G.B. International ::- Konark
| Orissa | Bhubaneshwar | Konark |
|---|---|---|
| Puri | East India | Other States |
Konark
Konark with its serene ambience, majestic seashore and the heritage sites is regarded as an ideal regarded as an ideal holiday destination by domestic as well as foreign tourists. Konark derives its name from Konarka (presiding deity of the Sun temple) and is a combination of 'Kona' meaning corner and 'Arka' meaning sun. Konark was once a bustling port at the time of the erstwhile Kingdom of Kalinga, the former name of Orissa. The history of Konark shows that Konark also has good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries.
Excursions
Sun TempleOne of the most stunning monuments of India, this world heritage site, the Sun Temple of Konark, marks the culmination of Orissa style temple architecture.
Built in the shape of a chariot, this beautiful temple is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. The original size of the temple was bigger than even the two most biggest and famous temples of eastern India, i.e. the Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar and the Jagannath Temple of Puri.
Once upon a time the ocean was touching the base of the temple. Although the sea is about 2 Kms away from the temple, the sun temple is still surrounded by the receding sand.
The temple has 24 stone wheels surrounding it at the base that contributes to the chariot shape of the temple. Each of the wheels is exquisitely carved and displays the religious and social aspects of the thirteenth century royal world. Another striking feature of the Konark Sun temple is the numerous erotic sculptures that can be found on the second level of the porch.
How to Reach
By AirThe nearest airport is Bhubhaneswar, which is 64 km away. It is connected with Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Nagpur through direct flights.
By Rail
Puri is the nearest railhead, about 31 km from Konark and 64 km from Bhubaneswar.
By Road
The National and State Highways connect Konark with Puri, Bhubaneshwar and other major places in Orissa.You can also hire taxis and private buses to get to Konark from Puri.