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Konark

Joydeep · File:Konark Sun Temple Puri district, Odisha, India.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · cropped and resized · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Konark_Sun_Temple_Puri_district,_Odisha,_India.jpg

City Guide · India

Konark

A UNESCO-listed sun temple built as a stone chariot — 24 carved wheels, seven horses and a ruined sanctum on the Odisha coast.

Best seasonNov – Feb
Ideal stayHalf a day to a night
From PuriAbout 35 km
FestivalKonark Festival, 1–5 Dec
About

Konark

Konark is a small town on the Odisha coast and the site of the Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is the best-known monument of the Kalinga architectural school.

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Things to do

What Konark is for

Konark rewards slow looking: the carving is the point.

At the temple

  • The wheels and the plinth. Thousands of sculptures depict mythology, music, devotion and daily life; the carving also includes erotic imagery.
  • The assembly hall and the ruined sanctum. Walk the platform and look up at the tiered roof of the assembly hall.
  • The dance hall. Its architecture is more balanced than that of other Odishan temples, according to the Archaeological Survey of India.

Around Konark

  • The Konark Festival of classical dance is held from 1 to 5 December every year in an open-air auditorium. Check the programme and booking arrangements for the year you travel.
Suggested itinerary

How long to give it

Half a day

The temple

Reach Konark from Puri or Bhubaneswar and give the temple a slow morning or afternoon.

A night

Stay over

Stay the night if you are timing a visit to the December festival.

Onward

Puri

Puri is about 35 km away; Bhubaneswar about 65 km.

Getting there

Arriving & getting around

Konark has no airport or main-line station of its own.

Getting there

  • Konark is about 35 km from Puri and 65 km from Bhubaneswar. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, and the nearest railway stations are Puri and Bhubaneswar, per Odisha Tourism.
  • Most visitors come by car with a driver as part of the Bhubaneswar–Puri–Konark circuit.
Travel intelligence

When to visit

The cooler months suit a monument that is mostly open to the sky.

Best monthsNov – Feb

Cool and dry; Odisha Tourism's season is October to March.

Cyclone riskOct – Nov

Cyclones are most likely in these months. Check forecasts before you travel.

Hot monthsMar – Jun

Hot, and hard going on an open site.

Festival1–5 Dec

The Konark Festival fills the town for five evenings; book ahead.

Culture

How to be a good guest

Konark is a protected monument and a place of living art.

Etiquette

  • The temple is a protected monument: follow the rules posted on site, including those on climbing, touching and photography.
  • The Konark Festival continues the tradition of Odissi dance at the temple's own setting.
Practical tips

Insider tips

  • Pair it with Puri. The two are about 35 km apart.
  • Check opening arrangements on the day; hours and ticketing change.
  • Book early for the festival in the first days of December.
Nearby

Nearby

Where most visitors go next.

Puri
The pilgrim city
Odisha
The wider state
FAQ

Common questions

It was built in the 13th century as a colossal chariot dedicated to Surya, with 24 carved wheels and seven stone horses, and UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1984.
Twenty-four, in twelve pairs. Each is about 3 m across.
Half a day is enough for the temple. Add a night if you are timing a visit to the December festival.
About 35 km from Puri and 65 km from Bhubaneswar.
From 1 to 5 December every year, in an open-air auditorium at Konark.
November to February is the most comfortable. Cyclones are most likely in October and November, so check forecasts.
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