Time has not been kind to most of the structures built by our ancestors. We consider ourselves lucky if we manage to discover the ruins of ancient great civilizations. We still marvel at these destroyed buildings, but we often feel a slight regret at not being able to see a structure in all its glory. You feel all these kinds of things when you first see the Konark temple. Except that regret is only a fraction of the general sense of wonder that the temple will impress upon you. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayLocated in the eastern province of Odisha, the Konark Temple was the place of worship of the Hindu sun god, Surya. The temple was thought to have been completed in 1250 CE. What is unique about the Konark temple, apart from its immense size, is its chariot shape which you can still observe even though most parts of the temple have already been in ruins. Hindu pilgrims flock to the temple every February for the Chandrabhaga Mela. A few tourists also explore the temple. But we can still consider it to be off the beaten track. To get there, you have to go to the nearest town, Puri. Buses ply the Puri-Konark route regularly. Approximate travel time is 1 hour and the usual bus fare is 30 rupees, which does not exceed 1 USD. You can also take a taxi from Puri to Konark for 1,500 rupees or $22. Finally, one option is to take the sightseeing bus tours offered by the Odisha Tourism Development. If you are departing from Bhubaneswar, fares are usually 355 rupees or $6. From Puri, it will cost you 510 rupees or $8. Choose this option if you plan to visit other tourist attractions, as the tours are combined with other wonderful places you can see. For locals, the entrance fee is 30 rupees ($1) while it is 500 rupees or $7 for foreigners. The temple is open from sunrise to sunset and many visitors go there very early to watch the sunrise. The themes you will see in the Konark temple revolve around the worship of the sun god and the architecture of Orissan. Not only is the entire shape of the temple that of a chariot, but you can see twelve carved wheels pulled by horses. This design is said to represent the sun god as he ascends into the sky and travels throughout the day. Some claim that the 12 wheels are symbols of the time of day since the wheels have bars that can serve as sundials. The shadows cast by the wheel indicate the time of day. Others also say that the 12 wheels can represent the months of the year and that there are seven horses for each day of the week. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a personalized essay the way you want it. Enter the temple, you will notice two lions standing guard over the structure followed by two horses. As you delve deeper, you will be amazed by the level of detail put into the decoration of the temple through carvings and carvings. If you follow the path from the main entrance, you will arrive in the dance hall. Pay special attention to the divine and semi-divine beings sculpted in various dancing poses. To better appreciate the temple, hire a temple guide and listen to the history and mystery of the temple for 100 rupees. If you visit at night, make sure you don't miss the sound and light show which.