world Heritage monument

Bike trip to Sun Temple Konark

Man & Machine: Samaresh Biswal & Honda Unicorn

Trip Stats:
Total distance: 195 Km
Total Expense: Rs 150 (petrol) & 50 (food)
No of days: 1

Stardate: [-28] 02360.00

Highway: NH 203, NH 230E
States: Orissa,
Route: Bhubaneswar-Pipili- Sakhi Gopal – Raghurajpur – Puri – Konark – Gop – Nimaparha – Pipili – Bhubaneswar

album link:http://picasaweb.google.co.in/samareshbiswal/SunTempleKonark#

I decided to take the bike for a short spin, so I headed towards konark the world heritage monument. In order to understand about the mysteries & truth behind the temple, which remained under construction & where no one ever dared to offer prayers .Yet is a world heritage monument .Rideing through the puri knorak marine drive , I get chance to be in the company of wildlife and enjoy the beauty of the ride. The highway cuts through the heart of Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary which is situated the along sea coast between Puri and Konark .While rideing along the road I can see road signs, that lies a possibility of encountering the Blackbucks but I wasn’t lucky enough to spot a Blackbuck crossing along my trail. But I had the company of Langoors and I could spot many of them. I just stopped my bike & was lost in the calm and mystery that the ride offers. As soon I reached Sun temple konark I was awestruck by the sear beauty of the monument the 13th-century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), built in black granite by King Narasimhadeva-I(AD 1236-1264) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It takes the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun god, and is heavily decorated with stone carving. The entire complex was designed in the form of a huge chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated wheels. The entrance is guarded by two lions, which are each shown crushing a war elephant. Each elephant in turn lies on top of a human body. The temple symbolizes the majestic stride of the Sun god. At the entrance of the temple is a Nata Mandir. This is where the temple dancers used to perform dances in homage to the Sun god. All around the temple, there are various floral and geometric patterns. There are also human, divine and semi-divine figures in sensuous poses. This temple inspired the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore to write “here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.” As the time came for me bid adieu to the magnificent temple .Of all the highways that I have travelled the Puri – Konark Marine Drive is special. As it has more to offer, a wildlife sanctuary along the coastline, few isolated beaches coupled with Marshy Jungles and one simply can’t get any better than this in a journey.