Odisha basks in glory as India showcases Konark Wheel while welcoming G20 delegates

“Odisha’s timeless wonder— KONARK CHAKRA at @g20org for the welcome handshake. A moment of great pride for all Indians, particularly my #Odia brothers and sisters. A symbol of India’s civilisational, cultural and architectural excellence, the Konark chakra symbolises continuity and progress,” posted Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Built by King Narasimhadeva-I, the ruler of the Ganga dynasty, the Sun Temple is a symbol of Odisha’s glorious heritage. Around 1,200 artisans and craftsmen took around 12 years to develop artistic magnificence and engineering dexterity using chlorite and sandstone on the shores of the Bay of Bengal at Konark.

Since the ruler used to worship the sun, the temple was considered a chariot for the Sun God. Designed in the form of a chariot mounted on 24 wheels, each of them is about 10 feet in diameter and drawn by seven mighty horses. The images of animals, foliage, dancing women and other structures carved around the temple’s base showcase the architectural grandeur.

In ancient times, the Konark Wheel was also used as a sundial to calculate time to a minute including day and night.

The Konark Wheel also reflects the richness of the Kalinga architectural style and the prosperity of ancient Odisha. While the main temple which enshrined the presiding deity and the Natya Mandap has fallen off and only the remains can be seen, the large structure seen at present is known as the Jagamohana (the assembly hall or audience hall or Mukhasala).

From 1900 to 1903, four entrances to the Jagamohana were sealed and filled with sand by the Britishers to provide structural stability to the monument.

It was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco in 1984 and is Odisha’s only world heritage site.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of the temple, has started preparation for removing sand from the Jagamohana and carrying out necessary preservation work.

The Naveen Patnaik government has also unveiled a massive redevelopment plan for Konark Sun Temple that attracts lakhs of tourists from across the globe.