Konark Sun Temple: Timings, Tickets, History and Tips

Facts checked November 2026.

The Sun Temple at Konark is a much-visited stop on an Odisha dharmik yatra. Many families combine it with Jagannath darshan in Puri and Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar. This guide covers timings, tickets, history, festivals and how to reach, in simple steps.

What are the Konark Sun Temple timings and entry fee?

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which looks after the monument, lists the timings as sunrise to sunset. Incredible India, the Government of India tourism site, lists 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The two sources differ, so please confirm the closing time at the gate on the day of your visit, especially if you plan to come in the evening.

The entry fee below is taken from the ASI page for the Sun Temple, Konark:

Fees can change. Check the board at the ticket counter before you pay.

Can I book a Konark Sun Temple ticket online?

Yes. ASI sells e-tickets for its ticketed monuments, and online tickets cost a little less than cash tickets, as the table shows. In January 2026 the Ministry of Culture also said (as reported by PTI) that tickets for over 170 ASI monuments and museums can be booked through apps on the government’s ONDC network. Use only the official ASI ticket portal or an app named by the Ministry, and keep the ticket on your phone to show at the gate.

Why is the Konark Sun Temple famous?

The whole temple was carved as the giant chariot of Surya. According to ASI and Odisha Tourism, it stands on 24 carved stone wheels (12 pairs), and seven horses pull it. The Puri district website notes that only six of the horses remain today. UNESCO notes that each wheel is about 3 m across and that the wheels stand for the cycle of the seasons and months. Every wall is covered with fine carvings of gods, dancers, musicians, animals and scenes of daily life.

European sailors called it the “Black Pagoda”. Odisha Tourism links the name to the dark look of its roof, and Incredible India adds that the structure guided ships towards the shore. In a press release of 5 January 2018, the Reserve Bank of India announced a new chocolate-brown ₹10 note in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series with the Sun Temple, Konark on its back.

Do the Konark wheels really work as sundials?

Odisha Tourism explains that you can tell the time of day from the shadow the sun casts on the spokes of the wheels, and Incredible India also calls the wheels solar timepieces. A licensed guide at the site can show you how to read the shadow. This works only when the sun is out.

Who built the Konark Sun Temple, and when?

ASI says the temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, who ruled from 1238 to 1264 CE. It names the master builder as Bisu Moharana. UNESCO adds that about 1,200 artisans worked on it for around twelve years. Most official sources, including ASI and the Puri district website, date the temple to the 13th century. One page on the Odisha Tourism site says “12th century”, so sources differ, but the 13th century matches the king’s reign.

The name comes from two Sanskrit words, kona (corner or angle) and arka (the sun). ASI lists the Sun Temple, Konarak as a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1984.

The main tower over the sanctum no longer stands. Britannica and Incredible India put its original height at about 227 feet (69 m), and UNESCO says it was razed in the 19th century. What still stands is the large Jagamohana, the assembly hall, which ASI says is about 30 m square and about 30 m high. Britannica notes that this hall was filled with stone and sand in the early 20th century to stop it from falling, so visitors cannot go inside it. Many sculptures from the site are kept in the Sun Temple Museum run by ASI nearby.

Why is there no puja at the Konark Sun Temple?

Konark is a ruin today, not a working temple. The Puri district website says the temple fell out of use after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century. The main tower later collapsed, and there is no deity being worshipped inside. Today it is a protected monument looked after by ASI.

Because of this, there is no darshan queue, no priest and no puja inside the Sun Temple. Devotees who want to offer prayers to Surya usually do so at sunrise at Chandrabhaga beach, especially at Magha Saptami.

What is the Chandrabhaga mela at Konark?

Chandrabhaga beach is about 2 km from the Sun Temple, according to an OrissaPOST news report. Every year a large mela (also called Magha Mela) is held here on Magha Saptami (also called Ratha Saptami), the seventh day of the bright half of Magha. Odisha Tourism and Incredible India describe devotees taking a holy dip in the sea and praying to the Sun God. Both of them say the mela is held in January; in practice it follows the Magha Saptami tithi, which can fall in January or February.

Drik Panchang lists Ratha Saptami in 2027 on Saturday, 13 February 2027 (calculated for New Delhi). Local Odia calendars can differ by a day, and the official mela date is announced by the Puri district administration, so please confirm before you plan.

When is the Konark Dance Festival?

The Konark Festival is a five-day classical dance festival held every year from 1 to 5 December. Incredible India lists the 2026 edition for 1 to 5 December 2026 at the Konark Open Air Auditorium, with the Sun Temple as the backdrop. Incredible India lists Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathakali, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Sattriya among the dance forms. If you plan to attend, arrange your stay in advance.

Is there a light and sound show at Konark?

