Each of the 24 wheels carved into Konark Sun Temple is a functioning sundial. Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I, each wheel has 8 major spokes and 8 minor spokes — and if you hold your thumb at the center of any spoke and read the shadow, the wheel tells you the exact time. Not approximately — accurately. An 800-year-old stone chariot designed to track the movement of the Sun God tells time as precisely today as it did the century it was built. This is Konark: where engineering, architecture, and devotion created something that humanity is still trying to fully understand.
Please Subscribe on Youtube
💡 Quick Answer Timings: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (sunrise to sunset) Entry: Indians ₹40 | Foreign nationals ₹600 | Children free Light & Sound Show: ₹70 (Indian) | ₹630 (foreign) | 40 minutes Show Times (Mar–Nov): 7:30 PM + 8:20 PM Show Times (Dec–Feb): 6:30 PM + 7:20 PM Online Booking: ASI e-ticketing portal | Odisha Tourism website Puri: 35 km | Bhubaneswar: 65 km
2026 Update: Konark Sun Temple entry ₹40 (Indians), ₹600 (foreign nationals). Light & Sound Show: ₹70 Indian, ₹630 foreign — two sessions nightly — timings vary by season. Online booking at ASI portal recommended for peak season (Oct–Mar). Source: dailydarshantime.com Feb 2026 + templedarshantime.com April 2026.
Konark Sun Temple — At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Monument Name | Konark Sun Temple (Surya Deula) |
| Deity | Lord Surya (Sun God) |
| UNESCO Status | World Heritage Site — inscribed 1984 |
| Built | 13th century CE — King Narasimhadeva I, Eastern Ganga dynasty |
| Architecture | Kalinga style — 24 chariot wheels, 7 horses |
| Stone | Khondalite rock |
| Opens | 6:00 AM |
| Closes | 8:00 PM |
| Entry (Indian) | ₹40 |
| Entry (Foreign) | ₹600 |
| Children | Free |
| Light Show | ₹70 Indian + ₹630 foreign |
| Booking | ASI e-ticketing portal |
| Puri from | 35 km |
| Bhubaneswar from | 65 km |
Timings 2026
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Temple opens |
| 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Temple visit hours |
| Best time | 6:00–9:00 AM (golden light, minimal crowd) |
| 8:00 PM | Temple closes |
Light & Sound Show Timings — Season-Dependent
| Season | Show 1 | Show 2 |
|---|---|---|
| March – November | 7:30 PM | 8:20 PM |
| December – February | 6:30 PM | 7:20 PM |
Duration: ~40 minutes per show Languages: Hindi, English, Odia — wireless headphones provided
Note: Show timings are different in summer and winter — this is the most common planning mistake. Many visitors plan for 7:30 PM in December and find the show has already started at 6:30 PM.
Entry Fees & Tickets 2026
| Category | Entry Ticket | Light Show |
|---|---|---|
| Indian nationals | ₹40 | ₹70 |
| Foreign nationals | ₹600 | ₹630 |
| SAARC/BIMSTEC nationals | ₹40 | ₹70 |
| Children (below 15) | Free | Minimal |
Important: Temple entry ticket and Light & Sound Show ticket are sold separately. Buy both together at the counter — or book online.
Online Booking
- ASI e-ticketing portal (asi.payumoney.com or similar)
- Odisha Tourism official website
- Recommended for Oct–Mar peak season and weekends
The 24 Wheels — Sundials That Still Work
This is Konark’s most extraordinary engineering achievement.
The temple is designed as a massive stone chariot of the Sun God — with 24 intricately carved stone wheels (12 feet in diameter each) along its base, pulled by 7 horses.
Each wheel is a functional sundial:
- 8 major spokes + 8 minor spokes = 16 divisions per wheel
- Each division = 1.5 hours
- Place thumb at the hub, read shadow direction → exact time
- Accurate to within minutes
The 24 wheels also represent:
- 24 hours in a day (solar calendar)
- 12 months × 2 wheels = 24
- The eternal cycle of time
Modern sundial experts have verified these wheels give accurate time readings in 2026 — 800 years after they were carved.
“Black Pagoda” — The Legend That Named It
Portuguese sailors who navigated the Bay of Bengal in the 16th–17th centuries named Konark Sun Temple the “Black Pagoda.”
Two reasons:
- The dark Khondalite rock gave the temple a dark appearance from the sea
- Sailors believed the temple had magnetic properties that could attract ships to the shore — drawing them off course
The temple’s immense height (original structure reportedly 230 feet — now partially collapsed) and distinctive silhouette made it a key navigation landmark for mariners from Europe and Arabia.
The name “Konark” itself comes from Kona (corner/angle) + Arka (sun) — the sun at the corner of the world, from the temple’s location at the eastern corner of India.
