World Heritage Site Sun Temple, Konark Odisha, situated on the Bay of Bengal, has been recognised as „a land of temples‟.In the Sanskrit text, the Brahma Purana, when the sages ask Brahma about the most supreme of all holy places, he refer to Utkala (Orrisa) and its four great religious places: Konaditya (Konark, for the worship of Surya); Viraja (Jajpur, for the worship of Devi), Ekamra (Bhubaneshwar, for the worship of Shiva; and Puri (for the worship of Vishnu). Contrary to other three places, Konark has a single temple complex. Although in ruins, on Magha Shukla saptami, the day of the spring festival , large number of pilgrims flock to Konark every year. Best timit to visit The weather in Konark is more enjoyable Konark Museum is during winters. October to February is the located near the Sun best time to visit this place.In December, Temple showing the the Konark Dance and Music Festival is antiquities recovered also celebrated. from the Sun Temple. Find out more: Wheels of chariot in Sun Temple are decorated with symbolic designs. What does it represent? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Why the Sun Temple in Konark is known as “Black Pakoda”? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Which style of architecture is exhibited in Sun temple? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Name the king who built the Sun Temple in Konark in 13th century and also name the master builder of the sun temple. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Which belief systems are linked with the Sun Temple of Konark? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ A study conducted by Roorkee-based Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) shows that Sun Temple in Konark is under serious threat. What are the various threats to sun temple and trace the steps taken by government to prevent from the same. _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Explain how Konark temple wheels are used as Sun dial? _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Try to find various legends associated with the Sun Temple. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Match the following Konark temple Gujarat Did you know? Puri temple Sun dial Ministry of Tourism has launched a Dancing hall White Pagoda project named “Adopt a Heritage” to boost tourism and cultural significance of the heritage Chariot wheel Ganga Dynasty sites in a planned manner. Modhera temple Nata Mandir Discuss and Debate Why it is important to save historical buildings? Draw any one World Heritage Site. Collect newspaper clippings of last one year related to Sun temple in Konark and make a collage. References: Donaldson, Thomas. “Konark” .Oxford University Press.2003 http://www.india.com; www.templenet.com/Orissa/konark.html; https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com; https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/246 Photographs: www.alamy.com; https://bhagyashritravels.com; https://insightsindia.blogspot.com; http://keralamuralpainting.com; https://rediscoveryproject.com; www.theweek.in .