The Sun Temple of Konark, spelt by some as Konarak and sometimes called the “Black Pagoda”, in India was built in approximately 1250 AD by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

Constructed in honour of Surya, the Hindu deity of the sun, the Sun Temple of Konark is designed as a representation of this deity’s horse-drawn chariot, complete with (originally seven) horses and giant wheels. This effect is created through the external decoration of two of the buildings of the Sun Temple of Konark – the entrance hall and the main shrine.

With numerous intricately decorated stone buildings and the magnificence of its pyramid-like entrance hall, the Sun Temple of Konark is a popular tourist attraction and has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A visit can last around 1.5-2 hours. Keep an eye out for the erotic sculptures.