The Sun Temple at Konark is a World Heritage Site. It was once a bustling port at the time of the erstwhile kingdom of Kalinga (as the present day Orissa was known in the old days) and had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. King Narasimhadeo (AD 1238-64) was the chief patron. He wanted to build a shrine dedicated to the Sun God.

The Konark temple also known as the Black Pagoda is the crowning glory of Oriya temple architecture. It is steeped in the history of centuries and lots of old myths and legends surround this temple. Legend has it that Lord Krishna cursed his son Samba with the disease of leprosy. After 12 years of penance, Samba was cured by Surya, the Sun God, in whose honour he built the temple.

The Sun Temple
Built by Raja Narsimhadeva of the Ganga dynasty, in the 13th century AD, the temple is a tribute to human grandeur, in its perception, and in the execution of even the finest details. It resembles a huge chariot, with 24 wheels, pulled by seven straining horses, and has a three-tiered pyramidal roof topped off by a fine spire. The Sun - God's chariot, also represents the seven days of the week, and the 24 hours of the day, in its concept. The temple is a brilliant story in stone, with impressive sculptures. Every aspect of life is represented here, and the erotic imagery, depicts the sublimation of human love manifested in countless forms. Scenes from court, civic life and war are also done with great precision.

Unlike the other temple of the Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri region, the temple had two smaller outer halls, completely separate from the main structure. The assembly-hall and the tower were built on an imposing platform, which were carved into meticulously crafted twelve pairs of decorated wheels, each 10 feet in diameter. The entrance is reached by a broad flight of steps, flanked on either side by prancing horses, the whole representing the chariot, in which the Sun-God rides across the heavens. The court of the temple, was decorated with large free-standing sculptures of great strength and beauty. Now protected under the World Heritage List, the temple's interior was filled - up in 1903 A.D., by the then British Lt. Governor of Bengal, to save it from deterioration.