Konark Dance Festival

Konark temple is one among the only 36 world heritage sites of india. To pay tribute to the ancient architectural beauty , the festival is celebrated. The festival is beyond religions and customs. The international festival recalls the ancient era with the music and dance infront of the sun temple. Konark Dance Festival is organised by Odissi dancer Gangadhar Pradhan’s Odisha Dance Academy at Konark Natya Mandap in Konark since 1989. Experts in different classical dance forms of India, gather together to perform beautiful forms of Indian dance in the extravagant celebration which is fondly enjoyed by the people from around the globe. Classical dances like Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi to name a few are some of the special attractions of the Konark Dance Festival, Konark.

Konark Temple

Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda) Located on the east coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Mahanadi Delta, it is built in the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun god with 24 wheels, and is heavily decorated with symbolic stone carvings and led by a team of six horses. It was constructed from oxidizing weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is one of the most renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984. The intricate carvings and the elaborate designs of the 700+ years old heritage site of the Konark Temple make it an architectural wonder. The medieval architecture is uniquely used in the temple making it one of the most significant tourist locations in Orissa. Devotees and tourists from Indian and abroad visit the temple all through the year.

A crafts mela is also held during the festival. It showcases a wide array of delectable cuisines and a variety of handicrafts. This mela adds more fun to the festival thus making it a perfect venue for a family get together on a holiday or a joyous experience to the tourists.