Konark | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Konark Beach | |
  Konark Location in Odisha, India  Konark Konark (India) | |
| Coordinates: 19°53′27″N 86°06′01″E / 19.89083°N 86.10028°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Odisha |
| District | Puri |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 15,015 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Odia |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | OD |
| Website | http://konark.nic.in |
Konark is a medium town in the Puri district in the state of Odisha, India. It lies on the coast by the Bay of Bengal, 65 kilometres from the capital of the state, Bhubaneswar.[1] It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasinghadeva-I. The temple is a World Heritage Site.[2] The temple is now mostly in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, which is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Konark is also home to an annual dance festival called Konark Dance Festival, devoted to classical Indian dance forms, including the traditional classical dance of Odisha, Odissi.[3] In February 2019, the Konark Dance Festival (now called Konark Music and Dance Festival) will be hosting its 33rd edition. The state government is also organising annual Konark Festival and International Sand Art Festival[4] at Chandrabhaga Beach of Konark.
On 16 February 1980, Konark lay directly on the path of a total solar eclipse.[5][6][7]
- ^ "Konark, Official Website (Approach)". Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ UNESCO (1984). "World Heritage List: Sun Temple, Konârak". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Konark Dance & Music Festival". konarkfestival.com.
- ^ "Konark Festival and International Sand Art Festival".[dead link]
- ^ "Solar Eclipse". New Scientist. 13 August 1981. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ Kapoor, R. C. "Some Total Solar Eclipses Observed from India". Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
In that sense the Feb 16, 1980 eclipse was a great awakener post Independence that created an unprecedented excitement among persons from all walks of life. The path of totality fell over places in India such as Hubli, Raichur, Nalgonda and Konark etc.
- ^ Parkinson, John (24 April 1980). "What's wrong with the Sun?". New Scientist. Vol. 86, no. 1204. pp. 200–204.