GIT India

The Konark Sun Temple is one of the more popular tourist sites in India. It is a large sandstone temple that was built to commemorate a victory over Muslim invaders. While the site has suffered some damage over the years and is nowhere near what it used to be it is still well worth the visit.

The Konark Sun Temple is a Hindu temple that was believed to have been built in a about the middle of the thirteenth century to celebrate a victory over an invading Muslim army. The temple is built of Sandstone and was built as a monument to sun god. Over the years much of the original site has been lost or damaged but what is left is still one of the most impressive temples in India.

The design of the temple was originally a giant chariot that was supposed to carry the sun god Surya. Therefore the dominate feature on the site is a series of wheels. At one time there was a team of seven horses as well however only one of these is still there. Originally the main part of the site was the sanctuary tower however over the years this has deteriorated to the point where it is just a pile of sandstone blocks at this point. At this point the shrine is the major attraction with the statue of Surya being the centerpiece.

All around the temple are sandstone sculptures that portray a number of different things. Many of these are erotic in nature but there are also sculptures of deities and animals. In addition there are a number of friezes that depict the military victory that the site was built to commemorate.

The Konark Sun Temple is located on the east coast of India in the state of Orissa, the nearest town is Konark but it is really just a village. If you are planning to visit the site you will want to stay in the city of Puri thirty five kilometers to the south. Puri is a major city and has all of the hotels and other infrastructure that tourists are going to need. It is also fairly easy to reach from other cities in India.

In order to get from Puri to the Konark site you have a few options. The easiest but the most expensive is to take the guided tour, this will include transportation to and from the site as well as a tour of the temple. Alternatively you can take the bus from Puri, this is the cheapest option but it is also quite crowded and you are restricted to the buses schedule. Many people find that auto rickshaws are the best way to see the site; they are very convenient and surprisingly affordable. Like most tourist sites in India there is a dual pricing policy so tourists will pay quite a bit more to enter the site than locals will.