Photos of other structures in the Sun Temple compound. Continue reading →

Photos of the Natamandir in front of the Sun Temple. Continue reading →

Photos of the temple mandap and remains of the sanctum. Continue reading →

The Sun Temple was imagined as the chariot of Surya the Sun God, and the high platform on which the temple sanctum and mandap are built has on its walls the famous sculpted stone spoked wheels of the chariot. The wheels and platform walls are covered with the beautiful sculpture work that this temple is known for. Continue reading →

I visited the Sun Temple at Konark around the Christmas break in 2017, and it seemed like half the world had decided to visit at that same time! The Konark temple (13th c) is the third in line of the large Odia temples after Lingaraja (late-11th c) in Bhubaneswar and Jagannath (12th c) at Puri. If the sanctum tower of this huge temple had not collapsed, it would also have been the largest of the three. Continue reading →