Sun Setting Over Konark Sun Temple, Odisha, India Stock Illustration

This 13th century Sun temple at Konark is situated on the east coast of Odisha and is attributed to king Narasinga Deva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.The Temple, dedicated to the Sun God ‘Surya’, was built from stone in the form of a giant ornamental chariot drawn by seven horses, the chariot`s twelve pairs of wheels corresponding to the 12 months of the Hindu calendar. The elaborately carved stone wheels are nearly 12 feet in diameter, with 8 spokes to each wheel. Once over 200 feet high, much of the temple is now in ruins. The original temple had a main sanctum sanctorum vimana, which is estimated to have been 229 feet tall. The main vimana fell in 1837. The structures and elements that have survived are famed for their intricate artwork, iconography, and themes and is a classic illustration of the Odisha style of Architecture, or Kalinga Architecture. This temple was called the `Black Pagoda` in European sailor accounts as early as 1676 because its great tower appeared black.The cause of the destruction of the Konark temple is unclear and could be either from natural disaster, or deliberate destruction by Muslim invaders. The temple was partially restored by British archaeological teams and in 1984 it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.On the east side of the main temple is the dance hall and stands on a high, intricately carved platform. The relief on the platform is similar in style to that found on the surviving walls of the temple.