Konark Sun Temple — The Black Pagoda

Konark Sun Temple — The Chariot of the Sun

A Colossal Stone Chariot

Built by Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty around 1250 CE, the Konark Sun Temple is shaped like a colossal chariot for the Sun God Surya, complete with 12 pairs of stone wheels and seven horses. The original 200-foot deul (tower) collapsed in the 19th century, but the surviving jagamohana (porch) remains a masterpiece of sculptural art.

The Wheels as Sundials

The temple's most famous feature is its stone wheels, which function as sundials. The shadows and spokes can calculate time to the minute — a testament to the astronomical knowledge of Kalinga architects.

Sculptural Grandeur

The surviving porch depicts dance, music, erotica, and daily life in exquisite detail. The erotic sculptures represent the union of purusha and prakriti — not mere sensuality but tantric cosmology, showing medieval India's philosophical sophistication.

Inscriptions

The Konark inscription praises King Narasimhadeva's military campaigns, while other inscriptions describe the temple architects and sculptors by name. Copper plates record land grants for temple maintenance.