Which 13th-century Indian temple is designed as a giant chariot of the sun god?

The Konark Sun Temple is the 13th-century Indian temple designed as a giant stone chariot for Surya, the Hindu sun god. It stands near the Bay of Bengal in Odisha, about 35 kilometres northeast of Puri.

The temple is attributed to Eastern Ganga king Narasingha Deva I and was built around 1250 CE in the Kalinga architectural style. Its surviving structure represents Surya’s chariot with monumental stone wheels and horses. Traditional Hindu imagery portrays the sun god travelling across the sky in a chariot drawn by seven horses, giving the temple’s design both religious and cosmic meaning.

The main sanctuary tower once rose more than 61 metres, but much of it has collapsed. The remaining carvings are celebrated for their intricate religious, royal, animal and human scenes, including erotic imagery. European sailors called it the “Black Pagoda,” while Puri’s Jagannath Temple was known as the “White Pagoda.” The monument became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.