In May, I posted about my visit to the temple in Lepakshi, in southern Andhra Pradesh. The following week, after a brief delay due to a hurricane (or cyclone if you prefer) we made our way to Bhubaneswar. Since we had lost the planned weekend visit due to the cyclone, we had blocked out the late morning through afternoon for some sightseeing.

We left from the airport, heading south on the road to Puri. There was a fair amount of construction on the road as they work to support the Ratha Yatra festival which brings many people to the area.

After passing through Puri, we headed north on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive. This is a very pleasant road that runs through forest and then along the Bay of Bengal before turning north to Konark. Crossing the Dhunua river, I got a nice picture of a man fishing with a net.

Fisherman on Dhana River, taken from Puri-Konark Marine Drive

We stopped at the beach, but the real goal was the Konark Sun Temple. This is a 13th century temple built like a chariot and covered in remarkable carvings. It has suffered damage over the years due to its large size and the unstable ground (this area has a very high water table). This is an official Indian Heritage site and has been very well restored. Restoration work is still in process.

Following here and below the fold are pictures of the temple. The entrance to the temple has a simha-gaja sitting on an elephant.

Statue near the entrance to the Konark temple

The overall temple is very large and covered with the scaffolding for the restoration work.

The Konark Sun Temple has been unstable since construction, the scaffolding is part of a restoration effort.

The carving detail is amazing, starting with the wheels.

Konark Sun Temple wheel

Many carvings of differing sizes, all very detailed.

Konark Sun Temple detail

Konark Sun Temple detail

Konark Sun Temple detail

There are carvings made of a different rock, very interesting and pretty.

I believe this is the Sun God. I am not sure why the head is cut off.

A nice fish the the alligator (or is it a crocodile?)

Hard to tell what the elephant has in its trunk

And there are many simha-gaja about.

A cute fellow

Looking down on a Simha-gaja.

Getting back to the drive, the beach on the Bay of Bengal was nice, with the sea still roiled from the cyclone.

Beach on the Bay of Bengal along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive.

Beach on the Bay of Bengal along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive.

Leaving Konark and heading back to Bhubaneswar via Pipili, we crossed the Kusabhadra River.

Kusabhadra River taken from the Old Pipili-Konark Road

And saw the Sun set over the Bhargavi River. A fitting close to our trip to the Konark Sun Temple.

Sunset over Bhargavi River, taken from the Old Pipili-Konark road.