Standing alone amongst the sand dunes along the Bay of Bengal,  Konark Sun Temple of Konark, also known as the Black Pagoda, is a splendid example of ancient Orissan temple architecture. Centuries of myth and legend shroud its history.
According to one legend, Samba, the son of Lord Krishna, was afflicted by leprosy because of a curse by his father. He was cured by the sun god after a penance of 12 years, in whose honour he built the temple. Another legend holds that the son of the craftsman who built the temple sacrificed his life in the neighbouring river to keep his father’s reputation.
The sun Temple is, by far, the most important reason for every visitors to Konark, though, the sea shore and the beach is an added attraction.

UNESCO World heritage site Sun Temple is situated in Konark, Orissa, India. The design is the celestial chariot of the Sun God pulled by seven exquisitely carved ornamented horses, strained on twelve wheels on either side. The huge monolithic wheels represent time, unity, completeness, justice, perfection, and movement and each wheel stands for a fortnight and each horse a day of the week.

KONARK SUN TEMPLE

Built by King Langula Narisimha Deva in the 13th century AD, the temple is a splendid example of Hindu temple architecture. Visualised as a chariot for the sun god as he glides on his daily celestial journey, its architecture and sculpture is a sheer poetry in stone. although only the entrance hall has mained intact, this magnificent ruin has on its wall sculptures of beauty covering every aspect of life. Scenes of love and war, trade and court transactions, hunting, catching of elephants, sages teaching, child birth, amorous dalliances, dancers and mythical figures vie with each other attention on the panels and niches of this immortal work of art.
The design is the celestial chariot of the Sun God pulled by seven exquisitely carved ornamented horses, strained on twelve wheels on either side. The huge monolithic wheels represent time, unity, completeness, justice, perfection, and movement and each wheel stands for a fortnight and each horse a day of the week.

The walls of the temple contains superb carving of divine, semi divine, human and animal figures amidst floral and geometric ornamentations.
Although the main sanctum is in ruins, the 39 meter high audience hall, the dance hall and the ruined temple of Chhaya Devi are still there. Two horses and two monolithic elephants, exhibit the dynamic of the sculpture.

Tourist Information for Konark Sun Temple
Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset.
Entry fee for those above 12 years: Rs. 5.00.
Free entry on Fridays.

Best Time To Visit
November to February.

Other places to visit in Konark are

MUSEUM & ART GALLERIES

Museum of archaeological Survey of India
PLACES NEAR BY
Ramchandi Temple:10 km
Along the beach on the bank of the river Kushabhadra.
Kuruma Site of archaeological remains of a Buddhist monastery.