In the first week of December 2019, we traveled to Odisha for a trip of five days. Out of all the days, there was one day, that was so well spent in Konark (65kms from the state capital Bhubaneshwar). It was so rich in art, history and culture that we were overwhelmed with joy and the things that this place had to offer us was a feast to our eyes.
Konark, located in Puri district of Odisha, is home to the Konark Sun Temple, an UNESCO World Heritage site which is one of the spectacular classic Kalinga style temple built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva 1 of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple is one of the major tourist places in India for its amazing and intriguing architecture.
Konark is not just known for its Sun Temple but also for its love for visual and performing arts. During the 1st week of December, Konark hosts two major events - International Sand Art Festival and Konark Dance Festival, both happening simultaneously for 5 consecutive days with each day being an amazing celebration of culture and arts with the spectacular sand arts and the classical dances of India. Together, these two events have gained worldwide recognition and one among the most awaited festivals of India and attracts tourists from all over the world.
Our trip to Konark was planned so as to witness this cultural festival along with the fascinating history and architecture of the Sun Temple and we are so happy about that.
