The temple is built in the traditional Kalinga architectural style. It is facing east so that the first rays of the sunlight fall on the main entrance. The temple, made of Khondalite rocks, was initially built at the mouth of the Chandrabhaga River, but the water level has since retreated. The temple's wheels are sundials, which can be used to precisely determine time to the minute.
Konark, also known in Indian scriptures as Kainapara, was a prominent commercial port. Although evidence shows that a sun temple was established in the Konark location as early as the 9th century, the present Konark temple dates from the 13th century. Surya worship places are mentioned in the Puranas in Mundira, which might be an early name for Konark, Kalapriya, and Multan. Hiuen-tsang, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim and traveller, cites Charitra, a harbour city in Odisha. He portrays the city as affluent, with five convents and extremely lofty, storeyed.
It is declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984.
Sun Temple - NFT
