If you are looking forward to visiting some of the most refined temples of all times, then Orissa is the place to visit in India. What makes the Konarak or Konaraka Sun Temple, as it is otherwise called, is the fact that it is located on the shores of Bay of Bengal, about 20km from Puri.

Standing aloof on the sand dunes with the frequent hitting of the waves, the Sun Temple can be an ultimate treat for those seeking peace, tranquility and divinity. Experts suggest that the Sun Temple at Konark is not just the last but the most mesmerizing monuments in Orissa.

Yes, the Sun Temple at Konark writes it own poetry! Gorgeously laid on 12 pairs of wheels, the temple chariot immediately transports you to believing that the Sun God himself is here emerging from the sea and riding proud on the horses.

The Sun Temple at Konark was constructed by King Narasimha Deva I who belonged to the Eastern Ganga dynasty and ruling over the Republic of Kalinga somewhere around the middle of the 13th century.

History goes back to claiming that as many as 1200 masons put together this Sun Temple after 16 long years. It has also been found that the King actually spent 12 years of the revenues collected from the state of Orissa. As you can see, the number 12 is very closely associated with the making of the Sun Temple at Konark.

The silence of the Sun Temple is broken during the festival of – Magha Saptami which is celebrated on the 7th day of the new moon of Magha. On this day, devout people come and offer their prayers and worship the Sun God, Surya.

The Sun Temple is also known as the Black Pagoda owing to the black granite it is constructed with. Unlike the sparkling appearance of the white Jagannath Temple located on the shores of Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark appeared dark and mysterious to the European sailors who sailed the seas in the 17th century. From then on the Sun Temple at Konark was also called the Black Pagoda.

Whatever be the reasons why it was created, the Sun Temple at Konark has its own enigma. Though there remain a number of unsolved mysteries attached to the Sun Temple, it seems as though the temple was created for people to question time and history.