FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT 118 YEARS CLOSED TEMPLE : Grasshopper

Sakshi Nagar 15-02-2023 05:46 PM My India

The Konark Sun Temple, located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River in the state of Odisha, is a colossal amalgamation of artistic magnificence and engineering mastery built in the mid-13th century. King Narasimhadeva I, the great ruler of the Ganga dynasty, built the Konark Sun Temple with the help of 1200 artisans during his reign in 1243-1255 AD. Since the rulers of the Ganga dynasty worshiped the sun, the temple, built in the Kalinga style, depicts the sun god in the form of a chariot and the stones are carved with exquisite carvings. This temple is made of red sandstone and black granite stones. The entire temple site is built with twelve pairs of wheels pulled by seven horses, in which the sun god is shown seated. Currently, only one horse is left, out of the seven horses. The temple as it exists today has survived partly due to the preservation of archaeological teams from the British India era.

FASCINATING FACTS

· A heavy magnet was placed on the top of the temple and every two stones of the temple are equipped with iron plates. It is said that the idol appears to be floating in the air due to the magnets.

· Sun god is considered a symbol of energy and life. The Konark Sun Temple is considered best for healing diseases and fulfilling wishes.

· The Konark Sun Temple is considered one of the five great religious sites located in Odisha, the other four being Puri, Bhubaneswar, Mahavinayak, and Jajpur.

· The specialty of the Konark Sun Temple is that there are 12 pairs of wheels located at the base of this temple. In fact, these wheels are unique because the exact time of the day can be estimated by looking at the shadow of these wheels.

· In this temple, an iron sheet is fixed between every two stones. The upper floors of the temple are made of iron beams. 52 tonnes of magnetic iron have been used in the construction of the top of the main temple. It is believed that the entire structure of the temple is able to tolerate the activities of the sea because of this magnet.

· It is said that the first ray of the sun falls directly on the main entrance of the Konark Sun Temple. The rays of the sun pass through the temple and reflect from the diamond in the center of the idol, appearing dazzling.

· Two huge lions have been installed on either side of the entrance of the Konark Sun Temple. Elephants are shown being crushed by these lions. Beneath each elephant is a human body. Which is a charming picture giving a message to humans.

HOW TO REACH KONARK SUN TEMPLE BY AIR

Konark is 65 km from Bhubaneswar airport. Bhubaneshwar is very well connected by flights to major Indian cities. You can reach Bhubaneswar by air and from there take a bus or taxi to Konark temple.

HOW TO REACH KONARK SUN TEMPLE BY TRAIN

The nearest railway stations to Konark are Bhubaneswar and puri. There are fast and superfast trains for Puri and Bhubaneswar from the major cities and towns of the country through which you can reach Konark by taxi or bus after coming here.

HOW TO REACH KONARK SUN TEMPLE BY ROAD

Konark is about 65 km long from Bhubaneswar via Pipli and it takes a total of two hours to reach Konark from here. It is 35 km from Puri and takes an hour. Regular bus services operate from Puri and Bhubaneshwar to Konark. You can also hire a cab or personal car for your trip to Konark Sun Temple.