Quick Getaways near Konark
Kuruma
- 8 kms from the world famous Sun Temple at Konark,
Kuruma is a small village. Recent excavations here
have brought to light the memories of some ancient
antiques like the image of Buddha seated in Bhumisparsa
Mudra along with the image of Heruka, and a 17 mtrs
long brick wall. Scholars are of opinion that this
was one of the sites containing Buddhist stupas described
by Hiuen T'sang.
Chaurasi
- Chaurasi is situated 30 km from Konark and is the
abode of Barahi, the Mother Goddess with the face
of a boar worshipped according to Tantra in a temple
built in the 9th century. There are shrines to Amareswar
and Laxminarayan too.
Pipli
- 23 km away from Konark, enroute to Bhubaneshwar
lies the town of Pipli. The town announces itself
with loud colourful splashes of bright colour
in the shop fronts. Welcome to Orissa's appliqué
center. Bedspreads, cushion covers, bags, wall
hangings and small canopies, umbrellas or chhatris,
normally hung above household and temple shrines,
are on sale in shops that line both sides of
the main highway.
Ramachandi - A
beautiful spot, 7 kms from Konark, Ramachandi
is located at the confluence
of the river Kusabhadra and
the Bay of |
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| Bengal. The deity
of Konark, Goddess Ramachandi, is worshipped here.
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Events in Konark
Konark Dance Festival
- The Konark Dance Festival is held in the month of
Febuary every year in the amphitheatre at Konark with
the famous Sun Temple as the backdrop. Some of the
best dancers in the country come to perform amidst
the splendour of this ancient temple. It is performed
with special illumination and set-up to transform
the Sun Temple, a monument of art, into an atmosphere
of fantasy.
Magha Saptmi
(Sun Festival) - Held on the 7th day (Saptmi)
of the bright half of the month of Magda (January/February),
the pilgrims gather here in lakhs. The deities are
bathed and then the pilgrims take dips in the water,
believed to have curative powers. After special prayers
for the Sun god, the grand finale is the worship of
the Navagraha - the nine planets. Nowhere
have the divine and the human associated with each
other in such an amazing fantasy.
Getting There Away to Konark
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The
nearest airport is Bhubaneshwar, 65 km away,
which is connected to Calcutta, Delhi, Madras
and other airports. |
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The city is well connected by
rail to Bhubaneshwar and Puri. |
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Konark is
65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from the coastal
town of Puri. It is 85 km from Puri if you take
a diversion via the colourful village of Pipli,
which is famous for its appliqué work.
You can also travel by road to other places
in Orissa. |
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