Coastal Odisha
Konark
The UNESCO-listed Sun Temple, a 13th-century stone chariot and the high point of Kalinga architecture, set in a small coastal town.
Konark is essentially one monument and its surrounding town: Narasimhadeva I's Sun Temple, conceived as a colossal stone chariot with twelve pairs of carved wheels drawn by seven horses. Much of the original tower has collapsed, but the surviving Jagamohana and plinth carry some of the finest stone sculpture in eastern India.
The site rewards slow, guided viewing rather than a rushed photo stop — the wheels function as sundials and the sculptural programme covers cosmology, courtly life and the erotic Kalinga tradition. Chandrabhaga beach, a short drive away, adds a quieter coastal stop.
Why visit
- UNESCO World Heritage Sun Temple with working stone-wheel sundials
- Fine Kalinga-era stone sculpture, some of the best surviving in the region
- Chandrabhaga beach a short drive from the monument
- The Konark Dance Festival each December, staged against the temple
Things to do
- Guided walk through the Sun Temple complex
- Konark Archaeological Museum for detached sculpture fragments
- Sunrise or sunset at Chandrabhaga beach
- Ramachandi shrine along the marine drive back to Puri
By road
35 km from Puri along the Marine Drive; about 65 km from Bhubaneswar.
By air
Bhubaneswar airport is the nearest, roughly 2 hours by road.
From Puri
35 km, about 45–60 minutes via the coastal Marine Drive.
From Bhubaneswar
65 km, around 1.5 hours by road.
Gallery
Konark in pictures
Points of interest
Attractions in and around Konark
Plan your journey
Tour packages covering Konark
4 Days / 3 Nightsheritage · culture · family
Odisha Golden Triangle Tour
Bhubaneswar — Puri — Konark
- Guided Old Town temple walk in Bhubaneswar
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri rock-cut caves
- Dhauli Ashokan edicts and peace pagoda
comfort itineraryView itinerary
5 Days / 4 Nightsheritage · culture · pilgrimage
Bhubaneswar Puri Konark Tour
Bhubaneswar — Konark — Puri
- Old Town temple walk with Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani
- Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves and Dhauli edicts
- Cuttack heritage half-day at Barabati Fort
comfort itineraryView itinerary
4 Days / 3 Nightsheritage · beach · nature
Puri Konark Chilika Tour
Puri — Konark — Chilika
- Konark Sun Temple guided visit
- Puri Jagannath Temple darshan
- Satapada dolphin boat ride
comfort itineraryView itinerary
3 Days / 2 Nightspilgrimage · heritage
Puri Jagannath Temple Tour
Bhubaneswar — Puri
- Shree Jagannath Temple darshan (Hindu guests)
- Mahaprasad at the temple kitchen precinct
- Puri Beach and Swargadwar
value itineraryView itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nightsfamily · heritage · beach
Odisha Family Holiday
Bhubaneswar — Konark — Puri — Chilika
- Nandankanan Zoological Park
- Old Town temple walk (family-paced)
- Konark Sun Temple
comfort itineraryView itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nightshoneymoon · beach · nature
Odisha Honeymoon Tour
Puri — Konark — Chilika — Gopalpur
- Konark Sun Temple at a relaxed pace
- Puri sunrise beach walk
- Chilika lagoon boat ride with sandbar stop
premium itineraryView itinerary
Cabs & transport
Cabs and transport for Konark
Puri to Konark Cab
Sedan or SUV with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 6 passengers
- Luggage
- 2 – 3 large bags
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Bhubaneswar to Konark Cab
Sedan or SUV with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 6 passengers
- Luggage
- 2 – 4 large bags
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Round Trip Cab in Odisha
Sedan, SUV or Tempo Traveller with chauffeur
- Capacity
- 3 – 12 passengers depending on vehicle chosen
- Luggage
- 2 – 15 bags depending on vehicle chosen
Subject to availability. Vehicle category is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Read before you go
Travel guides for Konark
Destinations · 8 min read
Konark Travel Guide: Visiting the Sun Temple
The 13th-century Konark Sun Temple, designed as a giant stone chariot with carved wheels, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site best visited as a half-day trip from Puri.
Getting Around · 5 min read
Puri to Konark: The Marine Drive Route
Puri to Konark is about 35 km along the coastal Marine Drive road, a scenic hour-long drive that passes Ramachandi Beach.
Culture · 8 min read
Odisha Temple Guide: Etiquette, Circuits and Key Sites
Odisha's temple circuit centres on the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and the Sun Temple at Konark, and visitors should know that non-Hindus are not permitted inside the two active temples.
FAQs
Konark travel questions
Continue exploring
Destinations near Konark
Coastal Odisha
Puri
Jagannath Dham — one of India's four cardinal Hindu pilgrimage seats, anchored by a working fishing-town beach.
ExploreCoastal Odisha
Chandrabhaga Beach
A quiet, open beach a few kilometres from the Konark Sun Temple, better suited to sunrise walks than resort-style lounging.
ExploreCoastal Odisha
Ramachandi Beach
A river-mouth beach and goddess shrine roughly midway along the Puri–Konark Marine Drive, popular as a scenic stopover rather than a destination in itself.
ExploreCoastal Odisha
Astaranga
A little-visited fishing-coast beach north of Puri, known locally for olive ridley turtle nesting in some seasons.
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