The temple carved out from a single rock was made during the 13th Century CE under the patronage of King Narasimha Deva I. The Konark Sun Temple is dedicated to the Sun God and is shaped as the chariot of the Sun God. It is said that the wheels served as sundials depicting the time according to the angle of the sun rays.

The style in which the temple is constructed is a spectacular example of the Kalinga Architecture. It was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1984. The intricate carvings in the wheels of the Sun Temple and the main building are various representations of mythological stories, folklores, common lifestyles of the people who lived in that era as well as celebrations of bodily relationships.

However, the sun temple is presently in a bad shape wanting restoration activities. The destruction of the temple could have been caused by numerous invasions in the past and geographical causes like sea erosion, though the geographical cause has not been proved yet. Whatever the cause may be, this architectural heritage needs immediate attention towards restoring it to its previous grandeur.