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Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun Temple, one of the famous chariot wheels
Konark Sun Temple, one of the famous chariot wheels. / Dinudey Baidya, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  In short

Today we can see just a part of Konark Sun Temple. But… what a part! Even the remaining structure belongs to the most impressive monuments of architecture in the world.

5.2 out of 10 stars 51.7%

GPS coordinates
19.8876 N 86.0946 E
Location, address
Asia, India, Odisha, Puri District, in Konark town

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

Konark Sun Temple, famous chariot wheels
Konark Sun Temple, famous chariot wheels / Damien Roué, Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0

Rulers of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty – most likely king Narasimha Deva I – built this temple sometime around 1250 AD. Medieval artisans designed the temple like a giant chariot, with all the wheels and horses. Initially, the temple had also a more than 60 m tall tower, but now only the 30 m tall “chariot” is here.

Countless sophisticated reliefs adorn the structure, telling us a story of deep symbolic meaning… and not everything is understandable to us. Many sculptural groups are erotic.

We do not know who and why destroyed part of the temple. The current structure was partly restored during the 19th century.


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