In Konark, Odisha, Konark Sun Temple is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God (the temple is now a monument and no longer an active place of worship). It is also known as Black Pagoda, Surya Mandir.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of India's most celebrated monuments, prized for its architectural grandeur and the scientific precision of its sundial wheels; it is Odisha's most famous heritage temple. The Sun Temple at Konark was built in the 13th century AD by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and dedicated to Surya.
Odisha carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of Kalinga temple architecture, from Jagannath's Rath Yatra at Puri to the sculpted sun-chariot of Konark.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | Open sunrise to sunset |
Corrected per the Archaeological Survey of India's own official World Heritage page for the monument (asi.nic.in/pages/WorldHeritageKonarak): opening hours are stated simply as 'Open from sunrise to sunset', not a fixed clock range - the previously listed '6:00 AM - 8:00 PM' was an approximation from a state tourism source and is replaced with ASI's own wording since exact sunrise/sunset times vary by season. As an ASI-protected monument, not an active-worship temple, there is no separate morning/evening darshan split or daily pooja schedule to record.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Konark Dance Festival | December | A renowned classical dance festival held against the backdrop of the temple. |
| Magha Saptami / Chandrabhaga Mela | January-February | A fair and ritual bathing at nearby Chandrabhaga Beach. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Conceived as a colossal stone chariot of the Sun God, drawn by seven horses and mounted on twenty-four intricately carved wheels (twelve pairs). The wheels double as sundials, the shadow cast by the spokes can be used to tell the time. Considered the pinnacle of Kalinga (Odisha) temple architecture.
History
The Sun Temple at Konark was built in the 13th century AD by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and dedicated to Surya. Some accounts hold it was built close to the sea, giving the impression of the Sun God rising from the water at daybreak. European sailors called it the 'Black Pagoda' and used it as a navigation landmark. The main sanctum tower collapsed over the centuries and the site is now a protected monument rather than a working temple.
Planning your visit
Darshan types and fees
| Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 15 | Free | Official ASI rate |
| Indian nationals & SAARC/BIMSTEC country citizens | ₹40 cash / ₹35 online | Official ASI rate; explicitly listed for Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan (SAARC) and Thailand, Myanmar (BIMSTEC); Indian nationals conventionally pay this same domestic rate |
| Other foreign visitors | ₹600 cash / ₹550 online | Official ASI rate for foreign visitors outside the SAARC/BIMSTEC list |
How to reach
Konark lies on the coast between Puri (about 35 km) and Bhubaneswar (about 70 km), well connected by road. Nearest railway hubs are Puri and Bhubaneswar; nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.
Konark Sun Temple in photographs
5 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Opening hours and the full entry-fee tier structure are now confirmed directly on the Archaeological Survey of India's own official website (asi.nic.in), specifically its World Heritage Konarak page, replacing the previously unconfirmed state-tourism-sourced hours and vague fee description. Also separately confirmed via ASI's official e-ticketing portal (asi.paygov.org.in) that the monument is listed as 'Sun Temple, Konark' under the Bhubaneshwar ticketing circle, corroborating that it is an actively ticketed ASI monument.