Location :
The temple city of Konark is situated in the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of around 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. The city extends between longitude 86.08°E and latitude 19.53°N.
 

Climate:
Being close to the sea, the climate of Konark is never very harsh. With greenery surrounding the place, rainfall is heavy in Konark. The best season to visit Konark is between October and March; however, one can go there throughout the year.

Site to Visit:
The Sun Temple
The Orissan King 'Raja Narasimha Deva' built this temple in the 13th century. It took 1,200 workmen over 16 years to build. It is believed that the temple was no longer used from the early 17th century when the temple was desecrated by Muslim invaders. In 1904 the sand around the temple base was cleared.

Konark Beach
There is a nice and quiet beach about 3-km from the temple. The currents can be strong here, so swimming can be dangerous. Not far from the beach is a river Chandrabhaga where Krishna's son Samba is said to have been cured from leprosy. Every year during the full moon phase in the month of Magha there is a festival called "Magha Saptami Mela". People bathe in the river Chandrabhaga at night and then watch the sun rise over the sea the next morning.

The Sun Temple Museum
The Sun Temple Museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India has an excellent collection of sculptures from the temple ruins. One can also purchase the "Archaeological Survey of India's Sun Temple-Konark" from here. It is not sold at the temple itself.

How to Reach:
Konark does not have an airport and the nearest airports are at Bhubaneswar 65 km away. The railheads nearest to Konark are again at Puri and Bhubaneswar. These two stations are connected to all the major cities in India through long-distance trains. Konark is well connected with other parts of the country through a good network of roads. Travelers can make use of taxis, private cars, and mini buses to move around the city and to reach the Sun Temple.

 

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