Konarka: The Black Pagoda of Orissa (Photostat)

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Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century CE Hindu Sun temple at Konark about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast from Puri city on the coastline in Puri district, Odisha, India. The temple is attributed to King Narasingha Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty about 1250 CE.

Dedicated to the Hindu Sun-god Surya, what remains of the temple complex has the appearance of a 100-foot (30 m) high chariot with immense wheels and horses, all carved from stone. Once over 200 feet (61 m) high, much of the temple is now in ruins, in particular the large shikara tower over the sanctuary; at one time this rose much higher than the mandapa that remains. The structures and elements that have survived are famed for their intricate artwork, iconography, and themes, including erotie kama and mithuna scenes. Also called the Surya Devalayo, it is a classic illustration of the Odisha style of Architecture or Kalinga architecture.

The cause of the destruction of the Konark temple is unclear and still remains a source of controversy. Theories range from natural damage to deliberate destruction of the temple in the course of being sacked several times by Muslim armies between the 15th and 17th centuries. This temple was called the "Black Pagoda" in European sailor accounts as early as 1676 because it looked like a great tiered tower which appeared black. Similarly, the Jagannath Temple in Puri was called the "White Pagoda". Both temples served as important landmarks for sailors in the Bay of Bengal. The temple that exists today was partially restored by the conservation efforts of British India-era archaeological teams. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, it remains a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, who gather here every year for the Chandrabhaga Mela around the month of February.

The chief object in writing this book was to describe briefly the work done by the Public Works Department (Bengal) in excavating the ruins of the Black Pagoda and in preserving what remained of that grand temple and to give a detailed description of its design, architectures mouldings &c. which was not possible in the works of the learned writers of the last century, as a greater portion of the temple was lying buried under sand and its own debris. As allied subjects, an investigation has been made as regards the builder of the temple, the date of its crection, the cause of its fall and the probable time when the temple collapsed. I have also discussed the state of religion as shown by the temple and traces found in it of the previous Buddhism at the place. It is hoped these will be of interest as bearing on the history and antiquity of the place.