![](https://www.nextias.com/ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/7371025Screenshot_6.png)
In Context
- Odisha government has planned to run the Sun Temple completely on solar energy
- Konark is going to be the first model town in Odisha to shift from grid dependency to green energy.
About Konark Sun Temple
- Location: Konark is situated at a comfortable distance from the famous religious and tourist centre of Puri (35 K.M.) and the capital city of Bhubaneswar (65 K.M.)
- Meaning of Name: “Konarka” , the place bears a name composed of two World elements: Kona meaning corner and ARKA meaning the Sun.
- The Sun god worshipped in Ark Kshetra is also called Konark.
- In ‘Brahma Purana’ the Sun God in Ark-kshetra has been described as Konaditya.
- So it is evident that the place where the Kona aditya (or Kona-arka, the Sun god) was worshipped was also popularly called Konark.
- The main Temple was called by European sailors “The Black Pagoda” as it formed an important landmark for them in their coastal voyage.
- It forms part of the golden triangle of Odisha, along with Puri and Bhubaneswar, and attracts tourists, pilgrims, and history and art lovers.
- Built by: Built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty from 1238-1250 CE.
- Features: The Sun Temple built in the thirteenth century was conceived as a gigantic chariot of Sun God, with twelve pairs of exquisitely ornamented wheels pulled by seven pairs of horses.
- Its fine traceries and scroll work , the beautiful and natural cut of animal and human figures, all give it a superiority over other temples.
- The Sun temple belongs to the Kalinga School of Indian Temples with characteristic curvilinear towers mounted by Cupolas.
- The main sanctum which (229 ft. high) was constructed along with the audience hall (128 ft. high) having elaborate external projections.
- The main sanctum which enshrined the presiding deity has fallen off.
- The Audience Hall survives in its entirety but of the other two viz the Dancing Hall(nata Mandir) and the Dining Hall (Bhoga-Mandap), only small portions have survived the vagaries of time.
- The alignment of the Sun Temple is in the east-west direction.
- The temple is a World Heritage Site is situated in the eastern state of Odisha and is a massive temple dedicated to the Sun God temple
- Great poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote of Konark: “Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.”
- Protection :
- The Sun Temple, Konârak is protected under the National Framework of India by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958) and its Rules (1959).
- Other relevant protective legislation includes the Forest Act, Konârak Development Act and notified Council Area Act.
- The Sun Temple, Konârak is protected under the National Framework of India by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958) and its Rules (1959).
Image Courtesy: TOI
Source:DTE
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