A light and sound show about the history of the temple was started at Konark in September 2017, with commentary in Odia, Hindi and English, according to the projector maker Christie, which supplied the equipment for the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). We could not find an official notice confirming that it is running at present, or its current show times and ticket price. Please ask at the ASI ticket counter or your hotel on the day of your visit. The ASI page does say the monument is lit up after dark.

How do you reach the Konark Sun Temple from Puri and Bhubaneswar?

Konark has no railway station or airport of its own. ASI names Puri as the nearest railway station and Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, as the nearest airport. Konark has its own bus station.

The two official figures for Bhubaneswar differ (60 km vs 70 km), so treat them as approximate. The journey is by road, by bus or hired vehicle; please confirm current bus timings locally.

What is the best time to visit Konark?

Incredible India suggests October to March as the most comfortable months, when the weather is cooler. This window also covers the Konark Dance Festival in December and the Chandrabhaga mela around January or February. Summers are hot and humid, so in those months visit early in the morning. For families with seniors, mornings are best in any season because the stone floor heats up by noon.

How much time do you need at Konark?

There is no official figure. Our estimate: two to three hours is a comfortable time to walk around the temple, hear a guide and see the wheels. Add time if you want to visit the museum or Chandrabhaga beach. Konark fits easily into a day visit from Puri or Bhubaneswar.

What places can you visit near the Konark Sun Temple?

• Chandrabhaga beach: about 2 km away, best known for sunrise and the Magha Saptami mela.
• Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary: mentioned by Incredible India as a nearby stop, home to spotted deer, jackals and many birds.
• Jagannath temple, Puri: about 35 km away. Read our Jagannath Temple Puri guide for darshan rules and timings.
• Lingaraj temple, Bhubaneswar: the great Shiva temple of Bhubaneswar. See our Lingaraj Temple guide.
• ASI Sun Temple Museum: displays sculptures found at the site.

What are the rules for visiting Konark?

• Do not climb on the carvings, wheels or horse figures, and do not touch or scratch the stone.
• There is no puja, prasad or offering inside the monument. Please do not light lamps or incense on the premises.
• Ask ASI staff at the gate about photography rules before you start, especially for drones, tripods or professional cameras.
• Use only guides with a licence or ID card, and agree on the fee before you start.
• Carry water, a cap and comfortable footwear. There is a fair amount of walking on stone paths.
• Keep your ticket until you leave the monument.

How Yatra To Temples can help

We arrange Odisha dharmik yatras that include Konark along with Jagannath darshan in Puri. Each package below lists its own itinerary, hotels and inclusions. Konark entry tickets and guide fees are not included in any of them and are paid on the spot.

• Puri Jagannath Dham Darshan Yatra: Jagannath darshan, the Konark Sun Temple and Chandrabhaga beach.
• Jagannath Puri, Konark and Chilika Odisha Yatra: Bhubaneswar temples, Konark, Puri and a boat ride on Chilika lake.
• Odisha Mandir Darshan Yatra: Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, Taptapani and Biraja Devi at Jajpur.

If you want a different start date, a Konark Dance Festival or Magha Saptami date, or help for elderly family members, please ask us.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Konark Sun Temple open on Monday?

ASI lists the timings as sunrise to sunset and does not mention a weekly closing day. The museum next door has its own timings, so check those separately. Confirm locally on public holidays or during special events.

How many wheels and horses does the Konark Sun Temple have?

The chariot has 24 carved wheels, arranged in 12 pairs, and was pulled by seven horses. According to the Puri district website, six of the horses survive today.

Which god is worshipped in the Konark Sun Temple?

The temple was built for Surya, the Sun God. There is no active worship inside today because the sanctum has collapsed and the site is a protected monument.

Which note has the Konark Sun Temple on it?

The ₹10 note in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series has a picture of the Sun Temple at Konark on its back. The RBI announced this chocolate-brown note in a press release of 5 January 2018.

Is the Konark Sun Temple in Puri or Bhubaneswar?

Konark is in Puri district, on the coast, about 35 km from Puri town. It is about 60 to 70 km from Bhubaneswar, depending on the route and the source.

Why is Konark called the Black Pagoda?

European sailors gave it this name. Odisha Tourism links it to the dark look of the roof, and Incredible India says the structure guided ships towards the shore.

Can we visit the Konark temple at night?

ASI lists the monument as open only from sunrise to sunset, though Incredible India gives a closing time of 8:00 PM. The monument is lit up after dark. Ask at the gate whether evening entry or a light and sound show is running on your date.

Is the Konark Sun Temple worth visiting?

Yes, for its carving, history and the Chandrabhaga sunrise nearby. Families who visit Puri for Jagannath darshan can easily add it as a half-day or day visit.