Konark sun temple

IN NEWS:

• The Central government has launched a scheme for the solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha.

THE SUN TEMPLE:

• The Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO world heritage monument, is located in Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
• It is a monumental representation of the sun God Surya's chariot- with 24 decorated wheels and driven by seven horses.
• It was built in A.D. 1250, during the reign of the Eastern Ganga King Narasimhadeva-I. It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture.
• Sailors once called it ‘The Black Pagoda’, because it was supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks.
• It is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, who gather here for the Chandrabhaga Mela around the month of February.

THE SCHEME:

• The scheme envisages a 10-megawatt grid-connected solar project and various solar off-grid applications such as solar trees and solar drinking water kiosks.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has taken up the solarisation program

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Which of the following monument used to be called the ‘Black Pagoda’:

1. Sun temple of Modhera
2. Jagannath Temple of Puri
3. Konark Sun Temple
4. Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar

Answer to Prelims question

Source: The Indian Express, Know India