Chariot of the Sun - The Sun Temple of Konark is a stupendous sight.

Even in a half-preserved state, the Sun Temple of Konark is a stupendous sight. The temple does require a bit of thinking to be envisaged in its original form-the Sun god passing through the heavens on his divine chariot, being pulled by seven horses. But then the 'whole' does not seem to matter to the eye when each part here is an example of exquisite Indian craftsmanship.

Each stone slab in the perfectly proportioned structure is alive with precisely chiselled motifs of flowers, animals, birds, royals and deities. The leaves of a tree, the adornments of the courtesans, the carved spokes of the wheel - the details on each block are striking.

The panels carry erotic sculptures as well, besides those depicting other everyday activities like hunts, dances and battle scenes. It is said that the base of the temple alone has some 2,000 images of elephants. The main sanctum, where the principle deity was enshrined, is in ruins.

The fame of the 13th century structure, located in Puri district of Orissa, had reached far and wide even during medieval times. It was visited by the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya as well as Abu'l Fazl, the author of A'in-i-Akbari, in which he wrote: "Near Jagannath is a temple dedicated to the Sun. Its cost was defrayed by 12 years revenue of the province. Even those whose judgement is critical and who are difficult to please stand astonished at its sight." Ditto, we say.