Konark: The city of the Sun Temple

Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, Konark is a rich repository of ancient temples, traditional music & dance, monuments and beaches. The town is an admired tourist destination in Odisha which is loved by many travellers due to its serene and tranquil ambiance, beautiful monuments, enthralling heritage sites and pristine beaches that gives an opportunity to spend some time away from the hastened city life. You can feel the presence of sanctity at the Sun Temple which is Konark’s prominent attraction and collect memories at India’s archaeological gem to cherish for the lifetime.

Sun Temple

Situated on the northeastern corner of Puri, Konark Sun Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the prime tourist attractions of Odisha. Built in the form of a giant rath or chariot of the Sun God, it depicts the chariot being pulled by a set of seven horses, four on the left side and three on the right. It has three deities dedicated to the Sun God on three different sides of the temple which catch the direct rays of sun in the morning, afternoon and evening. There is also a dedicated archaeological museum inside the temple complex. The temple transforms into a stage during The Konark Dance Festival, which is held every year usually in February and attracts a lot of foreign and Indian tourists — dedicated to devotees of the Sun God.

Konark Sun Temple is one of the last standing structures before the fifteenth century in the country. The sun rays reach the Nata Mandir from the coast and reflect through the diamond at the centre of the idol. The idol is believed to float mid-air due to arrangements of the magnets at the top of the temple but they were later removed due to the disturbance caused to coastal voyages. An engineering and artistic masterpiece, The Sun Temple has been standing stoically for the last two thousand years. Despite much of the temple in ruin, it still reflects the artistic genius of architects and sculptures of the time.

Chandrabhaga Beach

Situated 3 kms east of Sun Temple in Konark in Orissa where the Chandrabhaga River joins the sea, Chandrabhaga Beach is one of the most beautiful and pollution free beaches of the country. Owing to its immaculately clean shores and crystal clear waters, the beach has been awarded with the Blue Flag Certification by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE)- which is a tag given to environmental friendly beaches which meet their stringent standards. Lined with tall trees and vast expanse of golden sands, the beach holds cultural and historical importance as well. Several cultural festivals and religious fairs are held here frequently which attract a lot of pilgrims and devotees to the beach.

ASI Museum

ASI Museum is situated outside the Sun Temple and houses some unique artifacts which reflect the essence of Oriyan art form. The museum has 250 different kinds of antiques recovered from the Sun Temple.

There are separate galleries which have unique collections of antique pieces like carved stones, images of Surya Narayana, erotic sculptures among other pieces are also the part of the collection.

Astaranga Beach

Astaranga meaning “colourful sunset” is a magnificent beach located in the state of Orissa. As the name suggests this beach is famous for the picturesque views that it provides during the sunset. The sky takes on vivid hues and the blue water in juxtaposition of it makes the whole place look magical.

The Astaranga beach is a famous fishing village and every morning a market is set up on the beach from where you can purchase the different varieties of fresh fishes. This beach is a perfect place to getaway from the helter skelter of the city and spend some quiet and peaceful time rejuvenating yourself.

Konark Dance Festival

Konark Dance Festival is an event held annually in the backdrop of the exquisite Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. Classical performers of every age group descend on Konark to showcase their musical and dancing skills, to promote this age-old monument. Handicrafts and sculptures are also put on display to showcase the hidden talent of the region. Held every year this festival brings together dancers, musicians and cultures from all around the country in a scintillating display of different art forms.

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