Interesting facts about Konark Sun temple

India has a rich heritage of architecture and culture when it comes to temples.

Every year millions of travelers and devotees flock to these temples from different corners of the world.

The Konark Sun temple is undoubtedly the grandest architecture on the Indian land.

It is also known as the Pancha Rath.

The delicate ornamental work on the inside and outside of the temple is a testament to the architectural heritage of India.

The entire temple is modeled as a chariot of the Sun with 24 wheels and drawn by seven horses.

Even today, the temple stands as one of the most prominent edifices of stone carving and architecture.

Each wheel measures around feet in diameter, with intricate carvings on each of the spokes.

The temple entrance features the flight of steps guarded by a couple of lions and elephants on either side.

At the base of the sun temple Konark, there are over 1000 elephants in different poses.

The walls of the temple are beautified with male and female figure sculptures.

The imposing figurine of the Sun God in the temple's sanctum is made out of chloride stone.

This article discusses some interesting facts about this historical temple.

a. The term Konark derives from Sanskrit words "kona" and "arc" meaning "angle" and "Sun". The temple stands as an offering to the Sun God Surya. 

b. The Konark Sun temple is famous for its 12 konark wheels carved out of stone. It resembles 12 months of the year. The wheels are seen at the base of the structure, showing time. The spokes of the wheel are similar to that of a sundial. One can calculate the exact time of day by observing the shadow of the wheels.

c. Every feature of the Konark Sun temple demonstrates the flow of time. The wheel has 8 spokes that represent "prahar," which is 3 hours. It adds up to show 24 hours in a day.

d. The structure of the sun temple konark resembles a huge Sun chariot. The chariot restaurant by seven horses represents seven different ways of a week. The chariot's seven horses are named Gayatri, Ushnih, Triahtubha, Jagati, Brihati Anushtubha, and Pankti.

e. The temple is one of the most well-known UNESCO sites in India. Unique design and antique architecture have given it a place among the Seven Wonders of the World.

f. Right at the entrance of the Konark sun temple in India, there are two lines on either side of the gate. The lion figures are seen crushing an elephant and beneath the elephant is a human being. In this statue, the lion symbolizes power, and the elephant shows well. It depicts the major problems faced by men due to power and money in their lives.

g. Just as the temple of Khajuraho, the sun temple of konark also has an extensive collection of sculptures that depict Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. These are the four most essential ingredients of life. 

h. The konarak sun temple is popularly known as the Kala Pagoda, is the Black Pagoda by European soldiers. The black color of the temple served as a significant landmark for sailors in the early Times.

i. When sun rays reach the center of the temple from the coastline, it represents a diamond lying in the middle of the idol in the temple. During the colonial period, magnets were removed by the Britishers for creating magnetic stones.

j. When the temple is viewed from outside at sunrise. It girls like that the chariot is gradually emerging from the depths of the sea carrying the Sun.

k. The stones which were used for making this temple were primarily bought from outside India. Experts believe that the sea route was used for mining stones from other regions of the world.

l. Unfortunately, much of the Konark temple is now in the rain. People believe that the temple has suffered severe damages due to natural disasters. Injuries were also made to the temple during the Muslim reigns in India.

m. The Konark Surya temple is one of the very few temples in India that still has the construction in planning records available. The records were primarily written in Odia and Sanskrit languages. It has been preserved in the form of palm-leaf manuscripts. According to studies, the documents were recovered in a village in 1960 and were translated later.

n. The walls of the Konark Sun temple contain minute carvings of scriptures and sculptures. Some of these teachers also have my beautifully carved jewelry on them.

The Konark sun temple in India is a must-visit destination for explorers in different parts of the world. It serves as a book for exploring the history of ancient India and its culture.