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Puri district, Odisha

Konark Sun Temple: the 13th-century stone chariot of the Sun God

Konark is a temple you walk around rather than a sanctum you file into. Built around 1250 CE by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, it was conceived as the colossal war chariot of Surya, hauled across the sky by seven straining horses on 24 intricately carved wheels. The soaring main tower fell long ago and the sanctum is empty, so this is a monument visit, not a live darshan. Come at sunrise, walk the wheels, and read the stone.

The surviving jagamohana of Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, a stepped Kalinga-style stone structure carved as a monumental chariotPhoto: Subham9423 (Wikimedia Commons)
Timings
6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, all days
Entry
approx Rs 40 (Indians), approx Rs 600 (foreigners)
Nearest station
Puri, approx 35 km
Signature
24 carved wheels, 7 horses, UNESCO 1984
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Konark

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
All year (daily)6:00 AMOpen access to grounds through the day8:00 PMOpen
Sunrise viewing6:00 AMBest light on the east-facing facade and wheelsapprox 8:30 AMOpen
Evening sound and light showapprox 7:00 PMOdisha Tourism narrated show (separate ticket, weather permitting)approx 8:00 PMSeasonal
Verify before you travel. Konark is a monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, open every day from about 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. There is no midday break and no seasonal closure, but timings and the evening light show can shift, so confirm locally. Because the original sanctum is in ruins, there is no idol and no timed darshan queue as at a living temple; you buy a monument ticket and walk the complex freely.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Konark Sun Temple

Konark sits on the coastal road between Puri and Bhubaneswar, so most pilgrims fold it into a Puri Jagannath trip. There is no railway station in Konark itself; you arrive by road from Puri or Bhubaneswar, and the scenic Marine Drive from Puri along the Bay of Bengal is the classic approach.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
TrainPuri railway stationapprox 35 kmNearest convenient railhead, well connected to Kolkata, Delhi and Howrah; take a taxi or bus onward via Marine Drive.
TrainBhubaneswar railway stationapprox 65 kmLarger junction with more long-distance trains; taxis and tourist buses run to Konark.
AirBiju Patnaik Intl Airport, Bhubaneswarapprox 65 kmNearest airport, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road to Konark.
RoadPuri via Marine Driveapprox 35 kmAbout 1 hour along the coast; frequent buses, shared autos and taxis.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • First light strikes the east-facing chariot, the traditional moment to view the Sun temple; no ritual aarti in the ruined sanctumSunrise (approx 6:00 AM)
  • Pilgrims take a ritual dawn bath at nearby Chandrabhaga beach and worship the rising sun; the temple's most sacred dayMagha Saptami (February)
Be clear before you go: Konark is not a functioning worship temple. The main deul collapsed and the sanctum holds no presiding idol, so there is no daily aarti, abhishek or puja schedule as at Jagannath Puri or Lingaraja. The living devotional life happens outside the monument, chiefly the sunrise sun-worship and the annual Magha Saptami bathing at Chandrabhaga. A small Navagraha slab rescued from the temple is venerated separately. Treat the visit as heritage darshan of the Sun God in stone, not a puja-time appointment.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Modest, comfortable clothing covering shoulders and knees is respectful, though as an ASI monument the code is relaxed compared with a living temple.

You will walk a lot on open, sun-exposed stone; wear a hat, carry water and use sunscreen, especially in summer.

Photography of the monument is generally allowed; tripods, drones and professional/commercial shoots need prior ASI permission.

Do not climb on or touch the carvings; the erotic and narrative reliefs are fragile 13th-century stone.

Keep the grounds clean, no littering; food and picnicking inside the enclosure are discouraged.

Licensed ASI guides are available at the gate and are worth hiring to read the iconography.

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

The comfortable window is October to March, when Odisha's coastal heat and humidity ease and the open stone complex is pleasant to walk. Summer (April to June) is punishing on the shadeless grounds, and the monsoon (July to September) brings heavy rain. Winter also aligns with Konark's two headline events.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
Konark Dance Festival (Konark Music and Dance Festival)DecemberFive-day open-air classical dance festival with Odissi and other forms performed against the floodlit temple; the marquee cultural event. Peak
Magha Saptami / Chandrabhaga MelaFebruary (Magha month)The temple's holiest day; thousands take a dawn sun-worship bath at Chandrabhaga beach nearby, with a large fair (mela). Peak
International Sand Art Festival, ChandrabhagaDecember (alongside dance festival)Sand sculptors from India and abroad build works on Chandrabhaga beach, 3 km from the temple.

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Jagannath Temple, Puri

Jagannath Temple, Puri

One of the Char Dham and Odisha's greatest living temple; the natural pairing with Konark.

approx 35 km from Konark →
Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar

Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar

Towering 11th-century Kalinga temple to Harihara in the temple city of Bhubaneswar.

approx 65 km from Konark →
Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Famed Kali temple on the Hooghly, a common extension for eastern-India pilgrims heading on to Kolkata.

approx 500 km from Konark →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

Most visitors base in Puri (approx 35 km), which has the widest range of hotels, dharamshalas and pilgrim lodges thanks to the Jagannath temple. Konark town itself has a handful of hotels, guesthouses and the state-run OTDC Panthanivas near the temple, good for catching sunrise without the early drive. Bhubaneswar (approx 65 km) suits those flying in or wanting business-grade hotels. Chandrabhaga beach, 3 km away, has a few resorts for a quieter coastal stay.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

Konark Sun Temple timings today
The monument is open every day from about 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with no midday break. There is no idol or timed darshan; you buy an ASI ticket and walk the complex. Confirm the evening sound-and-light show timing locally.
nearest railway station to Konark Sun Temple
Puri railway station, about 35 km away, is the nearest convenient railhead. Bhubaneswar, about 65 km, is the larger junction. From either, take a taxi or bus to Konark; there is no station in Konark itself.
Konark Sun Temple entry fee
Entry is approximately Rs 40 for Indian and SAARC/BIMSTEC visitors and approximately Rs 600 for other foreign nationals, with children under 15 generally free. Confirm current ASI rates as they are revised periodically.
is Konark Sun Temple open for darshan or just a monument
It is a heritage monument, not a living worship temple. The main tower collapsed and the sanctum is empty, so there is no daily aarti or puja. The devotional focus is sunrise sun-worship and the annual Magha Saptami bath at Chandrabhaga beach.
best time to visit Konark Sun Temple
October to March is ideal, when the coastal heat eases and walking the open stone complex is comfortable. December brings the Konark Dance Festival and February the Chandrabhaga Mela on Magha Saptami.

Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Konark Sun Temple · Wikipedia: Konark · UNESCO World Heritage List (Sun Temple, Konarak) · Tour My India: Konark Sun Temple. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.