6. Konark

6. Konark

Bird Park

Image credit – shankar s.

It is natural that your mind races to Sun Temple when you think of Konark. The 13th century temple stands tall in the minds of tourists in spite of the fact that it is now in ruins. Konark has a few other ancient temples on its land for both history lovers and religious minds. Here are the top attractions in Konark.

• Sun Temple
• Archaeological Site Museum
• Ramachandi Temple
• Ramchandi Beach
• Kuruma
• Astranga
• Chandrabhaga Beach

• 1. Sun Temple

  

  Sun Temple
  Photo by Bernard Gagnon
  Built by King Narsimhadeva I of the Ganga Dynasty, the Sun Temple is counted among the 7 wonders of India. The temple was built in the shape of a chariot with pillars and wheel, and was completed around 1250 AD. The temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga but due to the receding of the water line is now pretty far from the river’s shores.

  2. Archaeological Site Museum

  The Museum was established in 1968, with the purpose of housing the archeological excavations and the fallen sculptures from the Sun temple. The gallery contains a number of antiquities which are displayed in 4 different galleries. The antiquities include various sculptures, paintings, manuscripts and various fallen of parts from the Konark Sun Temple.

  3. Ramachandi Temple

  

  Ramachandi Temple
  Photo by Ranjan Kumar Panigrahi
  The Ramachandi Temple is located at the banks of the Kusabhadra River which flows into the Bay of Bengal from this spot. The main deity of the temple is the Goddess Ramachandi and is one of the most famous temples in Konark. The surroundings also make it a wonderful picnic spot and is rich with a verity of bird species and pleasant views.

  4. Kuruma

  

  Kuruma Lake View
  Photo by Σ64,
  A relatively unknown Buddhist site, Kuruma is located 8 kilometers from the famous Sun Temple. Kuruma is one of the major archeological excavation sites in Orrisa and is mentioned in several Buddhist texts from Asoka and Ceylon and also appears in the writings of the Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang. The origin of the site is dated to be between 8th-9th century AD and is a must visit for everyone who likes to explore the history of India.

  5. Astranga

  Located at a distance of 19 kilometers from Konark, and is a famous picnic spot and fishing village near Konark. The best time to visit the place is during the sunset when one can experience the panoramic and multi-hued horizon. The place is great for photographers and is a major center for fishing and salt production in Konark.