The sun temple of Konark in Orissa, also famous as the Black Pagoda, is undoubtedly one of the finest monuments of India. Even in ruins, the temple complex is a magnificent monument where the vitality and spirit of bygone creative age in the history of Orissa are echoed e en today in its life like sculptures.
Kalinga is entering its golden period at the beginning of the 13th century. The kingdom has already established itself as a maritime superpower, and now it has to make its mark with its monuments that were built over a few centuries. The temple building spree had already begun many years ago, and after the successful construction of the Lingaraj temple and Jagannath temple, the grandest monument on earth was to be built. Book two is the story of Narasingha Deva, the King of Kalinga and the constructor of this grand sun temple built in Mundira. The monument is considered one of the most magnificent and among the most mysterious temples of Bharat. The King narrates this tale, as he had experienced it in his lifetime. The book describes his journey about how from an inquisitive prince, he became one of the powerful monarchs of Bharat. This book covers the many battles fought between Kalinga and the Bengal Kings and why King Narasingha was known as the greatest builder of Bharat. . The book will also answer all questions on the existence of the sun temple built at Mundira which is now known as Konark. Was this temple just a grand monument, or were there secrets behind its construction? Why was an unusual technique used for its creation when tried and tested methods were already there? Did it hold some secret within itself? What is Bishnu Maharana's birth secret? Who was Silpy? This book unfolds all these secrets.
As dawn breaks, Surya, the Sun God, leaps over the horizon in his chariot, pulled by seven radiant horses. As he rises into the sky he spreads light and warmth all over the world. The great Ganga king, Narasimha Rao, commissioned 1200 artisans to recreate this scene in stone. The Konark Sun Temple is a place where the lines between fact, fiction and folklore have blurred over time. Amar Chitra Katha interweaves the history of the 13th century monument with some of the mythology associated with it.
Based on folklore, legends and myths, and backed by meticulous research, Citadel of Love is set in Odisha of the thirteenth-century-considered the state's golden age, when the Konark temple was being built under King Narasimha Deva's patronage. A modern-day foreigner, Charles, arrives with his fiancée to study the Konark region. As he discovers palm leaf manuscripts and records tales that were handed down generations, he begins to have strange experiences. A woman's statue, in particular, haunts him till he is transported to a time when she was alive and the Konark complex was under construction. Two mystical love stories of the past unfold, even as new romance blooms in Charles' life. Surreal, mysterious and often bordering on the magical-real, this is a tale of passion that spans centuries.
Written By An Expert In Orissan Art And Temple Architecture, This Informative And Useful Book Will Be Welcomed By Archaeologists And Art Historians, As Well As General Readers And Tourists Interested In This Magnificient Epitome Of Orissan Temple Architecture.
Sun Temple of KonarkIt is a 13th century Hindu temple built in coastal Orissa, at Konark. It was built by king Narasimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty, and is dedicated to the sun god Surya. The entire temple complex consists of intricate details, all carved out in stone. Although the main Shikhara (large tower) has fallen down, much of the chariot shaped temple still survives in its original form and is amongst the largest Hindu temples ever built. The architectural grandeur of the monument coupled with its intricate detailing still mesmerises people, even those who aren't easily impressed.It was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984, and has since been maintained by some efforts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Along with being a major tourist destination in the Indian State of Odisha, it continues to remain an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, who celebrate the Chandrabhaga Mela over here every year.About the seriesOut of the 1073 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (as of November 2017), Italy has the maximum number with 53. India comes at a respectable 6th position with an incredible 36 sites spread through the country.This series takes an attempt to capture each of these 36 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in pictures and words, telling all that you'd need to know about the site: before, during as well as after visiting the place. This is your perfect guide to know about the concerned site, as well as enjoy a preview/souvenir with beautiful photographs of the sites. So, enjoy the book and take it with you as you journey through the country, exploring the vast array of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that India has to offer.List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India* Kaziranga National Park | Assam* Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam* Mahabodhi Temple Complex | Bodh Gaya* Humayun's Tomb Complex | Delhi* Qutb Complex | Delhi* Red Fort | Delhi* Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa* Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat* Hampi Group of Monuments | Karnataka* Pattadakal Group of Monuments | Karnataka* Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh* Bhimbetka Rock Shelters | Madhya Pradesh* Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh* Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra* Ellora Caves | Maharashtra* Elephanta Caves | Mumbai* Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Mumbai* Sun Temple of Konark | Odisha* Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan* Jantar Mantar | Jaipur* Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu* Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments | Tamil Nadu* Agra Fort | Agra* Taj Mahal | Agra* Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh* Mountain Railways of India* Nada Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks | Uttarakhand* Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal* Western Ghats of India* Hill Forts of Rajasthan* Rani ki Vav | Gujarat* Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh* Nalanda | Bihar* Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim* The Architectural Works of Le Corbusier | Chandigarh* Historic City of Ahmadabad | Gujarat