The Konark Temple
Konark, along with Bhubaneswar and Puri, forms the Golden Triangle for the best of Orissan temple architecture. The Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement of the ancient Kalinga order of art and architecture. Even in its present state of ruins - for it lost its soaring tower long ago-it stands in majestic dignity. The magnitude of the edifice and the stupendous size of its perfectly proportioned structure are matched by endless wealth of decoration on its body from minute patterns executed with a jeweller's precision to boldly-modelled free-standing sculptures of incredibly big size.
The Temple Chariot of the Sun God (Black Pagoda)on the vast stretch of sand is an architectural marvel of 13th century, the golden era of Orissan art. This crowning piece of Orissan architecture and sculpture, a poetry in stone is on the World Heritage list. Seven centuries ago, the temple was built on the shallow waters of the Bay of Bengal by the Ganga Dynasty ruler, Narasing Dev (1238-64).
The main temple complex consists of a sanctuary, its attached porch(jagamohan) and an isolated pillared edifice. Erected on an impressive platform, the sancfuary and the porch are the two components of a single unified architectural scheme. The whole fabric was designed as the celestial chariot of the Sun God who is believed to course across the sky in a chariot of seven horses. The twelve pairs of wheel, which possibly symbolise the twelve months, are carved against the three sides of the platform and two side, of the front(east) staircase.
The Mukhashala or entrance hall continues to interest both devotees and visitors.The walls of this magnificent ruin have exquisite sculptures covering many aspects of life.The main sanctum is in ruins, but the Dance Hall and the Audience Hall are intact.. It is famous for its exquisitely delineated erotic art carved on its stone walls. The colossal figures of the war elephants holding aloft a dazzed soldier or the lions guarding the entrance to the temple or the enraged war horses trampling under their hooves a fsallen warrior are a living monument of Orissa's glorious past frozen on the sands of time.The beauty of Konark is beyond words. It is to be seen, enjoyed and savoured again and again.
The Konark Festival organised here every year is a great attraction for cultural cognoscenti. The Sun Temple Museum of the Archeological Survey of India has a good collection of sculptures from the temple ruins.
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