Sun Konark Temple

The Sun Konark Temple is another major hallmark of Odia cultural significance. Built cerca 1250 AD in honor of Lord Surya, or the Sun God, Konark Mandir is also colloquially dubbed as the Sun Temple.

The unique architecture of the Sun Konark Temple is one to behold - the temple is constructed to represent the form of a large chariot. The chariot is placed on an intricately carved set of 12 wheels. The metaphorical meaning of the wheels is debated, with some experts saying it represents the 12 months of the year whereas others believe it represents 2 hour blocks to make up the 24 hours of the day. Furthermore, the wheels are constructed with carefully located spokes that are designed to act as sundials, which can use the sunlight to represent the exact time of the day. The chariot is also appeared to be pulled by a set of 7 horses, which are thought to represent the 7 days of the week.

The entrance of the temple is governed by two large lions, that serve as protectors of the complex. The interior of the temple is filled with walls that are imprinted with intricate carvings and sculptures - the main interior formerly consisted of the Lord Suyra’s idol, which was moved to the Puri Jagannath temple in the 19th century.

A theme of popular discussion regarding the Konark Temple is its supposed ruin - Up till the 16th century, texts describe the temple to be a religious and architectural powerhouse. However, after the 16th century, the temple is said to have been abandoned and in ruins. The cause behind this ruin is still not clear, and is a topic of wide debate from intellectuals. Experts have narrowed down the cause to either natural causes such as an earthquake between 1550 and 1800 CE, or intentional destruction and abandonment due to the Mughal Presence in India which consisted of many Hindu temples and monuments being torn down for the construction of mosques. With the arrival of the British in India in the 1800s, efforts were undertaken to restore Konark to its former glory - conservation efforts began following a structural breakdown of a part of the temple in 1848.

In the present day, conservation efforts have still kept the temple standing, allowing visitors from all over India to marvel at its technological and architectural brilliance. The architecture of the Konark Sun Temple is thought to have influenced temple building all throughout South Eastern Asia due to trade through the Bay of Bengal - architects have found similarities between the Konark Temple and the famous Angkor Wat temple of Cambodia.

The Sun Konark Temple is truly a masterpiece and pinnacle of Odia culture that embodies the technological and artistic talent of a rich civilization.