclipse". New Scientist.
Kapoor, R. C.. "Some Total Solar Eclipses Observed from India". Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Parkinson, John. (24 April 1980). "What's wrong with the Sun?".
''Konârka is a combination of two words, kona (corner) and arka (Sun).'' {{harvnb. UNESCO. 1984
''It is a monumental representation of the chariot of Surya pulled by a team of seven horses (six of which still exist and are placed on either side of the stairway leading to the sanctuary).'' {{harvnb. UNESCO. 1984
''The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.'' {{harvnb. UNESCO. 1984
''Further to the east, the natmandir (dance hall), today unroofed, rises on a high platform.'' {{harvnb. UNESCO. 1984
Patnaik, Durga Prasad. (1989). "Palm Leaf Etchings of Odisha". Abhinav Publications.
"Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India.
"Konark Sun Temple Museum".
"How To Reach Konark | Getting To Konark | Reaching Konark | Traveling to Konark | Konark travels | Konark India | Orissa travel | Orissa konark temple".

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