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Konark Sun Temple : The Black Pagoda

Description:

"Had Konark been discovered first and Taj Mahal at Agra Later by the Europeans, then there is no doubt that Taj would have taken a second place in the mind of world." -- Charles Fabri, Art Historian

It was a specialty of the Konark artisans that they constructed the main temple, Mukhasala, Naatamandir and the temple on the eastern gate in such a way that it facilitated the first ray of the Sun to fall on the head of the Sun god placed on the throne of the main temple passing through the doors of all these temples. The temple, being situated in a corner of the State and far from hills and hillocks, it confused the visitors and also the engineers to find out the way as to how the big stones were carried from distant places for construction of the temple. It is also places for construction of the temple. It is also astonishing that when the engineers of 19th century failed to carry the Navagraha-Paathar upto sea shore which is only 3 Kms. away, how its six hundred years back the artisans were able to bring it from distant places and put them in the higher altitudes of the temple at a time when there was no improved machinery. It is believed that perhaps those stones used to be carried by rafts along with old river routes which are now not in existence and have disappeared in course of time.

The magnetic dome was removed from the top as it was causing many ships to crash around the shores. It is kept in the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) museum for display.

Brief description: One of the 7 wonders of India

Tags: konark, black pagoda, temples, sun temple, puri, odisha, 7 wonders of india

Website: http://www.konark.nic.in