Konark Sun Temple

The Sun Temple at Konark is a 13th cent temple built by Narasimhadeva I. Made of oxdized sandstone, the temple is decorated with a variety of carvings

Looks bit rusted

Some more wheels. Notice the series of elephants that runs at the bottom. There are more than 1000 such elephants carved in this way

The entire temple is made in the form of a chariot, which symbolizes the carrier of the Sun God. This chariot comprises of 12 magnificent wheels and is drawn by seven fine horses. This chariot is the highlight of the temple and has maximum carving and artistic finesse. The chariot almost seems real and charms every onlooker.

At the entrance of the temple, there are two huge sculptures that show two lions, which are crushing a huge elephant. The Konark Sun Temple, India, also includes a temple known as the Nata Mandir. There are exemplary floral and geometric carvings that adorn the precincts of the Konark Sun Temple, India. The temple continues to amaze the tourists who visit the temple each year. This temple, which worships the Sun God, has been appropriately designed to match the power and aura of the Sun.

Statue of the Sun God Surya in the Sun Temple in Konark, Orissa, India

Love on rocks

The ruins of this temple were excavated in late 19th century. The tower over the Garbagriha is missing, however the Jagmohana is intact, and even in this state, it is awe inspiring.
It is said that the temple was not completed as conceived because the foundation was not strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy dome. Local beleif has it that it was constructed in entirety, however its magnetic dome caused ships to crash near the seashore, and that the dome was removed and destroyed and that the image of the Sun God was taken to Puri.

The temple was found in a very damaged condition. Some areas of the temple are still being restored while most of the portion of the "mandap" (the only vlearly visible building in the temple compound) is supported on scaffolds

looking up at monumental Mandapa

view of the jagamohan and the ruined shikhara of the Surya Temple at Konark