Sun Temple

Sun Temple

Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple is an architectural marvel and a symbol of heritage that India boasts of. Its name translates to mean “Sun of the corner”, where ‘Kona’ means corner and ‘Arka’ means Sun.

The 13^th-century temple is dedicated to the sun god or ‘Surya devta’ and was built in the reign of Narasimhadeva I, the ruler of Ganga dynasty. The architecture is known for its artistic magnificence and is believed to be the chariot of the Sun God.

The great poet Rabindranath Tagore said of its grandeur, “Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.”

The temple is surrounded by images and statues of birds and animals, all signifying nearness to nature. It is the third link to Odisha’s ‘Golden Triangle’ and is a sophisticated work of art that continues to enthral tourists and archaeologists from all over the world.