Konark Sun Temple

Konark is also known as Konaditya. The name "Konark" is derived from the words koṇa ("corner") and arka ("Sun"), therefore it literally means "corner of the Sun". It is at north-east of Puri or the Chakrakshetra. The Sun Temple of Konark, often called the Black Pagoda, was constructed in the mid-thirteenth century by Raja Narasinghs Deva I of the Ganga Dynasty and is an ample testament to the artistic glory of the time. It is often considered the best among other temples of its kind and that is saying something when you are talking about the Swarna Tribhuja ("golden triangle") of Odisha which boasts of Jagannath Temple and Lingaraja Temple of Puri and Bhubaneswar respectively. The entire territory lies in the tropics and hence is subject to high temperatures. According to legend, Krishna and Jambavati's son Samba entered the bathing chamber of Krishna's wives, and was cursed by Krishna with leprosy.