The Light & Sound Show — Evening Spectacle
Every evening at Konark, the 800-year-old temple complex is illuminated — and the Light & Sound Show brings the story of its creation, mythology, and architecture to life.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | 40 minutes |
| Sessions | Two per night (see timing table above) |
| Audio | Wireless headphones — Hindi, English, Odia |
| Ticket | ₹70 Indian + ₹630 foreign |
| Capacity | Limited — book in advance for peak season |
| Booking | ASI portal or Odisha Tourism website |
Pro tip: Arrive at Konark by 5:00 PM — explore the temple in the golden hour light, then stay for the show. This is the best Konark experience.
Konark Architecture — The Stone Chariot
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Concept | Entire temple = Sun God’s chariot |
| Wheels | 24 — each 12 feet in diameter |
| Horses | 7 — representing 7 days of the week |
| Original height | ~230 feet (partially collapsed — Jagamohana survives at 128 feet) |
| Carvings | Hindu gods, daily life, birds, animals, erotic sculptures (tantric tradition) |
| Mayadevi Temple | Adjacent — dedicated to Surya’s wife — 11th century, older than main temple |
| Konark Museum | Nearby — rescued sculptures |
Odisha Golden Triangle — One Day or Three
Konark is part of Odisha’s most famous tourist circuit:
| City | Distance from Konark | Main Attraction |
|---|---|---|
| Konark | — | Sun Temple UNESCO |
| Puri | 35 km | Jagannath Temple, Beach |
| Bhubaneswar | 65 km | Lingaraj, 500+ ancient temples |
One day plan:
- 6:00 AM: Konark — sunrise at Sun Temple (most dramatic)
- 9:00 AM: Drive to Puri (35 km, 45 min)
- 10:00 AM: Jagannath Temple darshan
- 2:00 PM: Puri Beach
- 5:00 PM: Return to Konark for Light Show (7:30 PM)
Common Errors + Fixes
Arriving for the Light Show at 7:30 PM in December → Fix: December–February show starts at 6:30 PM — not 7:30 PM. Arrive by 6:15 PM in winter.
Not knowing temple entry and show are separate tickets → Fix: Buy both separately — ₹40 + ₹70 for Indians. At counter or ASI online portal.
Visiting in afternoon in summer → Fix: Konark in peak summer (April–June) afternoon is extremely hot. Visit 6:00–10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.
Missing the sundial demonstration → Fix: Ask the ASI guide at the temple about the sundial function — they demonstrate how to read the time from the wheel spokes. Free with entry.
Konark Visit Checklist
☑ Entry: ₹40 Indians | ₹600 foreign | Buy at counter or ASI portal ☑ Light Show: ₹70 Indians — buy separately ☑ Show times: Mar–Nov 7:30 PM | Dec–Feb 6:30 PM ☑ Best time: 6:00–9:00 AM — golden light, cool, minimal crowd ☑ Sundial demonstration — ask ASI guide ☑ Mayadevi Temple — adjacent — older than Sun Temple ☑ Konark Museum — nearby — rescued sculptures ☑ Puri 35 km + Bhubaneswar 65 km — Odisha Triangle ☑ Online booking recommended Oct–Mar peak season ☑ Wireless headphones for Light Show — choose Hindi/English/Odia
FAQ
What are Konark Sun Temple timings 2026?
Open 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. Best visit: 6:00–9:00 AM for golden light. Light & Sound Show: 7:30 PM (summer) or 6:30 PM (winter).
What is Konark Sun Temple entry fee 2026?
Indians: ₹40. Foreign nationals: ₹600. Children below 15: Free. SAARC/BIMSTEC nationals: ₹40. Temple entry and Light Show tickets sold separately.
What time is the Konark Light and Sound Show?
March–November: 7:30 PM and 8:20 PM. December–February: 6:30 PM and 7:20 PM. Duration: 40 minutes. Languages: Hindi, English, Odia (wireless headphones).
How do the chariot wheels work as sundials?
Each of the 24 wheels has 8 major and 8 minor spokes. Place your thumb at the center — the shadow cast by the spoke indicates the exact time. Still accurate in 2026, 800 years after construction.
How far is Konark from Puri and Bhubaneswar?
Puri: 35 km (45 min). Bhubaneswar: 65 km (1.5 hours). These three form Odisha’s Golden Triangle — all doable in 1–2 days.
How to book Konark Sun Temple tickets online?
ASI e-ticketing portal or Odisha Tourism official website. Online booking recommended for October–March peak season and weekends. Show tickets available online too.
An 800-year-old stone wheel tells you the time. A sailor saw the dark tower from the sea and called it the Black Pagoda. The King who built it aligned 24 giant wheels to track the sun so accurately that they still work. Come at 6:00 AM when the sun rises over the Bay of Bengal and hits the stone chariot first. Stay until after dark for the light show. Jai Surya Narayan!
Also Read:
- Jagannath Puri Temple Darshan 2026
- Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneswar 2026
- Kamakhya Temple Darshan 2026
- Golden Temple Amritsar 2026