Photos

As the temple was built like a chariot of Sun god. The wheels of the chariot has lot of engraved art work around its axis and peripheries. There are 24 wheels fixed to the temple and is of 9 feet 9 inches in diameter and they are having 8 spokes. All stone wheels are full with engraved art works. Out of 24 wheels 6 are in either side of the main temple, 4 wheels are on each side of the Mukhasala and 2 wheels on each side of steps at eastern front. The 24 wheels signifies 24 hours of a day and the 8 spokes signifies prahars ( three hour period ) of a day.

Konark Wheel is used in Government of India official symbol and in some currency notes of Indian rupees.

Now the replica of Konarak Wheel is available in Stone, silver and wood are having good demand in market.

Konark the Sun temple located at a distance of 65 Km from Bhubaneswar. This temple was built by Narasimhadeva-I in C.AD1250. Shaped like a chariot driven by seven horses on a 12 pair wheels. Mighty simha-gajas ( Lion and elephant ) welcome the visitors at the entrance. The walls of the temple contain superb carving of divine, semi divine, human and animal figures amidst floral and geometric ornamentation. Out of the total complex only the main entrance hall known as Mukhasala is only remains of the temple as a testimony to the glorious beauty of Orissa craftsmanship. The height of this Mukhasala is 45.7 m. There are four doors but all of them are closed and the temple is filled with sand and stone packing materials to prevent falling of stones.