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Follow the rainbow across the
scintillating sea shore at Konark to the
magnificent portals of a temple.
Thirty five km. to the north-east of
Puri lies the World Heritage Monument,
the Sun Temple of Konark. Twelve hundred
craftsmen had toiled hard for 12 long
years to erect this monumental wonder
where 12 year’s revenue was spent.
Modelled after the floating chariot of
the mythical Sun God, the temple is a
quintessence of imaginative
craftsmanship of ancient Odisha. The
temple architecture was designed as
drawn by twelve exquisitely carved stone
wheels and seven galloping horses. And
the kings, queens, generals, foot
soldiers, sages, priests, elephants,
horses, courtiers and courtesans
depicted on the walls and the panels
with finesse open a window to the
nostalgic times of medieval Odisha.
_day2.jpg) The annual Konark Festival, which is
held in an open air auditorium with the
temple as the backdrop, showcases a
magical parade of India’s classical and
traditional dance forms. Eminent dancers
and their troupe delight visitors in the
wintry evening of early December with
dramatic choreographies.
Besides, the dance performances the
visitors will be treated, in an Artist
Camp, to an exhibition of Orissan temple
sculptures which are often described as
poetry transcribed on stone. Sand Art
exhibition will be yet another
attraction for tourists.
It is a festival of
classical dances of India performed at
the backdrop of the Sun Temple, Konark.
Konark Festival was organised for the
first time in 1989 in the Open Air
Auditorium at Konark constructed with
the financial assistance of Government
of India.
Conceived as a festival of Classical
Dances of India, the objective of Konark
Festival was to promote Konark as well
as Odisha as place of tourist
destination.
Initially during the year 1989 and 1990,
the festival was being organised for a
period of 3 days. Subsequently increased
to 7 days during 1991 and 1992 in
different dates. Since 1993 the festival
is being organised for a period of 5
days from December 1-5 every year. The
festival was however not organised
during 1999 due to the Super Cyclone.
_day5.jpg) A Craft Mela was also being organised
from 1991-1995 through the State
Industry Department along with the dance
programmes. This was discontinued for a
couple of years which has again been
revived from the year - 2000. While the
Craft Mela of 2000 was organised by NAC,
Konark, the same has been organised by
State Industry Department since 2001.
APPROACH
Konark is connected by excellent
all-weather roads with Puri (35kms) and
Bhubaneswar (65kms) which are also
nearest Railheads. Nearest Airport is
Biju Pattanaik Airport, Bhubaneswar.
Local Transport
Car, Sumo, Auto, Jeep available at Puri
and Bhubaneswar.
ACCOMMODATION - KONARK
Yatrinivas (Odisha Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd.)
Phone: (06758)
236820,
Fax : 236820
Travellers Lodge (Odisha Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd.)
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A.C. Double
Room |
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Non A.C.
Double Room |
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Non A.C. 4
Bedded Room |
Phone: (06758)236820,
Fax: 236820
Panthanivas (Odisha Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd.)
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A.C. Double
Room |
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Non A.C.
Double Room |
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Non A.C. 4
Bedded Room |
Phone: (06758)236831
Budget and Star accommodation with transport is also
available at Puri (35 KM) and Bhubaneswar
(65 KM)
Department of Tourism, Government of
Odisha
Paryatan Bhawan, Museum Campus,
Bhubaneswar - 751 014
Phone: (0674) 2432177 Fax: (0674)
2430887
E-mail:
ortour@orissatourism.gov.in
Govt. of Odisha Tourist Offices
Chennai: Tamilnadu Tourism Complex,
Ground Floor
Near Kalaivanar Arangam, Wallajah Road,
Chennai - 600 002
Telefax: (044) 25360891
Kolkata: Utkal Bhawan, 55 Lenin Sarani,
Kolkata - 700 013
Phone:(033) 22443653
New Delhi: Utkalika, B/4 Baba Kharak
Singh Marg
New Delhi -110 001. Telefax: (011)
23364580 Konark:
Konark Yatrinivas, Konark
Telefax: (06758) 236820
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